Ministry of John the Baptist

Good Morning!

It is a joy to worship with you this morning!

Last week we finished up the birth narrative with the story of Jesus staying behind in the temple.

We learned that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man.

We talked about his human growth and thought about what it means for us to grow just like Jesus did.

This is the reason that we gather on Sunday mornings and in life groups, to grow in our knowledge of God and to know Jesus better.

If you will recall, we began this study of Luke talking about the miraculous birth of two boys.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to see those two boys transition into the ministries that God called them to.

In our passage today, we are going to read about the ministry of John the Baptist.

Meaning we are going to be talking about the time of John’s ministry, i.e., the context, the purpose for which God sent him, and the expected results for those whom John was preaching to.

This ministry is the fulfillment of what Zechariah prophesied about after John’s birth and naming.

Luke 1:76–77 CSB

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

This is what we are going to read and study today in Luke 3:1-9.

Next week we will finish this section of Luke 3 by talking about the Message of John the Baptist.

In that section, John answers the question that is asked in verse 10, “what then should we do?”

How do we respond to the ministry and message of God that is being delivered by John the Baptist?

Today is the setup for us to understand the question and then John’s response to that question.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Let’s read Luke 3:1-9 together and then we will break it down into these three sections.

Context

Purpose

Result

Luke 3:1-9

Luke 3:1–9 CSB

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, 6 and everyone will see the salvation of God. 7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

These first two verses are important to the narrative of this story.

Just like we have seen Luke share the testimony of reliable witnesses, he does the same here by telling us when this ministry takes place.

1. Luke provides historical context for the ministry of John.

Let’s take a bit of a journey through some Roman history as we look at these people that Luke is using for this context.

Tiberius Caesar was the son-in-law of Caesar Augustus.

Caesar Augustus took power as the emperor of Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar and the resulting civil war.

Caesar Augustus is also the one that called for the census that set the birth of Jesus in motion. Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1 CSB

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

Augustus, who was also known as Octavius, ruled until his death in 14 AD.

After the reign of Augustus, Tiberius reigned from 14-37 AD.

This is a depiction of Tiberius on a ring that is on display at the Met in New York.

Caesar Tiberius placed Pontius Pilate in charge of Judaea, where he was the Roman governor from AD 26-36/37.

An inscription at Caesarea Maritima gives the technical title of his position as prefect of Judaea. A prefect was a leader of 500–1,000 military troops.

The office involved military, financial, and judicial responsibilities.

(Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 44).

In other words, he was there to make sure that Judaea followed the rule of Roman law and to keep the peace so that money continued to flow to Rome.

However, Pilate was not at all liked by the Jewish people.

We know that the Jewish people did not like being occupied by other countries, and here is an example of why and specifically why they didn’t like Pilate.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Conflict with the Jewish People)

Conflict with the Jewish PeoplePilate’s cruel behavior and disregard for Jewish customs began immediately upon his arrival in Palestine in AD 26. He obtained his position through his mentor who was known to hate Jews (Philo, On the Embassy to Gaius 159). Pilate first offended the Jews by bringing Roman standards—with images of the emperor—into Jerusalem. Previous prefects had not placed any images in Jerusalem. The Jewish people sent a delegation to Caesarea and pleaded with Pilate for five days to remove the images from the city. On the sixth day, Pilate sent soldiers into the crowd. At his signal, they were to draw their swords and cut the Jews to pieces if they did not allow Caesar’s image. The Jews fell down together and exposed their necks, for they would rather die than transgress their law. Pilate, not desiring a revolution, decided to remove the images from Jerusalem (Josephus, Jewish War 2.9.2–3 §§169–74; Antiquities 18.3.1 §§55–59).

Now, we have an understanding of the Roman rulers that Luke gives us in his list and a bit of understanding of how Israel felt about them.

Let's now talk about Herod.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Roman Conquest

Toward the end of the period of the Roman Republic, Pompey, the celebrated general, began campaigning in the eastern half of the Mediterranean world, winning new territories for Rome. After a short siege, Pompey took Jerusalem in 63 BC, establishing Roman rule in Palestine. In the east, the Romans tended to allow the continuation of traditional government structures and used favored nationals as client rulers. At this time, Rome was morphing from a republic ruled by the Senate to an empire ruled by an emperor, and this change had an impact on the administrative structures of Palestine.

For our benefit, this is happening as Julias Caesar is taking control of Rome.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The House of Herod

One of the early client rulers in the Palestine area for the Romans was an Idumaean, Antipater (d. 43 BC), who had served as a court official for the last Hasmonean rulers. The Romans saw Antipater as a useful ally, and he was appointed to rule over Judaea by Julius Caesar in 47 BC. Antipater was given the title “guardian” (ἐπίτροπος, epitropos) (Josephus, Antiquities 14:143), presumably with the authority to gather taxes. Antipater and his descendants were neither Romans nor true Jews, but retained some measure of authority in the Palestine region until the death of Herod Agrippa II at the end of the first century. Antipater’s descendants were the Herods.

