Post by foxjj on Jan 19, 2024 7:30:05 GMT
Luke Chapter 3: 1-22 - NIV.
Luke chapter 3 begins by placing the ministry of John the Baptist in its historic time setting by referring to the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and naming Pontius Pilot as the Roman Governor in Judea:
"1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—”
To further establish the time historically, Luke goes on to mention Herod Antipas and his brother Philip. These are the sons of Herod the Great, who was ruling when Jesus was born. Herod was an Edomite and a friend of Rome, who was first given a mandate to rule Judea by Antony in 41 B.C. Herod was at first opposed by the descendents of the Maccabees, and had to flee, later he returned with an army and captured the city of Jerusalem - putting an end to the rule of the Maccabees. Known as a hard ruler, Herod experienced much unrest among his subjects, and many died under his rule. He also had members of his own family murdered, among them one of his wives, Mariamne and two of her sons. When Herod died in 4 B.C. Rome divided his kingdom between his sister Salome, and three of his sons who became tetrarchs, ruling a portion of the kingdom.
In verse 2 Luke refers to the Jewish religious leaders:
“2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”
Annas became high priest in 6 A.D. however, in 15 A.D. Rome replaced him with their own appointee Caiaphas, the son - in - law of Annas. The Jews however continued to recognise the authority of Annas as we see in John chapter 18, and Acts chapter 4. Two major religious groups, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, had divided Judaism with their opposing views on religious life. This was the world that John son of Zechariah was born into. Luke continues by introducing the ministry of John, who became known as the Baptist:
“3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
God sent John as the forerunner of Messiah in order to prepare the hearts of the people. The repentance John encouraged was a change of heart, which included sorrow for sin and a determination to lead a holy life. In accepting John's message, the people would go into the Jordan to be baptized as a public act of repentance. It is interesting that John did not go to Jerusalem with his message, instead, he stayed out in the wilderness. This spoke to the spiritual state of the nation as a wilderness, for a spiritual dryness had come upon the people. God had not spoken through a prophet for 400 years. John’s message was blunt and to the point:
“7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely —be content with your pay.”
That crowds came out to hear, and then be baptized by John shows the hunger many still had for a genuine relationship with God as they waited for Messiah:
“15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.”
John knew he was the herald - the messenger preparing the way for Messiah - the one who was to come. He did his job well, because one day, Messiah stood before him in the river Jordan:
“21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The ministry of Jesus had begun, subsequently, as verse 6 states: "all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
Today let us praise God for prophecies fulfilled.
John Joseph Fox.
Luke chapter 3 begins by placing the ministry of John the Baptist in its historic time setting by referring to the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and naming Pontius Pilot as the Roman Governor in Judea:
"1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—”
To further establish the time historically, Luke goes on to mention Herod Antipas and his brother Philip. These are the sons of Herod the Great, who was ruling when Jesus was born. Herod was an Edomite and a friend of Rome, who was first given a mandate to rule Judea by Antony in 41 B.C. Herod was at first opposed by the descendents of the Maccabees, and had to flee, later he returned with an army and captured the city of Jerusalem - putting an end to the rule of the Maccabees. Known as a hard ruler, Herod experienced much unrest among his subjects, and many died under his rule. He also had members of his own family murdered, among them one of his wives, Mariamne and two of her sons. When Herod died in 4 B.C. Rome divided his kingdom between his sister Salome, and three of his sons who became tetrarchs, ruling a portion of the kingdom.
In verse 2 Luke refers to the Jewish religious leaders:
“2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”
Annas became high priest in 6 A.D. however, in 15 A.D. Rome replaced him with their own appointee Caiaphas, the son - in - law of Annas. The Jews however continued to recognise the authority of Annas as we see in John chapter 18, and Acts chapter 4. Two major religious groups, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, had divided Judaism with their opposing views on religious life. This was the world that John son of Zechariah was born into. Luke continues by introducing the ministry of John, who became known as the Baptist:
“3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
God sent John as the forerunner of Messiah in order to prepare the hearts of the people. The repentance John encouraged was a change of heart, which included sorrow for sin and a determination to lead a holy life. In accepting John's message, the people would go into the Jordan to be baptized as a public act of repentance. It is interesting that John did not go to Jerusalem with his message, instead, he stayed out in the wilderness. This spoke to the spiritual state of the nation as a wilderness, for a spiritual dryness had come upon the people. God had not spoken through a prophet for 400 years. John’s message was blunt and to the point:
“7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely —be content with your pay.”
That crowds came out to hear, and then be baptized by John shows the hunger many still had for a genuine relationship with God as they waited for Messiah:
“15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.”
John knew he was the herald - the messenger preparing the way for Messiah - the one who was to come. He did his job well, because one day, Messiah stood before him in the river Jordan:
“21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The ministry of Jesus had begun, subsequently, as verse 6 states: "all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
Today let us praise God for prophecies fulfilled.
John Joseph Fox.
