No man in all of human history has so affected the course of civilizations as has the life, teaching, and death of Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed as the Christ, the promised messiah. Whether in response to or in reaction from this man, men and nations have risen or fallen, but none has been indifferent.

So great has been the magnification of Jesus that the circumstances and lives of persons surrounding him have been alternately diminished, stereotyped, scorned, or simply enveloped and swept along in the aura of the Jesus story. One such historical personage is that of John the Baptist, he who was given the heaven-sent mission-responsibility-to "make straight the way of the Lord."

These two men were cousins, John being the elder by six months. Both men lived in obscurity for thirty years until John dramatically stepped forth to preach repentance and preparation for the coming messiah, followed by Jesus a few months later. Recent scholarship and archeological discovery have shed some light on the cultural milieu of their era but has not, however, been able to inquire into the fundamental questions of their relationship.

This book's title embodies the well-known titles ascribed to these cousins: "The Voice" who is John and "The Word" who is Jesus. These men and their heaven-sent missions are as indissolubly linked as are the linked functionality of their monikers. Therefore, it is especially important that this relationship be explored and historical clarity established.

Almost 400 Bible references help in developing an understanding of the relationship between Jesus and John, their religious antecedents, and their missions.