# 15 Who Is This Guy Anyway?

Joh 1:19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 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."

Having mentioned John the Baptist’s role as a witness back in verse 15, John, now inserts the testimony of that witness. We know from the other gospel’s that John the Baptist was well known in the region around the Jordan. He was a powerful preacher, who preached repentance and baptism for the remittance of sins. Multitudes came out to hear him and were consequently baptized.

Remember, it has been 400 years since God has sent a prophet to Israel and the tyranny of Rome was wearing on the people, much like the iron hand of Pharaoh wore on the Israelites during their 400 year period of slavery to Egypt. So John the Baptist was quite the buzz as he stirred up hope of deliverance.

Lu 3:15 puts it this way: “Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,”

Naturally, the religious leaders of the day sent out priests and Levites, (experts on the Scriptures)  to check this guy out.

It’s almost like a courtroom scene when the witness is asked to state their name and occupation. “Who are you?” Initially John does not answer their question directly, rather he tells them who he is not! He says, “I’ll tell you one thing, I am not the Christ, I am not the Messiah, I am not the Deliverer.”

Hmmmm, well, that answers their main question, but the priests and Levites dig a little deeper.  “What then, are you Elijah?”

A great question in light of the last word from the Lord in the Old Testament found in  Mal 4:5!  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

John replies, “Nope.” So they ask the next logical question, “Are you the Prophet?” This question is in line with what was written in De 18:15,  "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,”

Again, John says, “Nope!”

Finally they admit their mission to John, “Look we need to report back to the home office and tell them what you are up to out here.” John again gives them an indirect answer. He says, “read the book of Isaiah especially that part that speaks about a “voice in the wilderness, because that’s me! I am that voice!”

The priests and Levites knew exactly where to look. They didn’t need chapter and verse like we do. But Isaiah 40 gives us all the information we need to know about John.

In Isa 40:3 we read, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”

And John’s message (his cry in the wilderness) was to point the people to Jesus, According to Isaiah 40:9 he was to “Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

And what did John say when Jesus came to Him? Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Mission accomplished!

John’s message hasn’t changed. The priests and Levites need to heed it and so do you and I! Repent! Have godly sorrow over your sins and turn your life over to the Lamb of God who takes away those sins and restores your fellowship with God!