What was the meaning of the message “Make the Way Straight”? How did the message that John the Baptist give help to prepare the way? How did people know to get baptized and was there a scriptural basis for that?
The Call to Baptism
Where was John the Baptist preaching and baptizing at? What is the meaning of the word baptism?
Mark 1:1-5… The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ: Just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “(Look! I am sending forth my messenger before your face, who will prepare (Strong’s #G2680 I will ordain make ready) your way;) listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare (Strong’s #G2090 you need to make ready) the way of Jehovah, (Strong’s #G2962 Lord) YOU people, make his roads straight,’ John the baptizer turned up in the wilderness (Strong’s #2048 abandoned deserted), preaching baptism [in symbol] of repentance for forgiveness of sins. (Isaiah 1:16-18) Consequently, all the territory of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem made their way out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, openly confessing their sins.
To baptize according to the Greek word in Strong’s Concordance is #G907 “baptizo” and it means to immerse, to dip under, as in a ceremonial dipping.
John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness, an abandoned, desolate place. Why would you show up in the middle of nowhere to preach an important message? Why would you not show up in the city to preach this important message where are all the people found?
The message that John the Baptist was preaching was very specific “prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.” What is the meaning behind this statement? How did they know to get baptized? And which Lord is this?
The word Lord used here at Mark 1:3 as found in Strong’s Concordance #2962, and the true definition is the Lord “one exercising absolute ownership rights.” It’s not a personal name. The word Lord should be used here in this passage of Scripture; it’s not about God’s name, it’s more about the legal right that this person has.
Woe to the Sinful Nation
John the Baptist was preaching a very specific message; one that had already been prophesied by Isaiah the prophet.
Also, the events surrounding the timing of John the Baptist’s message was very important. The Maccabees just had over a hundred years of influence with their dynasty over the Jewish people.
But the treaty that had been made with Rome was bringing disastrous consequences to the Jewish people as a whole. Once again, the corrupting influences of the outsiders with their way of life, their way of thinking, and the way of worship was creeping into the Jewish society.
The temple had just been rebuilt by Edomite King named King Herod and it had been dedicated to Rome. Indeed, God’s people had turned their back on the only true God. This message was not only timely but welcomed by some of the people.
Isaiah 1:2-6… Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken: “Sons I have brought up and raised, but they themselves have revolted against me. 3 A bull well knows its buyer, and the ass the manager of its owner; Israel itself has not known, my own people have not behaved understandingly.” 4 Woe to the sinful nation, the people heavy with error, an evildoing seed, ruinous sons! They have left Jehovah, they have treated the Holy One of Israel with disrespect, they have turned backwards. 5 Where else will YOU be struck still more, in that YOU add more revolt? The whole head is in a sick condition, and the whole heart is feeble. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no sound spot in it.
Can you imagine that John the Baptist by just using the words of Isaiah the prophet, called out the religious leaders of his day as being corrupt.
Isaiah 1:7-9… YOUR land is a desolation, YOUR cities are burned with fire; YOUR ground—right in front of YOU strangers are eating it up, and the desolation is like an overthrow by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion has been left remaining like a booth in a vineyard, like a lookout hut in a field of cucumbers, like a blockaded city. 9 Unless Jehovah of armies himself had left remaining to us just a few survivors, we should have become just like Sodom, we should have resembled Gomorrah itself.
The nation of Israel had been losing their lands to the surrounding nations, Rome was taxing the people for the privilege or right to worship in their own Temple, all because Israel had now become a province of the Roman Empire.
Now Isaiah the prophet has likened Jerusalem to Sodom and Gomorrah, oh how sinful this nation had become.
Isaiah 1:10-15… Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU dictators of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our God, YOU people of Gomorrah. 11 “Of what benefit to me is the multitude of YOUR sacrifices?” says Jehovah. “I have had enough of whole burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed animals; and in the blood of young bulls and male lambs and he-goats I have taken no delight. 12 When YOU people keep coming in to see my face, who is it that has required this from YOUR hand, to trample my courtyards? 13 Stop bringing in any more valueless grain offerings. Incense—it is something detestable to me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of a convention—I cannot put up with the [use of] uncanny power along with the solemn assembly. 14 YOUR new moons and YOUR festal seasons my soul has hated. To me they have become a burden; I have become tired of bearing [them]. 15 And when YOU spread out YOUR palms, I hide my eyes from YOU. Even though YOU make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed YOUR very hands have become filled.
