Lesson 8: Luke 3:1- 15 - The Ministry of John the Baptist

Who’s in Charge 3:1-5

English Standard Version (Chapter 3)

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

A good look into the past on the Bible pages needs to show who is in charge! Man may rule in the land, but God rules over all in the affairs of mankind. We are given an historical setting complete with the names of long forgotten rulers because someone is going to research and call the Bible facts into question. Dr. Luke comes to our aid with specific details on 7 of the local Jewish and government leaders. We are being told of a definite specific time. The list here looks like this:

1. Ruler: Tiberius Caesar

2. Governor of Judea: Pontius Pilate

3. Tetrarch (minor king) of Galilee: Herod

4. Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis: Philip

5. Tetrarch of Abilene: Lysanias

6. High Priests: Annas and Caiaphas

7. Wilderness: John, son of Zechariah

The 15th year puts the narrative into context for our history buffs and figures into the truth of what is being said. Rome was in charge, but it wasn’t. The tetrarch’s Herod, Philip, and Lysanius were all Jews and they were figurehead kings to sooth the conscience of the Jewish people while Rome ruled the roost. Galilee was a province of Rome, west of the Jordan River. Philip looked after two of five Roman provinces east of the Jordan. Abilene was north of these territories. The northern trade routes came right through the middle of Abilene. The wilderness of John the Baptist was an uninhabited area of the Holy Land in general. It was dry and lifeless, even the Romans were not very concerned with it.

The two high priests and John are not government officials, but the priests had to get along with the Romans and serve their needs as well as Israel. John was the #1 official thorn in the side of the government and the temple. He served that position to the point of losing his head over his preaching. His preaching at this point was from the book of Isaiah. We are told that the Word of God came to John when he was in the wilderness. This is how God came to the prophets, and even Jesus. He sought them out and gave them their message. Isaiah is a mighty weapon and revealer of the Son of God, Jesus. We see this “wilderness revealing” in the Life of Christ and also the apostle Paul. The wilderness was a good teacher. John’s message is new for this point in the life of the Scriptures: “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” No mention is made in John’s ministry of the temple sacrifice for sin, so this is a radical change and not popular with the priestly crowd. But even back then, baptism did not forgive sins, the process of going into the water was a symbol for religious purification. Verbal repentance is the avenue of forgiveness. This is clearly New Testament. The importance of the verbal pronouncement of repentance is integral for salvation. Let’s look to the book of Romans, chapter 10:

King James Version (Chapter 10)

8 But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.

Deuteronomy 30: 13 -15 shows the Old Testament view of speaking the truth with your mouth:

English Standard Version (Chapter 30)

13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.

As John speaks to them and us, he shows them that he is the one preparing the way of the Lord, the one crying out in the wilderness. The message was to make you path straight into the arms of Jesus. It seems the message is repentance, with a big side of good and plenty: filled valley’s, leveled mountains, crooked ways made straight, rough roads made smooth, and the winning of souls (verses 4-6.) While this kingdom message was what a lot of people needed to hear in the form of encouragement, it is also a warning of change to come. You are not just preparing for the Lord, you are preparing for crying in the wilderness, flattened mountains, and flooded valleys. The last one is for Michigan, I think, as it says rough roads will be made smooth. Nonetheless, this is a message of change. Kingdom living is not business as usual, even if you are quoting Isaiah. Let’s see how this message was received.

3:7-9

King James Version (Chapter 3)

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

This message was received not just to the multitudes in front of him, it was to the whole nation of Israel. The first result of his preaching was a multitude of repentant sinners getting baptized. The second result was that we get to read his caustic preaching: O generation of Vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” It was caustic in a good way, the message moved people.

The third result was a means to go forth from where we are at when you respond to Jesus: bear fruits in keeping with repentance!

The fourth result is to hear preaching about the day of judgement. Every tree that does not bring forth fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. The people knew hell, fire, and brimstone preaching when they heard it. But this is new stuff and the very atmosphere in the land has changed.

We see in verse 8 that if the job to tell God’s story is not told, and the people to not change and turn from their wicked ways, He is able to go somewhere else and raise up children for His name. Our message is an awesome responsibility. This is the time to go and tell.