GLEANING FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our
God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low: the crooked places shall be made straight and
the rough places smooth. 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the
Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 40-3-5)
A. Isaiah prophesied about a voice that would come and proclaim a message preparing people for the coming of God. At the 1st
coming of Jesus John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy (Matthew 3:3).
B. This would ultimately cost John his life as he was beheaded by Herod (Matthew 14:1-12).
C. John the Baptist was a partial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Isaiah 40:5 states that all flesh will see the glory of God. The glory of
Jesus was not revealed on a global scale at the 1st coming. The revelation of Jesus was limited to a very small number of people in the
region of Israel and He appeared mostly as a servant who came to suffer and purchase men for God through the giving of His life on the
cross.
D. At the 2nd coming of Jesus that Isaiah 40:5 will indeed be fulfilled. This is the very prophecy of Jesus Himself:
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)
7 When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)
E. There will be again a “voice in the wilderness” to “prepare the way of the Lord” before the 2nd coming of Jesus. I believe many
even now that are hearing this message were born for such a time as this and are marked to be messengers of His return like John.
F. Let’s look to John the Baptist to see what revelation and posture of lifestyle prepared him to be a voice.
II. REVELATION OF GOD AS A BRIDEGROOM
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. (John 3:29)
A. John identified himself as the friend of the Bridegroom. John had revelation that Jesus, the Son of God, was a Bridegroom pursuing
a bride.
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride so shall your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:5)
B. Bridegrooms that are waiting to marry anticipate and dream of their coming marriage. They rejoice when the wedding day comes.
They greatly anticipate the day. God anticipates the day of greater intimacy with us.
C. Jesus desires deep intimacy with His bride. He wants us and has gone great lengths to have us.
45 …the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold
all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46)
D. Jesus adorns His bride with His glory as He makes us great.
You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isaiah 62:3)
1. This is a picture of a proud and happy bridegroom, proud of the beauty of His wife, showing her beauty off for the whole world
to see.
2. God gave His own life so that I could be a royal jewel in His hand.
E. Jesus the Bridegroom delights in His bride.
You shall no longer be termed forsaken…for the Lord delights in you (Isaiah 62:4)
…He delivered me because He delighted in me (Psalm 18:19)
F. John was able to eagerly wait for the voice of God because he understood he was pursued and enjoyed by God. This revelation of
the Bridegroom fueled John’s spiritual pursuit and equipped him to not love his life even unto death (Matthew 14, Revelation 12).
III. MINISTRY OF STANDING AND HEARING
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. (John 3:29)
A. John reveals his primary occupation as one who “stands and hears Him”.
B. John’s joy and passion was fulfilled when he heard the Bridegroom’s voice. John longed to feel what He feels and partner with Him in
His desires. This truly defines friendship with God.
C. John’s focus in life was to remain before God and to hear Him.
D. When he heard Him there was nothing more that touched his inner man more so powerfully. His fulfillment in life was hearing from
the heart of God.
E. What a profound invitation: to hear what is on God’s heart, to feel what He feels, to be a friend of the Bridegroom God!
F. Jesus spoke of John the Baptist as one who took hold of the Kingdom of God with violence.