John 1:19-23 Now this is the testimony of John

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  And they asked him, "What then?  Are you Elijah?"  He said, "I am not."  "Are you the Prophet?"  And he answered, "No."

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?"  He said: "I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said."

 

"I am not the Christ"

 

The emissaries of the priests did not ask specifically if John held himself out to be the Christ.  And yet his first response, "I am not the Christ", indicates that John fully anticipated the foremost matter to be settled was whether or not John the Baptist was the Messiah.  And indeed, about this time several leaders rose up and claimed to be the Christ.  Gamaliel mentioned two of these impostors in the fifth chapter of Acts.

 

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him.  He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.  After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him.

 

But in fact, the Messiah was expected to appear around the time of John's ministry.  Jewish Rabbinical tradition calculated the timing of Christ's arrival based upon the Genesis account of creation.  Below: we draw once again from the extensive research of Risto Santala.

 

[ THE SPIRIT OF THE MESSIAH IN THE CREATION ACCOUNT

Genesis begins with the creation of heaven and earth: the earth was without form, and void. Even in this description the Talmudic Sages scented the beginning of the plan of salvation for humanity:

"The tradition of Elijah teaches that the world is to exist for six thousand years; In the first two thousand desolation; in the next two thousand the Torah will flourish and the next two thousand are the days of the Messiah but on account of our sins, which were great, things turned out as they did." - Sanhedrin 97a.

It was essential to this traditional expectation that the sovereignty of the Torah -- the Law of Moses -- would last 2000 years, the same as that of the Messianic period. In the same far-ranging discussion from which the above citation is taken we find, in explanation, that:

"The seventh millennium will be war, and at the close of the millennium the Son of David will come".

In the discussion which follows mention is made of "The war of Gog and Magog and the remaining period will be the Messianic era, whilst the Holy One, blessed be he, will restore his world only when the seventh millennium is over." - Sanhedrin 97b.

 

This so-called "Elijah Tradition", which represents the understanding of the majority of the Sages, brings to mind the mainstream Christian teaching of the Last Days and the Millennial Kingdom. When six millennia have passed, there will follow, according to some, a thousand-year Sabbath, shabaton. This could be the "Messianic era" after which the "world" will be renewed. 1985 AD is equivalent to the year 5745 in the Jewish calendar, which means that the Messiah ought to have come already. ] - http://www.ristosantala.com/rsla/OT/index.html

 

Indeed, the Messiah ought to have come just over 2,000 years prior to the current Hebrew Calendar date, when adjusted for missing years during the Babylonian captivity.  So according to the Jewish traditions held at the time of Christ, those days were precisely when the Christ was expected.  In light of this research we understand why John's first response was to give assurance that he was not the Christ.  (We should also note that according to this same 7,000 year scheme, the millennium is drawing near!)

 

"What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not."  The Book of Malachi instructs that Elijah would come just before the Messiah.  Jesus also affirmed that Elijah would come first.  Coming down from the mount of transfiguration Jesus told His disciples to keep what they had seen to themselves until after He had risen from the dead.  (Remember that Peter had also just made his proclamation that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God.)  At this point the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"  Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?  But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.” - Mark 9:11-13  Jesus said this referring to John the Baptist.

 

"Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."  See commentary on John 1:18 addressing The Prophet from Deuteronomy chapter 18.

 

"I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said."  John declared that his ministry of repentance and baptism fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah Chapter 40.

 

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!"
Says your God.
"Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
For she has received from the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins."

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord;
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." - Isaiah 40:1-5

 

This call from the wilderness was given to prepare the hearts of the people for the revelation of Christ.

 

Her warfare is ended.  The way of perfect peace with God would be accomplished by Jesus.  But John's call to repentance provided an opportunity for those who truly sought peace to humble themselves before God by acknowledging their sins.  Those who seek the perfect peace that Jesus offers must also come to Him in humility.

 

Her iniquity is pardoned.  The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross: His death, and His blood was the propitiation that would take away our sins.  But the outward cleansing of John's water baptism represented the true regeneration of the mind, the soul, and the spirit that would come through new life in the risen Savior.

 

Prepare the way of the Lord.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. - 1st John 3:8b  A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. - Hebrews 1:8b,9a  Those who seek and follow God must be prepared to walk in paths of righteousness.  The people came to John and asked him, "What must I do?"  John the Baptist instructed them in practical ways so they might do what was right in the sight of God.  And so Paul instructs in Titus 2:11-14:

 

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

 

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.  Jesus did not promote His own glory, but the Father glorified Himself along with the Son.  Jesus prayed on the night before His crucifixion; "Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." - John 17:1b-5

 

The revelation of the Lord, when all flesh shall see it together, will light up the sky from east to west; when Jesus returns in His glory.  But on that sacred night nearly 2,000 years ago, only a few lowly shepherds were present to behold the spectacle of the Lord's humble appearance.

 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"