Now Isaiah identifies that the form of worship that they are performing is unclean in God’s eyes. And there is no benefit coming from their valueless offerings, why? Because they are not whole souled. Something was missing from their worship; something was needed but what was it?
Isaiah 1:16-18… Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the badness of YOUR dealings from in front of my eyes; cease to do bad. 17 Learn to do good; search for justice; set right the oppressor; render judgment for the fatherless boy; plead the cause of the widow.” 18 “Come, now, YOU people, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though the sins of YOU people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.
John the Baptist with the help of Isaiah the prophet helped the people see that change needs to come from within, it starts with the heart. They need to clean themselves up and wash away the sins they found themselves in.
This special message that John the Baptist was preaching was something they were familiar with; this passage of Scriptures was read in the synagogues every year. These words were hitting home with some of the people and now I hope you understand why.
Strong’s Concordance uses the Greek words #G2090 and #G2117 and the meaning is “immediately without delay or deviation, make upright your ways with God”.
So, friends I am begging you to analyze what the word of God is saying to us now. Not just being happy with the surface meaning of the passage of scripture but the deeper understanding of it. We need to know how we can make application to it today; we also need to make our way straight also, let us set matters straight with the Lord God before it is too late.
Repent for the Kingdom of God is Near
Let us now compare the account of Mark 1:1-8 with the one found here in Matthew 3:1-12. Let us see what else can we extrapolate or learn from these two passages of Scripture?
Matthew 3:1-4… In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying: “REPENT, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” This, in fact, is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet in these words: “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, YOU people! Make his roads straight.” But this very John had his clothing of camel’s hair and a leather girdle around his loins; his food too was insect locusts and wild honey.
Here Matthew says that John was preaching, “repent for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” Why, because the Lord who has the legal right had come, it was time for him to make his appearance according to Bible prophecy. Notice the people came out of the cities to John to be baptized, how would they know he was there? Who was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist came from a family of priests both on his mom’s side and his fathers. You may remember the account of the angel when he came to his father Zechariah at the temple Luke 1:5-9. Also, John was dressed like a prophet of old and he was eating food that you and I might not want to touch or even eat.
Now let us look at the same account found in Luke 3:2-18 and see what else we can learn.
Luke 3:2-6… in the days of chief priest Annas and of Caiaphas, God’s declaration came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.3 So he came into all the country around the Jordan, preaching baptism [in symbol] of repentance for forgiveness of sins, 4 just as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, YOU people, make his roads straight. 5 Every gully must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down, and the curves must become straight ways and the rough places smooth ways; 6 and all flesh will see the saving means of God.”
It was time for the people of God to get straight with their ways before him, it was time for repentance. Also, in this passage of Scripture, we see that John the Baptist makes an indication that “all flesh would see the saving means of God.” He advocated baptism and that the people should produce fruitage showing that they had repented of their wicked works.
Luke 3:7-9… Therefore, he began to say to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: “YOU offspring of vipers, who has intimated to YOU to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruits that befit repentance. And do not start saying within yourselves, ‘As a father we have Abraham.’ For I say to YOU that God has power to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 Indeed, the ax is already in position at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, not producing fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Now we all can see an underlying message from John the Baptist. What he was saying was that the wrath of God was coming, it was a day of judgment, the day of destruction and it was coming, it was time for them to change their lives or lose it.
What Shall We Do?
Luke 3:10-14… And the crowds would ask him: “What, then, shall we do?” 11 In reply he would say to them: “Let the man that has two undergarments share with the man that has none, and let him that has things to eat do the same.” 12 But even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him: “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 He said to them: “Do not demand anything more than the tax rate.” 14 Also, those in military service would ask him: “What shall we also do?” And he said to them: “Do not harass anybody or accuse anybody falsely but be satisfied with YOUR provisions.”
Some of the people asked, “what should we do?” again he referred to the holy writings; that people should share, being truthful, and not being false or accusing anybody.
I could not help to notice that this directly reflects to the 10 Commandments of God, about doing unto others as you want to be treated, even as Jesus taught to love God and love your fellow man as yourself. It was a call to practice the fundamental requirements of God and because they had the right heart condition, so they begin to comply to the word of God.
