The Luke Project Vol 1- The Gospel in SongParaugs

Make Ready 3:1-20

At first glance of paragraph one from today, my eyes begin to gloss over as I read this list of names and places. Luke has a purpose for including these details. Once again, it was to peak his Greek audience’s interest. They were interested in political events and would’ve appreciated these details. For us today, if we research these rulers, we find Luke’s historical details accurate. This strengthens my trust in Luke’s accuracy for the rest of his story.

We first see John in the wilderness where he was living, preparing to hear from the Lord. Many prophets would separate themselves from society to more clearly hear God’s word to them. When the word came from the Lord, John went into all the districts around the Jordan. He began preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

Luke quotes from Isaiah 40:3-5. He is basically saying, “roll out the red carpet for the King of Kings! Clear a path and make it smooth, for He is coming! Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed to ALL mankind.” Not just the Jews, but all of creation will see and can be saved. This point would undoubtedly speak to Luke’s gentile audience.

John begins preaching with some harsh words for the people who were coming to be baptized without having changed hearts. He calls them a brood of vipers! Baptism should be a symbol of our repentant hearts and changed lives, not the thing that saves us. There are two parts to repentance. We must flee from our sin and must turn toward God. We can’t just say we follow God, but live unchanged lives. If we are to truly follow God, we should be repenting daily and not sit in the stink and filth of our sin. We should be listening to God’s words and following Him. Jesus later says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

John goes on to say, just being in the right family line will not save you either. Don’t think that you are safe from the depths of Hell because your parents or grandparents went to church. John is pointing out the foolishness of this thinking. God wants our hearts! Are our hearts producing good fruit, keeping in line with our repentance? John has bad news if the answer is no. We’ll be of no use and thrown into the fire. 

“Then what shall we do?” they asked him (and we ask today). John gives us several things to strive for: 

1. Share and be generous with others (Luke 3:11)

2. Be fair in your dealings (Luke 3:13)

3. Don’t use your power or authority to abuse or take advantage of others (Luke 3:14)

4. Be content with what God gives you (Luke 3:14)

If we have these good fruits coming from our hearts, we are keeping in line with our repentance. That doesn’t mean we’ll always get it right and never sin. That’s why we must keep repenting and turning toward God. 

The crowd began to wonder in their hearts if John were the Messiah. The Holy Spirit must have informed John of this, because he then gives their hearts an answer. John states that he is only baptizing them with water. When the Mighty One comes, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and a purifying fire! John emphasizes God’s greatness and his own lowliness by saying that he is not even fit to untie His shoe! He wanted to fully squelch out any thought of himself being the Messiah. John tells us that God is separating the wheat from the chaff, His people from the unbelievers. He will gather His people into His Kingdom and burn up the rest. John was urgently telling the people to repent and prepare for Jesus!

John is a prime example of when you speak the truth, not everyone will approve. When you speak the truth to a ruthless and evil ruler, you might even die for the truth. We find out in Matthew 14:1-12 that John was beheaded. Herod does not have the last laugh though. John accomplished exactly what he was created to do and is now in heaven with his King. I believe John’s message still rings out even to us today. We must repent and prepare for Jesus’s second coming! He will come like a thief in the night (Rev. 16:15).  Will we be ready?