Was John the dipper Elijah? ~ Cross reference of Luke 3:3 to Isaiah 40:3

Luke was written by a follower of Paul and never met Jesus. He wrote his gospel based on his efforts talking to people who probably knew Jesus or they heard about Jesus from people who knew Jesus. Scholars believe Luke wrote it around the 80 CE. 

All the 4 gospels have this event documented and I believe it was important for the writers to use prophecies in Malachi and Isaiah to say that Jesus is the promised messiah that Israel is waiting for.

In Luke's version John the dipper is portrayed as a very authoritative figure that very much aligns with Jewish & Romans historical writings. In fact Luke says that the people thought John the dipper was the messiah.

In Luke you do not see any mention of Elijah but that John the dipper was the voice talked about in Isaiah 40. Matthew goofs up by calling John the dipper as Elijah and quoting Isaiah 40 that has nothing to do with Elijah. Mark plays it safe by quoting both Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3 [which is the prophecy about Elijah coming before G-d and the messiah come]. Luke is the better so far where he called John the dipper the voice in Isaiah 40.

All that said, the key message of John the dipper is to repent and be dipped in Jordan because the end of days is round the corner. He also makes it clear that Jesus will come soon and he is greater.

Let us see if Isaiah 40 was a prophecy about John the dipper who was to prepare the way for Jesus.

All Images are links to Google Images. Copyright violations not intended.

All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a]

Isaiah 40:1 "Console, console My people," says your God. 2 Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her, for she has become full [from] her host, for her iniquity has been appeased, for she has taken from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. 3 A voice calls, "In the desert, clear the way of the Lord, straighten out in the wilderness, a highway for our God." 4 Every valley shall be raised, and every mountain and hill shall be lowered, and the crooked terrain shall become a plain and the close mountains a champaign. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see that the mouth of the Lord spoke.

• Isaiah 40 - Isaiah 66 are a set of passages that are about consolation, redemption & comfort for Israel which are very different from the first 39 chapters where Isaiah very sternly calls out all the evil that Judah and Jerusalem have been doing.
• This is such a beautiful chapter where G-d shares his plan to redeem and restore Israel. Isaiah says that G-d's glory will come to Jerusalem and all flesh will see and acknowledge it.
• If you read Isaiah 40:2 G-d is telling that Israel's iniquity has been appeased and that she has been punished double than what she deserved.
• During John's time the Romans ruled over Israel and there were persecutions for sure, but after Jesus came, for 2000 years Israel has received more than what they deserved for not following G-d at the level that G-d expects from them.
• If you read Isaiah 40:11 it talks about how G-d will gather his people like a Shepard gathers his lambs. After jesus came Israel was scattered to the four corners of the world.
• If you see all the persecution that Israel has taken for the last 2000 years, I think Isaiah 40 is near fulfillment [Israel has taken double of what it deserved] and I pray that G-d's glory be revealed in our time.
• Read the below verses and see if these have anything to do with John making the way for Jesus.

Isaiah 40:1 "Console, console My people," says your God. 2 Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her, for she has become full [from] her host, for her iniquity has been appeased, for she has taken from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:9 Upon a lofty mountain ascend, O herald of Zion, raise your voice with strength, O herald of Jerusalem; raise [your voice], fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

Isaiah 40:10 Behold the Lord God shall come with a strong [hand], and His arm rules for Him; behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense is before Him. 11 Like a shepherd [who] tends his flock, with his arm he gathers lambs, and in his bosom he carries [them], the nursing ones he leads.