John the Baptist is depicted in the New Testament as the prophesied forerunner to the Messiah, preparing the people of Israel for Jesus' ministry. This role is supported by all four Gospels ([Matthew 3:3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3:3&version=ESV), [Mark 1:2-3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1:2-3&version=ESV), [Luke 1:76, 3:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1:76,+3:4&version=ESV), and [John 1:23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1:23&version=ESV)) which reference [Isaiah 40:3-5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40:3-5&version=ESV) and [Malachi 3:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+3:1&version=ESV), identifying John “As the *voice in the wilderness* tasked with making straight the path for the Lord. The word Lord in this passage is (**YHWH - יהוה**), but changed to *Lord* (**Kyrios - κύριος**) . This use of ‘Lord’ ( in Greek) traditionally refers to the God of Israel. ## John is the Messenger In this passage, Matthew is saying that Isaiah is talking about John The Baptist ([Matthew 3:3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3:3&version=ESV)). > [!bible]+ [Matthew 3:3 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/40/3/) > 3. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” %% #Matthew %% John also says the same thing ([John 1:23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1:23&version=ESV)). > [!bible]+ [John 1:23 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/1/) > 23. He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” %% #John %% Luke used this verse in Isaiah in applied it to John The Baptist two different times. ([Luke 1:76, 3:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1:76,+3:4&version=ESV)). > [!bible]+ [Luke 1:76 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/42/1/) > 76. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, %% #Luke %% .... > [!bible]+ [Luke 3:4 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/42/3/) > 4. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. %% #Luke %% [Mark 1:2-3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1:2-3&version=ESV) used the same verse in Isaiah in applied it to John The Baptist. ([Mark 1:2-3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1:2-3&version=ESV)) > [!bible]+ [Mark 1:2-3 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/41/1/) > 2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3. the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” %% #Mark %% All four Gospels are saying that [Isaiah 40:3-5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40:3-5&version=ESV) is referring to John the Baptist. ## John Will Prepare For God To Come To Israel And The Temple Reading the passage in [Isaiah 40:3-5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40:3-5&version=ESV) shows us the context too which they refer. > [!bible]+ [Isaiah 40:3-5 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/23/40/) > 3. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord (**יהוה - YHWH**); make straight in the desert a highway for our God (**אֱלֹהִים - Elohim**). 4. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5. And the glory of the Lord (**יהוה - YHWH**) shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord (**יהוה - YHWH**) has spoken.” %% #Isaiah %% Reading carefully we can see that the person in the wilderness that is to come will prepare the way for the LORD (**יהוה - YHWH**) and make straight the highway for the God of Israel. This prophecy is also spoken of by Malachi the prophet ([Malachi 3:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+3:1&version=ESV)). >> [!bible]+ [Malachi 3:1 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/39/3/) > 1. “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord (**אֲדוֹן - Adon**) whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger (or Angel) of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord (**יהוה - YHWH**) of hosts. %% #Malachi %% [Malachi 3:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAL.3.1) is of great importance in understanding the nature of the Son of God. In the verse, Yahweh the God of Israel ([Malachi 1:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAL.1.1)), and God says that the messenger would prepare the way “before me.” So, it is the LORD God Himself who was coming. Then, God says it is “the Lord” and the “the messenger (angle) of the covenant” who will come to the temple. So is God coming to the temple, or the angel of the covenant coming to the temple? They are one and the same, for the Bible has shown that that angel of the covenant is God himself ([[The Revealed Identity Of The Angel Of The Lord]]). So, Yahweh is equated with the Lord who was to come, and as we know, the prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus. Therefore, “Yahweh” and “the Lord” are equated with Jesus. Luke knew of this, and records Jesus backing up his claim in [Luke 7:24-27](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.7.24-27) > [!bible]+ [Luke 7:24-27 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/42/7/) > 24. When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25. What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ %% #Luke %% Jesus changed the wording of the Old Testament to say that Gods messenger (John) will prepare the way before you (Jesus). But as we read in Malachi that God said John would prepare the way "before me." Jesus has taken a verse about God and applied it to himself. When Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John apply Isaiah's prophecy to John the Baptist, they directly equate Jesus with Yahweh, as Isaiah's text originally speaks of preparing a way for God Himself. This is evidenced by the fact that all four of them swap out "God (**אֱלֹהִים - Elohim**)" for "Lord (**κύριος - Kyrios**)" and say the Lord is Jesus. This is a significant assertion of Jesus' divinity. Furthermore, Jesus reinforces John's role as more than a prophet and affirms that John was preparing the way for Him in [Luke 7:24-27](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.7.24-27). This alignment shows that if the Gospel writers did not perceive Jesus as God incarnate, they would not have adapted these prophecies to apply to Him.