Antipater’s son, Herod the Great, had himself elected as “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate during the chaotic period following Antipater’s death. His authority in the region became nearly absolute. This title was given in Rome in 40 BC because of the sponsorship of Mark Anthony (Josephus, Jewish War 1.284), but it took until 37 BC for Herod to gain mastery over Jerusalem (after a five-month siege; Josephus, Jewish War 1.351) and the region of Judaea, thus establishing himself as a petty king under the sponsorship and control of Rome.

After the death of Herod the Great, his territory was split up into several smaller territories that were divided up among his children.

Herod Antipas, one of these sons, was the Tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BC-39 AD.

So, now that we have taken approximately a third of our time this morning to talk about Roman history.

But why does all this Roman history matter?

How does this enhance your understanding of what God was doing through John and, ultimately, through Jesus?

It matters because it gives us great context to consider the ministry of John the Baptist.

Judea has been under occupation for as long as anyone can remember, and the Romans are just another set of conquerors in a line of great nations that have ruled over God’s people.

It is in the midst of this latest set of overlords that the birth of John and Jesus takes place.

They have grown up under this crazy set of governing bodies and the constant strife that is happening between the Romans, the Herods, and the Jewish leaders.

This is where we have an on-ramp into the story.

This is where we merge in and see ourselves in what is happening.

No matter what our lives look like, there is some level of turmoil at all times.

Thankfully none of us are living under the occupation of another country that has placed a figurehead over us and is now calling himself a king.

But life is still very difficult at times.

We deal regularly with broken marriages, debt, employment, healthcare, abuse, and the list can go on and on.

This is the result of living in a fallen world.

What turmoil are you dealing with right now, and how does this text speak to it?

The world is not much different today than it was back then in terms of the political dumpster fire we are in during this story.

Our lives are no less troubled by admittedly different things, whether it is us or our friends and family.

In the midst of their turmoil and in the midst of ours enters John the Baptist.

He comes with a message that may seem harsh at first, but when it is fully rolled out, we find that it is the very thing that can deliver us from the things that cause so much pain and suffering.

And where does John appear from? Matt 3:1-2, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:2b.

Matthew 3:1–2 CSB

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

Mark 1:4 CSB

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:2b (CSB)

2 ...God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

2. John is preparing the way for Jesus by calling for repentance.

Luke 3:3–6 CSB

3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, 6 and everyone will see the salvation of God.

Let’s talk for a minute about what John is preaching.

It says in verse three that he is “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

Let’s start with baptism.

There was a concept in Jewish culture and history that portrayed something significant happening with the application of water.

Hmm… there was a big event in which the whole world was cleansed with water.

Any guesses? The flood is correct!

In addition, there were ritual washings that happened all throughout a person's life.

But specifically, there is a command found in numbers with regard to washing and the removal of sin. Numbers 19:7-10.

Numbers 19:7–10 (CSB)

7 Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will remain ceremonially unclean until evening.

8 The one who burned the cow must also wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he will remain unclean until evening.

9 “A man who is clean is to gather up the cow’s ashes and deposit them outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place. The ashes will be kept by the Israelite community for preparing the water to remove impurity; it is a sin offering.

10 Then the one who gathers up the cow’s ashes must wash his clothes, and he will remain unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the alien who resides among them.

baptism (rite) n. — the act of dipping something into water (momentarily) as a cleansing, ceremonial, and initiatory rite.

God is speaking through John a command that He had already spoken of long ago, but the people of Israel had forgotten its meaning.

There was a need for them to be cleansed of their sin.

However, the act of baptism would not and will not change their spirit.

If simple actions could fix the problem of sin, then there would have been no need for Jesus.

The problem was not and is not God’s ability to forgive, but rather our unwillingness to stop sinning.

This is why John was preaching a baptism of REPENTANCE!

What does it mean to repent, and how does it change our standing with others and God?

How would repentant hearts change the world's view of the church?

How would repentant hearts change the ministry of the church?

Prior to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the only way that sin could be atoned for was through the sacrifice of a life.

We saw that in the passage from numbers.

A bull was sacrificed, and its ashes were used in the purification washings to make a person ceremonially clean.

The problem was that people's desire to sin was greater than their desire to be clean.

This is still the problem today.

What John is calling for then is that we repent so that we can be forgiven.

Repentance is turning from sin, not simply being sorry for sin.

The lack of repentance is why Jesus came and why God sent John to prepare the way.

John’s ministry was like so many prophets before him.

He was to call out the sin of Israel and prepare them to encounter God.

This is why Luke reminds the people he is writing to of the prophet Isaiah’s words.

Luke 3:4–6 CSB

4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, 6 and everyone will see the salvation of God.

The goal of John’s preaching was that people would see their sins and repent to experience the salvation of God.

