The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 316
The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 316
John 1:19-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
A Voice in the Wilderness
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.”
The Christ – Meditation in The Wisdom and knowledge of God
I thought we would take a look at the ‘complete Jewish Bible’ This is my first look at this version and it is interesting to me and so I thought it would be to all of us as well.
John 1:19-23 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
19 Here is Yochanan’s testimony: when the Judeans sent cohanim and L’vi’im from Yerushalayim to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he was very straightforward and stated clearly, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Then who are you?” they asked him. “Are you Eliyahu?” “No, I am not,” he said. “Are you ‘the prophet,’ the one we’re expecting?” “No,” he replied. 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? — so that we can give an answer to the people who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 He answered in the words of Yesha‘yahu the prophet, “I am The voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert make the way of Adonai straight!’”
The Jews, as a nation in the days of John the Baptist were looking for the advent of their Messiah, Just as the Church of Jesus Christ/Messiah is looking for the beginning of the Second Advent of Christ/Messiah. The testimony of John is thorough and to the point, and so; what is the point. In the Hebrew text, the words; The voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert make the way of Adonai straight! Are emphatic.
My take on this is that John the Baptizer who did not say much during his integration, finally directed the priests and Levites to Scripture, which is the BEST action for anyone who is searching for the TRUTH. Isaiah 49:3
Isaiah 40:3 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) 3 A voice cries out: “Clear a road through the desert for Adonai! Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God!
Isaiah 40:3 New King James Version (NKJV) 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.
Whether you are a Jew or Gentile, the message for all of mankind is that Jesus IS and Jesus was already in the presence of the Jews who sent the priests and Levities to John the Baptist. John 1:10-11 – He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Sadly, the ‘church at large’ does not receive John the Baptist or the Christ/Messiah today, but we do receive a babe in a cradle and we give gifts to one another. We sing songs too! But, should we not be weeping and mourning over the condition of our Churches and the state of Country? Luke 11: 16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
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