Day 3

Scripture to Read: John 1:23

We saw yesterday, in John 1:22, that those who were questioning John the Baptist continued to push in, wanting to know exactly who John the Baptist was. John the Baptist gives them this answer in John 1:23, “He said, ‘I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.’” Though John the Baptist had said he was not Elijah, he clearly told them that the prophecy in Isaiah 40:3 was written about him. In Mark 1:1–5 and Luke 3:1–6, God confirms that Isaiah 40:3 was a prophecy about John the Baptist. God also confirms this truth in Matthew 3:1–3, “Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’” God leaves no doubt that John the Baptist is the forerunner for Christ our Lord. Again, as mentioned yesterday, the Prophet Malachi foretold of John the Baptist’s ministry in Malachi 3:1 as well as in Malachi 4:5–6. This is significant because the religious leaders of John the Baptist’s day would have known these prophecies. Therefore, those religious leaders should have known without a doubt that their Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, had come. We also should live with zero doubt that Jesus is our One True Messiah.

Challenge & Application

• What’s the significance of John the Baptist quoting Isaiah 40:3 to those questioning him about who he was? • How do you overcome the questions you get about your faith in Christ?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

If you’ve ever been asked the question, “Who are you?” you immediately might have several things running through your mind. You might think to yourself any of the following questions: “Do they want to just know my name,” “Do they want to know what I do,” “Are they asking me what I like and don’t like,” and “Do they want to know what my backgr...

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Day 2

So, the questioning of John the Baptist continues because those questioning him were not satisfied with his answer that he was not the Christ. We read in John 1:21–22, “They asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ And he *said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ 22 Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, so that we may giv...

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Day 3

We saw yesterday, in John 1:22, that those who were questioning John the Baptist continued to push in, wanting to know exactly who John the Baptist was. John the Baptist gives them this answer in John 1:23, “He said, ‘I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.’” Though John t...

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Day 4

God shows us that those who had been sent to question John the Baptist had been sent by the Pharisees. We read in John 1:24–26, “Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, ‘Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ 26 John answered them saying, ‘I baptize in water,...

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Day 5

John the Baptist was not intimidated, nor did he cower at those questioning him and his authority. John the Baptist was also not arrogant or prideful about what God had called him to do. John the Baptist’s humility was genuine as he proclaimed Christ. We read in John 1:26b–28, “…but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who c...

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Day 6

We read in John 1:29, “The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” Here, we read that Christ showed up and when He did, John the Baptist immediately testified of Who Christ was (and, of course, still is). Christ is the Holy Lamb of God as spoken of in Isaiah 53:7, “He was...

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Day 7

We read in John 1:30, “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” John the Baptist reminded everyone that Christ is above all and has always existed. He proclaimed Jesus as God in the flesh. Then, John recorded what John the Baptist said in John 1:31, “I did not recogni...

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