Isaiah and Malachi prophesied about the one who would come before the Messiah. "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." {Isaiah 40:3} What testimony did John the Baptist give concerning Christ and His work? A look at his testimony gives much evidence to consider.
John's birth and his vow. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." {Luke 1:15-18} John was Jesus' cousin, born six months before Jesus, a direct fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy.
The preaching of John the Baptist. John's preaching was fearless. Talking with the Jews who opposed God's will: "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." {Matthew 3:7-9} John would not compromise before Herod. "For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." {Mark 6:17,18}
John's preaching had purpose. "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." {John 3:27-30} John's baptism looked forward to Christ's sacrifice--the shed blood, which could pay the redemption price for the sins of the world (Matthew 3:3-11).
John's preaching was prophetic. "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." {Matthew 3:10,11} He looked forward, and pointed men, to Christ.
John's witness of Jesus' baptism. "And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." {John 1:32-34} John understood his purpose--to point men to Christ. He did his job well.
Can the testimony of John the Baptist help us to better understand the work of the Christ? It is valuable testimony that adds great weight on the side of the truthfulness of Christ's works. Could John be just one of many who were deceived? I think not!