By Warren W. Wiersbe
Mark 1 cites two quotations from the Old Testament prophets, Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 (note also Ex. 23:20 ). The words messenger and voice refer to John the Baptist, the prophet God sent to prepare the way for His Son (Matt. 3 ; Luke 3:1-18 ; John 1:19-34 ). In ancient times, before a king visited any part of his realm, a messenger was sent before him to prepare the way. This included both repairing the roads and preparing the people. By calling the nation to repentance, John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah and Malachi join voices in declaring that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Jehovah God.
Jesus called him the
greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:1-15 ). In his dress, manner of life, and message of repentance, John identified with Elijah (2 Kings 1:8 ; Mal. 4:5 ; Matt. 17:10-13 ; and note Luke 1:13-17 ). The “wilderness” where John ministered is the rugged wasteland along the western shore of the Dead Sea. John was telling the people symbolically that they were in a “spiritual wilderness” far worse than the physical wilderness which their ancestors had endured for forty years. John called the people to leave their spiritual wilderness, trust their “Joshua” (Jesus), and enter into their inheritance.
John was careful to magnify Jesus and not himself (see John 3:25-30 ). John would baptize repentant sinners in water, but “the coming One” would baptize them with the Spirit (Acts 1:4-5 ). This did not mean that John’s baptism was unauthorized (see Matt. 21:23-27 ), or that water baptism would one day be replaced by Spirit baptism (see Matt. 28:19-20 ). Rather, John’s message and baptism were preparation so that the people would be ready to meet and trust the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s Apostles were no doubt baptized by John (see John 4:1-2 and Acts 1:21-26 ).
