Read Luke 3:1–6
Questions from the Scripture text: In what year of whose reign does this occur (Luke 3:1)? Who was governor of Judea? Who was tetrarch of Galilee? What were his brother’s name and titles? Who was Lysanias? How many high priests were there (Luke 3:2)? Who were they? But to whom did the Word of God come instead of all of these? Whose son was he? Where did it come to him? Where did John go (Luke 3:3)? What was he preaching? In fulfillment of what did this happen (Luke 3:4)? What did Isaiah say would happen in the wilderness? Whose way were the people to prepare? What five types of corrections do Luke 3:4-5 call for, in order to prepare that way? What would all flesh see, by means of that preparation (Luke 3:6)?There are SO many other candidates for the Word of God to come to! Not one, but two, high priests. Three tetrarchs of three different regions. The governor of Judea. Even the emperor of the entire Roman Empire.
But to whom does the Word of God come? To a prophet in the wilderness. Why? Because there is a way that needs prepared. And there is a LOT of work to do. Filling valleys, leveling hills, straightening crookedness, smoothing roughness. What are all of these images for? “He went … preaching a baptism of repentance.”
Repentance is needed to prepare someone to “see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6)—as we see how great and varied is our sin, we rejoice all the more to see God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. But it is neither civil nor ecclesiastical authority that can produce repentance. The Lord does this by the proclamation of His Word.
Is your joy over Jesus small? It may be because your appreciation for your need of repentance is small too. And God’s remedy for that is the preaching of His Word!
How does God prepare the way for you to see His salvation? When does it happen?Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH179 “Forgive Our Sins, As We Forgive”
No comments:
Post a Comment