John 1:21-24

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said: “I am

‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

The priests and Levites continue to question John by asking him if he is Elijah or the Prophet. John says “no” to both questions. But Jesus says in Matthew 17:12-13 that John is the Elijah that is prophesied about in Malachi 4:5-6. So why did John say “no” when they asked him if he was Elijah. In Luke 1:16-17, it says, speaking of John the baptizer, “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” The Jews thought that John was Elijah reincarnated, but this was not the case. He would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. He is comparable to Elijah, but he is not Elijah. Later, Elijah was transfigured on the mount with Moses in Matthew 17:3. John and Elijah were not the same person. This is what John meant when he said he wasn’t Elijah. He is not Elijah risen from the dead. He is not the Prophet that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18. That Prophet is Jesus, and John is not Jesus. That makes me wonder if the Jews think that both a Prophet and a Messiah are coming. Do they think that the Prophet and the Christ are two different people who are coming?

In verse 22, they press John all the more. They were sent to get answers, and they didn’t want to go back empty-handed. So they said, paraphrasing, “So who are you? We have to have an answer for the people who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” They seem to be getting a little impatient with John at this point.

Then John gave them an answer in verse 23. He quoted Isaiah 40:3 and claimed that he was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.” He was the forerunner. He was here to point people to Jesus. The rest of this prophecy from Isaiah 40:3b-5 says, “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” When the way is prepared and the path is made straight, what will we all see? Jesus! Remember John 1:14? “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” It is AMAZING how everything in the Bible fits together like a puzzle! 

In verse 24, it is revealed that the Pharisees are behind this interrogation of John. I wonder why they sent others to ask John who he was? Why didn’t they come themselves? I don’t know the answer other than they thought they were too high and mighty to go themselves. Did the Pharisees feel their authority threatened by John the baptizer? Yes! The Pharisees had heard that “John the baptizer” was telling people to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. In the eyes of the Pharisees, he had no authority to do this. They were supposed to be in control of all religious matters…..not some man who suddenly came out of nowhere preaching this baptism of repentance. They sent the priests and Levites to question John in hopes of discrediting him. “Are you the Messiah? Elijah? The Prophet? If you aren’t one of these people, then nothing you are saying or doing matters.” Then, the prophecy from Isaiah 40 comes pouring out John! These priests and Levites would have known that prophecy well. They couldn’t discredit Isaiah, right?

To relate this to us today, we have people who don’t believe in the Bible who try to discredit God Himself. We have people from different religions who try to discredit Christianity. We have people who try to discredit Jesus Christ, because they don’t believe He is God’s Son. We, in the Lord’s church, have other religious bodies who try to discredit the scriptures that we show them regarding how to worship and how to be saved. We have people who “cherry-pick” the parts of the Bible that they want to follow, but work super hard to find reasons to discredit the parts that don’t line up with their lifestyle. The wonderful thing that we can always count on is that God, His Son, and His Word cannot and will not ever be discredited. Here we are in 2025, and still going strong! Let’s just keep running the race, Sisters! 

Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? If you aren’t, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Then, we remain faithful in our commitment to Christ until death. (Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 2:20-22)