Mateus 3

1 Now in those days John the Baptizer began preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near!" 3 For this is he who was referred to by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"A voice crying-out,

‘Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord,

make His paths straight.’ "*The reference is to Isaiah 40:3. Hebrew poetry, and prose, makes heavy use of parallel or synonymous statements. From the context in Isaiah it seems clear that "in the wilderness" goes with the verb ‘make straight’, not ‘call out’. But why a straight road in the wilderness? Any road facilitates the movement of people and goods, but a straight road through accidented terrain is a major asset. (Actually, Isaiah 40:3-4 describes the construction of a modern superhighway.) John was the voice, but it was the people who had to make the road. So how about us? Are we supposed to be making such a road, and if so, how? At the very least we should be proclaiming biblical values to the world by every available means.

4 Now John actually used clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; while his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region of the Jordan went out to him, 6 and were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.