In my preparation for tomorrow morning’s message I am studying the life and ministry of John the Baptist. As the angel announced to Zacharias, John’s purpose was to turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God (Luke 1:16) and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). Who is this “Lord”? Zacharias was an Old Testament saint and would have taken that as a reference to Yahweh the covenant God of Israel.
Further proof is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s quotation of Isaiah 40:3 in reference to John’s preparation ministry. He is clearly to “make ready the way of the LORD!” Who would John identify as this Lord whose way he was preparing? Simply ready John 1:35-36. He clearly identifies Jesus as Yahweh in the Old Testament.
