The voice of one crying in the wilderness.
I. Ministers ought to show zeal and earnestness in their office (Isaiah 58:1; Hosea 8:1; 2 Timothy 4:2). A minister of the Word must not do the work of the Lord negligently or coldly, but with zeal and fervency of spirit. This zeal and earnestness consists chiefly in
(1) being affected and moved in his own heart with that which he delivers, feeling the power of it in himself;
(2) labouring so to speak as to affect and move his hearers to the embracing of that which is taught. This is done by the particular applying, and earnest urging and pressing of the doctrine taught, to the consciences of the hearers; when it is not only delivered in general manner, and so left, but particularly applied, for the reproving and convincing of sin in people, and for the stirring of them up to good duties (Ecclesiastes 12:11). The doctrine of the Word (preached by the ministers of it) is compared to nails fastened, to show that it must be driven home, and up to the head (as it were), by the hammer of application.
II. Ministers should also, with courage and boldness of spirit, deliver the word and message of the Lord (Ephesians 6:20; Jeremiah 1:17; Ezekiel 3:9). We deliver not our own message, but that of God; we speak not in our own name, but in the Name of the Almighty. Let us then, with all boldness, deliver God’s message, not forbearing to reprove sin, nor concealing any part of the truth, for fear of men’s displeasure (G. Petter.)
God’s use of man’s voice
The highest praise of a prophet is that he should be simply a “voice” employed by God. God borrows voices still. While the weapons of our warfare are heavenly, the weapons of His warfare are earthly. For the human lips a Divine message must be sought; for the Divine message human lips are requisite. Consecrate thy lips to Him, and He will pour grace into them. (R. Glover.)
The preacher a voice
A preacher should, if possible, be nothing but a voice, which should be always heard and never seen to cry is to preach with such force as is worthy of the truth, without lowering the voice through complaisance. To this end he must not be a man of the world, but one who comes, as it were, out of the wilderness, without relations, without friends, without secular engagements, which may thwart and obstruct his ministry. The first man who appears in the gospel is one entirely dedicated to repentance: the first example and the first precept are an example and a precept of repentance-so necessary is this to salvation l (Quesnel.)
Novelty and mystery
I. A wonderful preacher.
1. The subject of prophecy.
2. The last of the prophets.
3. Choosing a strange place to preach in.
4. Adopting an antiquated garb and manner.
II. A wonderful sermon.
1. Not the exposition of a creed.
2. Not concerning traditions and ceremonies.
3. Personal-as repentance is a personal duty.
4. Practical-as leading to visible results.
III. A wonderful congregation.
1. Strangely composed-of city and country people.
2. All travelling a great distance to hear the preacher.
3. All yielding to the truth-confessing their sins.
4. All submitting to the rite imposed by the desert preacher. (J. C. Grey.)
Christ’s public entrance upon His ministry
I. The need of the human herald of Christ. Though our Lord came in the fulness of the time, the time was not ready for Him, so far as His own people were concerned. The popular heart was intensely cold and unrepentant. A certain measure of national disaster will bring repentance and reformation. People read chastisement in their sorrows. But without spiritual guides there comes on religious indifference. The popular heart was softened. It was prepared for the truth, and to be an honest witness of Christ’s miracles. Here lies the whole philosophy of the Christian ministry. Christ could operate directly on the heart without the human instrument. But He requires of man that he go before Him, and do all that the human voice can do, and then He comes to complete the order of salvation. He gives man as much as he can do and bear in the great work of saving men.
II. The human preparation of Christ for His work.
III. The subjection of the servant to the master. (J. F. Hurst, D. D.)
A rough man for rough work
He had rough work to do; therefore a man of refined taste and delicate organization could not perform it. John is fitted for his work-a coarse man levelling mountains and filling up valleys, sternness in his looks, vehemence in his voice. The truth is-Reformers must despise the conventionalities of society. They have rude work to do, and they must not be too dainty respecting the means they adopt to effect it. Adorn your frontispieces, embellish your cornerstones, but let the foundations be as rugged as you please. Decorations are for the superstructure, strength and solidity for the base. Luther has often been charged with rudeness, coarseness, and even scurrility. The indictment contains, perhaps, too much truth for us successfully to gainsay. But we should not forget that he had a coarse age to deal with, coarse enemies to contend with, coarse sins to battle with. Coarse or not coarse, the question is-Did he do his work? If he did that, who are we to cavil at the means he used? Would our smooth phrases and rounded periods accomplish the task of regenerating half Europe, and of giving the other half a shaking from which it has not yet recovered, nor is likely to recover this century? Regenerate half Europe indeed! Shame upon us! We cannot regenerate half a parish, and who are we to find fault with a mall who regenerated half a continent? Who will go to fell forest trees of a thousand years’ standing with a superfine razor? Is not the heavy axe the fit tool wherewith to cut them down? (J. C. Jones.)