Voice Crying in the Wilderness

John 1:20-23   
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John called everyone to repent, to turn from their sin to God through the Messiah, the Christ.  He did this not in the city where everyone lived, but in the wilderness so that they had to be drawn out to come to him to hear.  Either people came to hear out of hunger, or they came to question or stop him as the priests were sent by those who were of the council and opposed anyone not of them. John still called out for all to straighten up.