December 26, 2021 – Isaiah 40:3-4 & John 1:23

Still more prophecies from Isaiah who prophesied that Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner:

“A voice of one calling:

‘In the wilderness prepare

the way for the Lord;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain’” (Isaiah 40:3-4).

So clear is the fulfillment. His audience heard him preach and wondered who he was. “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’’” (John 1:23). H. O. MacKey preached a sermon from our text in John entitled “An Uncouth Messenger, But a Glorious Message.” I am reminded that, like John, we are so little to be honored but, oh my, the One about whom we testify!

Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding!

“Christ is near,” we hear it say.

“Cast away the works of darkness,

all you children of the day!”

See, the Lamb, so long expected,

comes with pardon down from heav’n.

Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,

one and all, to be forgiv’n. --William Henry Monk (19th century)