John 1:22-23

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? V. 23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.

With some impatience the members of the delegation now demanded a clear answer, a positive statement. They were under obligations to bring back an answer to the Sanhedrin, and could not go back without having accomplished the object of their mission.

And John now did make a definite confession concerning himself, referring to the prophecy Is. 40, 3. He was the voice of one in the wilderness, calling loudly and urgently that people should make straight and level the way of the Lord.*

The Messiah was about to enter, to come to His people, and Israel was to prepare the way for Him by sincere repentance. Only those that sincerely acknowledge their sins and repent of them may obtain salvation in Christ. That was the chief, the prominent part of John's ministry, to call Israel to repentance.

* See John's setting, the Judean wilderness.