1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad.
The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2It will blossom abundantly,
and rejoice even with joy and singing.
Lebanon’s glory will be given to it,
the excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see Yahweh’s glory,
the excellence of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands,
and make the feeble knees firm.
4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong!
Don’t be afraid!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution.
He will come and save you.
5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6Then the lame man will leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute will sing;
for waters will break out in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.
7The burning sand will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water.
Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
8A highway will be there, a road,
and it will be called “The Holy Way”.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
but it will be for those who walk in the Way.
Wicked fools shall not go there.
9No lion will be there,
nor will any ravenous animal go up on it.
They will not be found there;
but the redeemed will walk there.
10Then Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return,
and come with singing to Zion;
and everlasting joy will be on their heads.
They will obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus on John's behalf, "'Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?'" (Matt 11:3). That John knew of his unique role in relation to Messiah is evident in our first introduction to Him in Matthew 3:1-3. Identifying Himself by Isaiah 40:3, John was, "'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make ready the way of the LORD, Make His paths straight!"'" After Jesus' baptism, John saw the Spirit of God descend as a dove, and He heard the voice of God out of the heavens confirming Jesus as His beloved Son (Matt 3:16-17). However, as Jesus began His ministry, John was taken into custody in Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea (Josephus Antiquities, 18.117; Matt 4:12), for reasons that are explained in Matthew 14:1-12. The question John sent to Jesus by his disciples was in response to his having "heard of the works of Christ" (Matt 11:2). Absent any report of Jesus' judging his enemies, as John had predicted (Matt 3:10-12), John may have wondered whether this work was awaiting the coming of another forerunner, perhaps Elijah Himself (Mal 4:5). At this point in time, John could not have known that Christ would be rejected at His first coming and that Elijah would indeed prepare the way for the Lord's return to judge His enemies (Isa 61:2b; Matt 17:10-13). All John needed was the assurance that Jesus gently provided by His citation of the messianic signs He had performed in fulfillment of Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; and 61:1. One such miracle was the recent, well-publicized raising of widow's son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Thus, Jesus' messianic credentials were demonstrated by the works He performed in fulfillment of prophecy.