John: the Baptist and Jesus

Darkness cannot comprehend light, and the world cannot understand the church. The Pharisees were concerned about the Baptist's activity and credentials; he said they were asking the wrong questions and pointed them from himself to Jesus. Since they had questioned his baptism he referred to the 'real' baptism that Jesus would give - the gift of the Spirit. The expression 'a voice in the wilderness' suggested the barrier between God and his people was coming down and their divine Saviour was about to arrive. But the way is not only the way to God, it is also the way for God to enter our heart - thus he preached repentance without which we keep God outside. Our sincerity in receiving Jesus may be tested by whether he takes a higher place while we take the lower, in estimation, authority, and provision of every need.