The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 210

in_ thefr i11q11fr!/· They_ as~ i1;t every shape ~nd form, and nsk again and iigain ; and in this th~y nrc "·or~hy of mutation by all mqmrers for truth. If your first question fails, ask agnm nnd agtun. How many have not been admitted to tho temple of truth and the hean'n of life because they only timidly knocked at the door once and then ran nlrnf ! But tl1is deputation were persistent and demandincr. And in this thcv wero neither wrong, intrusive, nor unwelcome. The ministry of John was such as to deserve aud demand inquity. The public had a right to demand his testimonials, and ho was rcad_r to furnish them. 'fruth suffers. not by inquiry, but gains. This inquiry in its pers1ste?cy and demand was as pleasmg to John as it onght to be profitable to the deputat10n. 5. The inquiry is made of tM proper party. Many ask for information everywhere but where they are likely to get it. They try to gather knowledge of a person of everybody but of the person himself. They try to find a risen Saviour in an empty grave, find the stars in the day, and the sun in the night. But this deputation net wisely and intelligently in their search for knowledge concerning John by comin"' to John himself, and asking him," Who art thou?" And who was so likely to know and reply? If you want water, go to the fountain. If you want to know something about the rose, do not go to the oak or even the lily, but go to the rose itself; look nt its delicate beauty, and inhale its sweet perfume. If you want truth, go to him who is the Truth. Do not accept things at second hand when you can get them new and fresh. So far as the formality of this inquiry goes, it is wise and intelligent. II. J OIIN's ANSWER. Negatively. To the form of the inquiry which implied th·at he might be the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet, he gave a. firm denial. 'l'his proves his strict honesty as an herald. 'l'he temptation would be too strong for an impostor or an ambitious upstart; he would likely reply affirmatively or evasively. These are questions which no one but John had to answer. His position was unique. He had stron"' individuality and transparent honesty. He would be no other than himself. Hi~ only ambition was to occupy his own place, and work out hie own mission in life. -4.ffirmativily. He was glad to deny in order to affirm; to say something about himself in order to introduce the great subject of his mission-the coming Messiah. He refers to himself as a subject of ancient prophecy, and therefore n divinely appointed herald (Isa. xL). "Now, I am that voice." We have here: 1. The import of his mission. "Make straight the way of the Lord." This implies: (1) That the Lord was coming. He was coming in his Son-their long-expected. Messiah. He was close at hand ; in fact, in their midst, although they knew him not. (2) That his way had become crooked. The way of the Lord, as opened by himself through Moses, was straight, leading directly to the Messiah; but they had made it crooked and uneven with their traditions and wicked conduct. (11) That it should be immediately straightened. This was their solemn duty, and this they were called to do by suitable preparation-by repentance, by a radical reformation and inward cleansing. 'lhe King was at hand, and the way should be worthy of the distinguished traveller. Let every barrier to the progress of his chariot be removed; and, that his march may be triumphant and men be blessed, his way should be straightened. 2. His chai·acteristics as a messenger. In addition to those indicated, we have: (1) Mysteriousness. '"!'he voice." He was a mystery to himself as well as to others. Born. and bred in the desert, holding closer communion with heaven than with earth, with God than with men, with ancient prophets and seers than with his own family, having dreams from early youth of a Divine mission which sud<let1ly burst out into a voice like a peal of thunder upon the wilderness, people listened, wondered, and were stirred to inquiry; and in this whirlwind of excitement he was balf a mystery to himself as well as to others. (2) Self-obliviouS11ess and devotion to bis mission. As if he were to say," You have suspected me of being the Christ, Elijah, or tbe prophet: I am neither, only the voice of one crying," etc. 'l'he voice ia that of some one ; but never mind that some one, but attend to the voice and its contents : your Messiah is in it." With John it was not the messenger, but the mission; not the herald, but the coming King. And it should ever be so. 'l'he minister is but the voice-the herald of the King, the aural expression of Divine thought, to be heard rather than Been. (3) There is a 6triking adapta.tion. His work was crying, aud he was tho voice. He was a herald with a Divine message, and he had a voice to publish it, We should not grumble because we have not some gifts, if we have the necessary gifts for our special calling; if we hale not, we have made a mistake. "\Vhen our land was a mornl on. 1. 1-Gl.J 'l'HE GOSPEi, ACCORDING TO ST. JOIIN. 71