Now the people were ready for the good news about the Christ and John the Baptist was helping them to make their way straight with God.
Good News
What is this good news about the Christ?
Luke 3:15-18… Now as the people were in expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John: “May he perhaps be the Christ?”16 John gave the answer, saying to all: “I, for my part, baptize YOU with water; but the one stronger than I am is coming, the lace of whose sandals I am not fit to untie. He will baptize YOU people with holy spirit and fire.17 His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor completely and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.”18 Therefore he also gave many other exhortations and continued declaring good news to the people.
The good news was that we would be baptize in Holy Spirit and Fire. Even John the Baptist called attention to the good news, and this too is found in Isaiah, and it is according to prophecy. So, let us go ahead and read that passage of Scripture also, really digging into it and analyzing it:
Isaiah 40:1-5… “COMFORT, comfort my people,” says the God of YOU men. “SPEAK to the heart of Jerusalem and call out to her that her military service (Strong’s #H6635) has been fulfilled (Strong’s #H7521), that her error (Strong’s #H5771) has been paid off. For from the hand of Jehovah she has received a full amount for all her sins.” Listen! Someone is calling out in the wilderness: “Clear up the way of Jehovah, YOU people! MAKE the highway for our God through the desert plain straight. Let every valley be raised up, and every mountain and hill be made low. And the knobby ground must become level land, and the rugged ground a valley plain. And the glory of Jehovah will certainly be revealed, and all flesh must see [it] together, for the very mouth of Jehovah has spoken [it].”
Was Jerusalem under military service? So, I will ask the next obvious question. Because I was taught this scripture had to do with the nation of Israel coming out of Babylon heading back to their homeland, how was the nation of Israel under military service?
We are going to break down this passage of Scripture, so the first word we will look at is this word used as military service, what is the meaning?
Strong’s Concordance #H6635 tsaba, renders the word as army or a warfare and can be used to refer to hardship struggle or conflict. The next word is fulfilled, Strong’s Concordance #H7521 ratsah, and is rendered as pleased with, accept favorably, or approved. The last word we will look at is used as error, Strong’s #H5771 avon, can be rendered as guilt or inequity, this refers to the sin of or the lack of justice or fairness.
So, Isaiah 40:2 really has to do with their guilt in being unfair and unjust in their dealings with one another, the opportunity to be forgiven and that their time of hardship and struggle were ending, if they were to accept the favorable condition that was being laid out to them. These were the Terms of Peace, only if they were to accept the conditions of God, they needed to surrender to him.
Were the people right to expect the Christ to show up? Yes, because God promised that they would see the glory of God.
How could this scripture apply to John the Baptist at this date and time, especially if they were already in their homeland? And how was John the Baptist going to fulfill this prophecy of Isaiah chapter 40 and comfort the people?
Isaiah 40:6-11… Listen! Someone is saying: “Call out!” And one said: “What shall I call out? All flesh is green grass, and all their loving-kindness is like the blossom of the field. The green grass has dried up, the blossom has withered, because the very spirit of Jehovah has blown upon it. Surely the people are green grass. The green grass has dried up, the blossom has withered; but as for the word of our God, it will last to time indefinite.” Make your way up even onto a high mountain, you woman bringing good news for Zion. Raise your voice even with power, you woman bringing good news for Jerusalem. Raise [it]. Do not be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah: “Here is YOUR God.” Look! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself will come even as a strong one, and his arm will be ruling for him. Look! His reward is with him, and the wage he pays is before him. Like a shepherd he will shepherd his own drove. With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry [them]. Those giving suck he will conduct [with care].
This prophecy from Isaiah had to do with the revealing of the true God and the Good News of his rulership that would be accomplished by his arm the Christ, and that he would pay back wages. This was indeed a Restoration Prophecy and good news for the people of God!
Who really was John the Baptist? What was his purpose in coming to the people of God?
Who are you?
Was John the Baptist acting on his own? What interesting things did he speak about?
John 1:6-7… There arose a man that was sent forth as a representative of God: his name was John. This [man] came for a witness, in order to bear witness about the light, that people of all sorts might believe through him.
John the Baptist came because he was sent forth, he spoke about the light of the world that was ready to be manifested to the people of God.
John 1:15… John bore witness about him, yes, he actually cried out—this was the one who said [it]—saying: “The one coming behind me has advanced in front of me, because he existed before me.”
