Reflections on Luke 3

 

Luke 03 (Contemporary English Version)

1. For fifteen years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.
   
2. Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests. At that time God spoke to Zechariah's son John, who was living in the desert.
   
3. So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, "Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven."
   
4. Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.
   
5. Fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill. Straighten the crooked paths and smooth out the rough roads.
   
6. Then everyone will see the saving power of God.' "
   
7. Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment?
   
8. Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.
   
9. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire."
   
10. The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"
    
11. John told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else."
    
12. When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?"
    
13. John told them, "Don't make people pay more than they owe."
    
14. Some soldiers asked him, "And what about us? What do we have to do?" John told them, "Don't force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay."
    
15. Everyone became excited and wondered, "Could John be the Messiah?"
    
16. John said, "I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
    
17. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the husks with a fire that never goes out."
    
18. In many different ways John preached the good news to the people.
    
19. But to Herod the ruler, he said, "It was wrong for you to take Herodias, your brother's wife." John also said that Herod had done many other bad things.
    
20. Finally, Herod put John in jail, and this was the worst thing he had done.
    
21. While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up,
    
22. and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, "You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you."
    
23. When Jesus began to preach, he was about thirty years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back through Heli,
    
24. Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph,
    
25. Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai,
    
26. Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda;
    
27. Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri,
    
28. Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er,
    
29. Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi;
    
30. Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim,
    
31. Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David,
    
32. Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon;
    
33. Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah,
    
34. Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,
    
35. Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah;
    
36. Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech,
    
37. Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Kenan,
    
38. Enosh, and Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God.
    

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    Luke gives in quick succession the initiation of John the Baptist's ministry and also of Jesus' ministry. John's ministry began when "God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness." (3:2) From that point John "went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (3:3) Luke quotes Isaiah to relate this to John's preparing the way for the Lord.

    
    

    John's message to the people in preparation for Jesus was one of repentance. Salvation was coming through Jesus but repentance was the way to receiving that salvation. He also spoke of coming judgment saying, "Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees!" (3:9) If they were to avoid this judgment and be ready for the Lord's salvation, they needed to produce fruit "consistent with repentance." (3:8) When the people asked John what they should do, he gave them examples, not of how to receive the salvation of the Lord, but of fruit consistent with repentance. Man is prone to assume he can earn his salvation through good works. Therefore every man-made religion contains some element of earning salvation. So our first inclination may be to assume these examples of good works point to earning one's salvation. But John was saying that if we are truly repentant it will be evidenced by fruit indicating a change of heart. A change of heart that reflects God's teachings. Repentance, not good works, is the key to receiving the Lord's salvation. The good works are merely the evidence of repentance.

    
    

    John's ministry could not be compared to that of anyone of whom these people had ever heard. It was evidently this different nature of his preaching and probably the power behind his preaching that caused the people to begin wondering if he could be the Messiah. As soon as John became aware of their wondering he set them straight: "I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (3:16) It was in this raised atmosphere of expectation that Jesus came to John to be baptized as were the multitudes. But His baptism was unlike any other. Following His baptism the heavens opened and God's Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus and God's voice was heard from heaven saying, "You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You!" (3:22) Thus, Jesus' ministry was initiated. So as John's ministry was initiated by God's word coming to him, Jesus' was initiated by God's Spirit coming on Him.