Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

-Parallel verses:
I Peter‬ ‭2:12‬
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were taking notice of John the Baptist. They were interested in how the people flocked to see this poor, desert-dweller. So in true fashion of leaders who already have all the answers, they sent some of their disciples to find out about him and his claims to power. John answered their questions with respect, but he also spoke truth. He had lived a good life and served God in his area of calling and mission. His service was practical, preaching and baptizing and shepherding his disciples. And he loved people in God’s Spirit.

I love what he says here in answer to his inquirers: “the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” What does this mean? Since we know he preached repentance from sin, I would choose to interpret this in context. I think this could be another way to say it, “Straighten out your sinful lives and humble your hearts as you prepare for the Lord’s arrival. Clean house and be alert to hear the truth and change.” John was a man of deep conviction and he lived this out in life and preached it. Not from a place of arrogance, like he thought he was better than everyone else. He preached it wanting his friends and neighbors to share in the richness of life truly connected to God.
‭‭Lord, thank you for sending John the Baptist. He was a model of a humble and repentant, though vocally honest and true, man. May I model my life after him and reflect you and your truth and goodness so much that ORHERS TAKE NOTICE and ask questions.