Can you imagine that Jesus Christ existed before John the Baptist?
John 1:19-22… Now this is the witness of John when the Jews sent forth priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him to ask him: “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed: “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him: “What, then? Are you Elijah?” And he said: “I am not.” “Are you The Prophet?” And he answered: “No!” 22 Therefore they said to him: “Who are you? that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
The religious leaders of the day knew the Christ or the Messiah should come, they also knew that Elijah was to show up, and The Prophet, but John the Baptist did not identify himself as any one of those three. John the Baptist was to identify only the Christ for the people. So, who was John the Baptist?
John 1:23-27… He said: “I am a voice of someone crying out in the wilderness, ‘MAKE the way of Jehovah straight,’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Now those sent forth were from the Pharisees. 25 So they questioned him and said to him: “Why, then, do you baptize if you yourself are not the Christ or Elijah or The Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying: “I baptize in water. In the midst of YOU one is standing whom YOU do not know, 27 the one coming behind me, but the lace of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
John the Baptist gave the message that he was instructed to give, he was not there to call attention to himself, he had a job to do, and he was to identify the Christ of God.
Here is the Christ the Lamb of God
How did John the Baptist prepare the way for God? He did so by calling attention to the prophecy of Isaiah about repentance, John also help prepare the way for God by introducing the Christ to the people.
John 1:28-32… These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he beheld Jesus coming toward him, and he said: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, Behind me there comes a man who has advanced in front of me, because he existed before me. 31 Even I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing in water was that he might be made manifest to Israel.” 32 John also bore witness, saying: “I viewed the spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him.
How was it that John the Baptist could say that he did not know the Christ? When the reality was that John was Jesus’s cousin? Remember that John the Baptist said that Jesus existed before him, but this was not in the flesh and that was the point, Christ was more than a man, he was the son of God.
John 1:33-36… Even I did not know him, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘Whoever it is upon whom you see the spirit coming down and remaining, this is the one that baptizes in holy spirit.’ 34 And I have seen [it], and I have borne witness that this one is the Son of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he looked at Jesus walking he said: “See, the Lamb of God!
Was John the Baptist more than someone crying out in this wilderness? What did Jesus have to say about John the Baptist?
Matthew 11:7-9… While these were on their way, Jesus started to say to the crowds respecting John: “What did YOU go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed being tossed by a wind? 8 What, then, did YOU go out to see? A man dressed in soft garments? Why, those wearing soft garments are in the houses of kings. 9 Really, then, why did YOU go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell YOU, and far more than a prophet.
Christ Jesus said John the Baptist was far more than a prophet.
So, what about the prophecy found in Malachi 3:1-5 about Elijah coming, how did this fit with John the Baptist? And what goal or reward should we all press for?
Matthew 11:10-15… This is he concerning whom it is written, ‘Look! I myself am sending forth my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way ahead of you!’ 11 Truly I say to YOU people, Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it. 13 For all, the Prophets and the Law, prophesied until John; 14 and if YOU want to accept it, He himself is ‘Elijah who is destined to come.’ 15 Let him that has ears listen.
Jesus Christ rightfully said about John the Baptist that he was a messenger, and he was destined to come as Elijah.
I Am Sending Elijah
Was this prophecy of Malachi fulfilled in its entirety with John the Baptist? Would there be a greater fulfillment later in time? Malachi chapter 4 answers:
Malachi 4:1-2… For, look! the day is coming that is burning like the furnace, and all the presumptuous ones and all those doing wickedness must become as stubble. And the day that is coming will certainly devour them,” Jehovah of armies has said, “so that it will not leave to them either root or bough. And to YOU who are in fear of my name the sun (Strong’s #H8121 Daylight) of righteousness will certainly shine forth, with healing in its wings; and YOU will actually go forth and paw the ground like fattened calves.
This passage of Scripture gives us two things. First: a time frame of when God was going to do a great healing. Second: it identifies someone particularly important who is coming. Who is the Sun / Daylight of righteousness?
First let us answer this question before continuing on looking at Malachi.
I like to call your attention to what the Holy spirit revealed to the father of John the Baptist found here in Luke chapter 1.
