Luke 3:1-20
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 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.’”
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap 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 the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I cant wait for you to return and make our pathways straight and all rough places level and when all flesh sees the salvation of God. We are not worthy to even buckle the strap on your sandal , as John said….yet you come. Thank you Lord..we must all prepare for the coming of the Lord! In Jesus’name. Amen.
Good morning Lord!
John’s tough love approach is exactly what I need to get my attention. “Brood of vipers” doesn’t have the nicest ring to it if you are the person at whom those words are directed but we all need a spiritual slap in the face at times to remind us that God disciplines those whom He loves. I know that God loves me and all people. He will never quit trying to keep us in His family. The Evil One hunts us down to give us death. But God never stops hunting us down to give us living water and eternal life.
Amen. I believe if we are not being convicted about the things we are doing, we need to question if we really belong and have been chosen by God. We should want and expect his discipline when we go astray as much as he gives us forgiveness and love when we disobey and repent. Unconditional love is what is so amazing about God.
Father,
If a John the Baptist came before me looking like John did when he came from the wilderness, would I listen?
If a Paul wrote to me from prison, would I listen?
Father, may I hunger for spiritual wisdom. May I have discernment to receive spiritual training.
May the blind man see you in me today.
May the deaf man hear you in my words today.
Cover me with the blood of the lamb and clothe me in your righteousness.
I bow at the foot of the cross and cry out for forgiveness.
For you are my God and my salvation.
Amen.
I will prove that I have repented from my sins by the way I live.
great point
John came preaching repentance that resulted in a change in behavior, preparing the people for the coming of the Lord. And now as born again believers , new creations in Christ Jesus, we still need the Holy Spirit to search us and try us and cleanse us from any sin that we may continue to enjoy full fellowship and usefulness for our Lord Jesus, to His smile on our lives.
Oh Lord thank you for eternal life with you. May You prepare my heart for Your coming. May I be a so excited bride waiting for that day in which You will come and gather us into Your kingdom. Fill our lamp with oil as we patiently wait on You
In Jesus Name Amen
We must become like John, preparing the way for our soon returning Yeshua!!!