“As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee” (Mark 1:2 KJV).
There are many roads to travel with the topic Prepare Ye the Way: We could focus on the prophet Elijah, or his New Testament counterpart John the Baptist, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit as the Forerunner who prepares the way for Jesus in salvation; however, one thing must take precedence. Regardless of the avenue, realizing that Jesus Christ is coming again must remain the focus. When the way is ready, the road is not the end. It must always point to His future return.
Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel was not an end in itself—it was to prepare the way for Israel to return to Jehovah. John the Baptist’s ministry was not an end unto itself as he plainly stated: “Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him” (John 3:28). Even the Holy Spirit’s ministry does not speak of itself: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14).
In like fashion, “ministry” cannot be the ultimate focus. The work of the ministry is preparatory and must look to the end of that preparation. It must look to the return of Jesus Christ. It must embrace the words of the Voice while living in this world’s wilderness. As the Baptist said: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled” (John 3:29).
Notice the words standeth, heareth, and rejoiceth. In preparing the way, the ministry must stand in the presence of God, like Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 17:1), hear the Word through the Holy Spirit, and rejoice in those words, as did John. The phrase “This my joy therefore is fulfilled” emphasizes John’s joy. John meant his delight stands filled with joy like a cup to the brim. There is no more room for any more without it spilling over. That is a prerequisite in preparing the way!
A friend of the bridegroom, the shoshben, John, held a unique place regarding a Jewish wedding. He acted as the liaison between the bride and the bridegroom; his goal was to bring the bride and bridegroom together and not to be the center of attention. It was not about him, but it was about the bridegroom and His bride.
That is why John could say with joy, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). He embraced his task to arrange the marriage between the bride and the bridegroom by announcing the bridegroom’s arrival. He was preparing the way.
It is also why John described himself as “…the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23 KJV). In v. 23 and in “the Bridegroom’s voice” of 3:29, the word voice has the idea of disclosure: “the act or an instance of disclosing; exposure; a revelation.” John heard what he spoke, and his joy was fulfilled in it.
The Apostle Paul would later confirm that word, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you…” (1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV, emphasis mine). And that is the ministry’s charge as well: To hear His Voice, the Voice of revelation, and then be a voice of disclosure in this world and to His body. That is the ministry’s joy, His Voice, and sharing what was heard. The body of Christ’s foundation is disclosure; the rock of His church is revelation (cf. Matthew 16:16-18).