Luke 1:67-79… And Zechariah its father was filled with holy spirit, and he prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, because he has turned his attention and performed deliverance toward his people. 69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, 70 just as he, through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, has spoken 71 of a salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us; 72 to perform the mercy in connection with our forefathers and to call to mind his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to Abraham our forefather, 74 to grant us, after we have been rescued from the hands of enemies, the privilege of fearlessly rendering sacred service to him 75 with loyalty and righteousness before him all our days.
Zechariah identified that God was doing something with his people, it was to be a deliverance and salvation that the prophets of old spoke about, but how was this going to be done?
Luke 1:76-79… But as for you, young child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go in advance before Jehovah to make his ways ready, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender compassion of our God. With this [compassion] a daybreak (Strong’s #G395 Sunrise) will visit us from on high, 79 to give light to those sitting in darkness and death’s shadow, to direct our feet prosperously in the way of peace.” 80 And the young child (John the Baptist) went on growing and getting strong in spirit, and he continued in the deserts until the day of showing himself openly to Israel.
This deliverance and salvation had to do with who John the Baptist was and his responsibility to identify someone as being the “sunrise”, who was to give light to the world. We now know this proved to be Jesus Christ even as the apostle John witnessed it.
John 8:12… Therefore, Jesus spoke again to them, saying: “I am the light of the world. He that follows me will by no means walk in darkness but will possess the light of life.
Jesus Christ proved to be the light of the world, the sunrise of righteousness. But what about Elijah?
Malachi 4:3-6… And YOU people will certainly tread down [the] wicked ones, for they will become as powder under the soles of YOUR feet in the day on which I am acting,” Jehovah of armies has said. “Remember, YOU people, the law of Moses my servant with which I commanded him in Horeb concerning all Israel, even regulations and judicial decisions. “Look! I am sending to YOU people Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah. And he must turn the heart of fathers back toward sons, and the heart of sons back toward fathers; in order that I may not come and actually strike the earth with a devoting [of it] to destruction.”
The law of Moses that God gave him at Horeb was the 10 commandments. Those 10 commandments were written by God and engraved into stone. They were something that was going to last for an exceedingly long time unlike those written on the scrolls. The best place to have the 10 Commandments of God engraved is in your heart. Because the heart is the seed of our motivation. John the Baptist spoke in such a way that God’s people were ready to hear what the sunrise of righteousness had to say about their deliverance from the wicked enemies of God.
John the Baptist did not fully fulfill this prophecy of Malachi in its entirety, and now we know there will be a greater fulfillment of this prophecy simply because it has to do with the time frame that Malachi the prophet spoke of. What time frame would that be? The Great and fear inspiring day of God is when?
Sovereign of the universe and great God Jehovah has prepared a great witness to be given by his last prophets, and where would we found to be written? It is in Revelation chapter 10 and 11.
Revelation 10:11… And they say to me: “You must prophesy again with regard to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings.
Did the apostle John fulfill this prophesying commission? And is this message or assignment completed as of now?
Revelation 11:3-7… And I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.” 4 These are [symbolized by] the two olive trees and the two lampstands and are standing before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire issues forth from their mouths and devours their enemies; and if anyone should want to harm them, in this manner he must be killed. 6 These have the authority to shut up heaven that no rain should fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every sort of plague as often as they wish. 7 And when they have finished their witnessing, the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them.
The apostle John did not fulfill the commission but this that John wrote was for the two witnesses to fulfill. We know that two witnesses have not come prophesying their message as of yet. Their message is not one of good news. Their message brings torment to the rulers of this world. So, I will tell you truthfully that you better make your way straight before the fear inspiring day of our great God is brought to completion. Take a knee and swear that Jesus Christ is the Lord of heaven and earth before it is too late. Philippians 2:9-11
To recap what we should have learned from reading these passages of Scriptures and entertaining the questions that were proposed are as follows:
Recapping What We Learned.
As of today, the good news is not been brought to completion. The two witnesses have not started to prophesy.
We are all obligated to the 10 Commandments that should be written upon our hearts.
The arm of God has come, the son of righteousness has shed light of truth upon a darken world of the things that we should and should not do.
The Christ is a means of salvation and deliverance for us. We all should have the goal to be pressing forward for the kingdom of heaven as Jesus revealed at Matthew 11:12.
The call to make the Lord’s way straight was a call to get right in your heart before God, and to wash yourselves for repentance before salvation and deliverance was to be given.
The time for God’s kingdom had come and the time for the acceptance of God’s king is at hand.
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