We read in Acts that on the day of Pentecost, when Peter preaches, he calls for repentance and being baptized.

The repentant heart is one that receives salvation. Acts 2:38.

Acts 2:38 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentant hearts is the purpose of John’s ministry.

3. A repentant heart produces recognizable fruit.

We have talked a lot about fruit here at TGP.

It is a good, tangible reminder of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

What has been the fruit of your personal repentance?

Look at the way that John addresses the crowds that showed up to hear him preach.

This is some strong language, to say the least.

It doesn’t say that he is talking to religious leaders, criminals, or other evil-doers; he is talking to those who showed up.

Now, we know that this is a summary of John's sermon.

Point number one of his sermon is that people have become serpents.

I don’t know this, but it is a fair assumption that he is comparing them to the serpent that led Adam and Eve away from God.

Point number two in this sermon is the way that they ought to act as God’s children and a reminder that their heritage will not save them.

Point three is what is going to happen if they don’t turn from their wicked ways and toward God.

Look at it with me again.

Luke 3:7–9 CSB

7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

John is preaching towards the salvation that will come through Jesus.

This is his job.

He is to prepare people’s hearts for the work that Jesus will do for them.

Jesus is their salvation.

But what does that mean?

Saved by what and from what?

Dictionary of Bible Themes (6512 salvation, necessity and basis of)

Scripture stresses that fallen human beings are cut off from God on account of their sin. All need to be saved, if they are to enter into a new relationship with God as their Creator and Redeemer. Salvation is not the result of human achievement, privilege or wisdom, but depends totally upon the graciousness of a loving God, supremely expressed in the cross of Jesus Christ. People must respond in repentance and faith if they are to benefit from God’s offer of salvation in Christ.

Salvation delivers us from divine judgment.

All of us will stand before God and give an account for our actions.

But being “sorry” won’t cut it.

Have you ever had someone apologize to you for something and you knew that they were going to do whatever they were apologizing for again?

How did it make you feel knowing that they were just giving you lip service?

This attitude is what John is addressing.

God’s people were going through the motions of asking for forgiveness by offering sacrifices, but their hearts were tilted toward living as they pleased and then asking for forgiveness again later.

He is saying that the fruit of these people's lives tells that they are not growing from God’s family tree.

What does he call them to do in verse 8?

Produce fruit consistent with repentance.

The message to the people on the banks of the Jordan is the same message that God has for all people today.

Our hearts are also tilted toward sin.

We need Jesus so that we to can be saved from the wrath of God when we are judged.

And don’t think that because you call yourself a Christian, you are “safe.”

He goes on in verse 8 to call out the idea that a person’s heritage, or in our case, our culture, will do anything to bring about salvation.

How can we push back against the cultural Christianity that has tricked so many into believing they are saved?

Salvation, deliverance from God’s divine judgment, can only be found in repentance and faith.

Without true repentance, there is no salvation.

Just because you go to church or your parents, grandparents, or significant other have a relationship with God does not mean that you do.

Salvation is personal.

It is not a group activity that you get participation points for even though you didn’t contribute.

In your opinion, why has culture misrepresented the personal aspect of salvation that has led to the belief that proximity equals salvation?

How can you help reshape that false narrative and guide people to the truth?

What role will your personal relationship with God play in the reshaping?

John didn’t get to see the fulfillment of his ministry because he was killed not long after this.

And we are going to get to the full message of what he preached and what that means for us next week.

I want to leave us with this thought today.

In Acts 2:38 Peter implores people to be saved.

Acts 2:38 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

He goes on to say in verses 39-40 that this salvation is for everyone.

Acts 2:39–40 CSB

39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Do you see that after spending three years with Jesus and learning from him that the message has not changed?

Peter is preaching the same thing.

Repent, be baptized, and be saved from this corrupt generation.

This ministry that God did through John is one that is still needed today.

A call to repentance for us, our families, and our friends is the beginning of living in right relationship with God.

All of us are in need of it, and today as we close, I want us to take the time to truly repent of those sins that we keep going back to.

In order to produce recognizable fruit, our hearts must be firmly rooted in Christ.

This is the result that John was preaching toward.

Luke begins this part of the narrative with the historical context showing the turmoil that John’s ministry began.

Then we find that his purpose is to prepare the way for Jesus.

He does this by calling for repentance in the hearts of those that were listening.

As we close today, let’s not miss the opportunity for us to think about these three things and how they can affect our lives right now.

God is calling no matter what turmoil we or other people find ourselves in.

The reason we participate in the body of Christ is to know Jesus and to make him known.

We can receive this message and share it by beginning with a repentant heart.

Guided prayer time:

Consider your own turmoil and the turmoil of others in your life.

Remember the purpose for which we gather, to know and make Jesus known.

Repent of our own sin and pray for the repentance of others.

This is an opportunity for salvation. To mark this moment as your turning from sin and toward God.

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