◆“A Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness” (John 1:15–28) November 23, 2025

At that time, the people of Judah were under the rule of the Roman Empire. They were a nation with a long history. What thoughts must arise in the hearts of a people when their nation falls under the control of another? Our own country has fortunately never experienced such a situation, though we have, in the past, been the occupiers. And we can imagine the feelings of those who were once under our rule from the fact that, even after more than eighty years, those memories remain vivid and unforgettable.
The people of Judah longed for a deliverer. In their language, that meant the “Messiah.” The Jews of that time fervently hoped for the Messiah’s arrival. So when someone appeared who might possibly be the Messiah, the people truly expected it—and when they learned it was not so, they were deeply disappointed. Even so, they kept hoping: perhaps the next one would be the true Messiah.
It was in such a time that John appeared—not the author of this Gospel, but the one known in the other Gospels as John the Baptist. He was the introducer of the Messiah, Christ. Verse 15 tells us how he testified about Him:
“John testified about Him and cried out, saying, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because He existed before me.’”
John was a relative of Jesus and was about six months older. Yet he knew that Jesus was the Messiah and humbled himself before Him. John did not exalt himself; he pointed to Jesus Christ and lifted Him up. Here we see the true posture of a witness.
We Christians, too, are witnesses of Jesus. We speak from our daily experiences about the greatness of living by believing in and following the Lord. Yet when we do so, we do not shine the spotlight on ourselves. We do not boast in our experiences; instead, we speak of the Lord who gave those experiences, and we boast only in Him.
Paul says in Galatians 6:14:
“But as for me, may I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let us stand humbly before Jesus and before people, giving glory only to the Lord as we proclaim Christ.
In verses 19–23, we read of priests and Levites coming to question John. “The Jews from Jerusalem” does not refer to ordinary residents but to people of religious authority. Hearing rumors of John’s message, they sent priests and Levites as investigators. They asked, “Who are you?”—likely in a tone much sharper than the polite wording suggests. In essence, they demanded, “Who do you think you are? By what authority do you speak this message?”
John replied that he was not the Messiah, whom the people were expecting. He was not Elijah, nor the prophet whom Moses had foretold. Confused, they pressed further, saying in verse 22:
“Who are you, then? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
If they brought back no answer, they would be accused of neglecting their duty. In response John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” This is John’s identity—and ours, as witnesses.
“A voice crying out in the wilderness.”
This phrase comes from the prophecy in Isaiah. Those who introduce Christ are voices crying out in the wilderness. The wilderness refers to a geographical desert, and indeed John ministered in such a place. But it is also a metaphor for life itself—the “desert of life,” an expression once used even of Tokyo: a place of hardship, unexpected challenges, and a lack of peace. This is the wilderness.
The religious leaders of the time were not voices crying out in the wilderness. They enjoyed privilege and wealth and had no concern for the struggles of the people. But witnesses of Christ are voices in the wilderness. Standing within the wilderness themselves, they experience the wonder of walking with Jesus there—and speak of that wonder to others.
Therefore, we need not say, “These hardships mean God is judging me,” or “Perhaps I am not saved,” or “Maybe my faith is too weak.” No—we are called precisely to be voices crying out in the wilderness.
John introduced Christ. Let us look at verses 24–28 along with Matthew 3:11–12. Verse 26 says:
“There stands among you One whom you do not know.”
The Japanese ecumenical translation renders this more clearly as “There stands among you One whom you do not know.” Christ, your Messiah—the One who loves you and longs to meet you—is not far away. He stands among us, in the very midst of the wilderness in which we live.
Matthew 3:11–12 says:
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but… He (Jesus Christ) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor, gather His wheat into the barn, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
“Repent” was the core of John’s message. Repentance may involve reflection, but its primary meaning is “to change direction.” To change one’s way of being. It is a turning—from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, from living by one’s own desires to living in obedience to God.
Then comes the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Those who receive Jesus as Savior are given the Holy Spirit—God with us always. But those who reject the Savior receive the baptism of fire, a warning of judgment. It is the message of grace and of the danger of rejecting that grace—of salvation and judgment. When we speak of the grace of God, we also speak of His judgment. Salvation from judgment is precisely what God’s salvation is.
John pointed to Jesus and proclaimed repentance and grace. If you are in Christ, you too are called to the same mission. Some answer that calling as pastors; others as servants in the church; others as witnesses in their workplaces. The forms vary. But let us remember this: there is no Christian who is not called to the same mission given to John the Baptist.

Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.