January 17, 2023
That Beautiful Message
“Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” John 1:22-23 (NASB)
I remember hearing the song “Via Dolorosa” in my church back in the early 1990’s by a young lady. When I heard her voice sing the words to this song, they were so clear. It even stuck in my memory so vividly that I can still hear this song in my head today. Was the voice that made it so clear and yet so powerful? If so, why was it so clear and powerful? It wasn’t of the lady’s ability (although she had a tremendous voice), but the message telling of Jesus’ crucifixion and forgiveness. In the last few words of the song, it says:
“The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men. Made its way through the heart of Jerusalem.
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering. Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King. But He chose to walk that road out of his love for you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.”[1]
Listen to the words above in verse (23), “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.” These precious voices. The entire nation heard these voices from the past. John the Baptist voices where the message came, “as Isaiah the prophet said.” This reference is from Isaiah 40:3, “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” John the Baptist said this in his message from Luke 3:4-6, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. ‘Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth; And all flesh will see the salvation of God.” These men of old referred to the One who was coming to provide salvation to all. These voices were so powerful because they spoke by God’s command.
Even today there is power in the voice. Some people have powerful voices with clear abilities to sing, convince, encourage, and teach others each day. Some teach so others can learn, become better students, businesspersons, and so on, but there is one difference. When the voice speaks on behalf of God, there is power beyond power in that voice. It is the voice of God and not of men that makes the difference. When God’s voice speaks, there is power. He is the Eternal Word. The one whose voice speaks for God and His Word has power.
Men like John, you and I have no power in our voice alone. It is when we use our voice to tell others of the message of hope found in the Lord Jesus Christ that we then have power. This power comes from the Word of God and is His message of hope for all. Be the voice of God’s Word to others today. I assure you there is power in his Word, and your voice will contain all the power you need if you share it properly. Today, use that power that is within you to be the voice of God to all.
[1] https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/953218/The+Finest+Moments/Via+Dolorosa