Prepare the way for the Lord

Luke 3:1-38

Key Verse 3:3

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

We are going to study the great moment in history; Jesus began his public ministry. However, Luke tells us about John the Baptist first for he is the forerunner sent by God to prepare the way for the Lord. Preaching a message of repentance, John prepared the way for the Lord. His message is simple but challenges all sinners to repent of their sins practically. In order to prepare the Lord’s coming, we must repent of our sins. Let’s listen to his message and repent of our sins. Jesus may baptize us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may see God’s salvation.

I. The word of God came to John (1-2)

Look at verses 1 and 2. "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontus Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.” In these verses, we can learn two things. First, the gospel is rooted in real history. The story of Jesus really happened in history. Jesus historically lived, died and rose again on the earth. Faith we believe is not a dream, but real; God we trust in, savior we depends are not imagination, but real which we can be certain. Second, God is the sovereign ruler of the history of mankind. Tiberius: the cruelest ruler, Pontius Pilate: an opportunist, Herod: an evil king, Annas and Chayapas; religious politicians. They were leaders of that time. Thought Luke did not tell us, we can know the social, political, and religious condition of that time through the leaders. It was a time of darkness and depression. It seems evil rulers reign over the world.

But at look verse 2. “the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.” Though the world seems under the darkness, God had been working steadily to fulfill his promise.Luke says, “the word of God came to John.” This is really amazing phrase; “the word of God came to John.” In the Old Testament, the word of God came to the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Through the prophets who had the words of God, God challenged kings, even nations to repent theirs sins. At their messages, kings and nations trembled and repented. Likewise, God sent John to prepare the way for the Lord. We might wonder what one man can do in this time of darkness. John did not have power nor authority like Herod or Tiberius. But he had the word of God. The word of God came to him. The word of God is the power of God which created the heaven and the earth. When the word of God came to him, Elijah challenged Israel and kings to repent their sins and defeated all idol worshipper alone. The word of God came to John. Like Elijah, he could challenge the nations, kings and religious leaders, as God’s messenger, with God’s message, declaring judgment of God’s people. “Repent, for the kingdom of God isnear!” The whole Judea trembled at his message.

The word of God is the power of God that even changes the world history. We should receive the word of God to make American campuses into kingdom of priests. We should earnestly pray for RURP, Abe, John, to receive the word of God. Then how can we receive the word of God? The word of God did not come to the high priests, nor kings, nor Ceaser, but John who lived in desert. Giving our all heart to gaining power, knowledge, fame, and money, we can not receive the word of God. Filling our hearts, eyes, and ears with all kinds of entertainment of the world, we cannot receive the words of God. John lived in the desert. Living in the wilderness, he wears camels-hair and ate locust and honey. He was not interested in how to live, where to sleep and what to eat or ware. He was interested completely in doing the job he was called to do. We can not live in the desert like John. For us, it means to give our hearts and minds and souls to God’s words. It means to earnestly seek the word of God through gathering daily bread, writing deep testimonies, reading and studying the bible. Thank God for appointing 7 Messengers for Summer Bible conference. Let’s pray for them to receive the word of God!

Second, John preached repentance and forgiveness (3-14).

Look at verse 3. "He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." What is his message about? His message is a message of repentance. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” No one likes his message. Whether we like it or not, it is the message given from God for us. God sent John with the message of repentance, for we need to repent of our sins and come back to God.

We have gone too far away from God. This sinful and adulterous generation has gone too far away from God. People even do not know what sin is. They consider sin like something they can enjoy and explore for fun. Sin is not sin anymore. Is this sin to watch Super Ball on Sunday? Is this sin to have boy friend or girl friend and sexual relationship or is it practicing human freedom? Is this sin to watch pornography or Is it just personal business? Is the gay marriage sin or practicing human right? “Repent!” This generation needs the message of repentance which tells “sin is sin”. We need to turn from our sinful way to the way of truth. We need to turn from the empty way of life to the mission centered life. Sin is serious. Sin is more serious than cancer. Sin turns mankind, made to be loving, holy and good as God's children, into children of the devil, full of hatred, deceit and wickedness. The wages of sin is death, followed by God's judgment, and eternal condemnation (Ro 6:23, Heb 9:27; Rev 21:8). We must take sin seriously and repent of our sins. We must take sin seriously and preach the message of repentance. Otherwise, we all will be the object of God’s wrath. John also peach the God’s promise for the forgiveness of sins which will be given to those who repent of their sins.

How should we respond to the message? We should repent. In verses 4-6, we can learn how to prepare our hearts through repentance. "As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation."' According these verses, if we want to see the salvation of God, we must build straight and smooth road through repentance. There are a lot of obstacles, like deep valleys, high mountains and hills, crooked road and rough way. Every valley should be filled in. It means we should repent of our empty and meaningless life. If you think that you are worthless and useless, you have to repent of it. It is sin that despising the precious life which God created and loved. Through repentance, we should fill our empty heart with the love of God. Every mountains and hills should be low. It mean we have to repent of our unordinary pride. We need to deeply accept that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro 3:23) and humbly come, asking God’s grace. Crooked road should become straight. We should repent of our sinful, selfish, emotional way of thinking. Instead, we should think based on the word of God. We should obey the word of God. Rough way should become smooth. We should repent of our hot-tempter, selfish ambition, and self-righteousness, but be gentle and kind.

Repentance is like building highway. It is not easy work. It is hard work. Though it is hard, it is worth it. When we repent sincerely, God will save us. Verse 6 says, "And all mankind will see God's salvation."

In verses 7 -14, John helps people to repent practically and teach the true meaning of repentance. Look at verse 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?” Many people came to John to receive the baptism, traveling a long distance. How did John welcome them? He welcomed them, saying “You brood of Vipers.” What a greeting! John did not address them as blessed covenant people, or children of Abraham, but the addressed them as the offspring of the big snake, Satan; lairs, deceivers, evil doers. What John says is perfectly true. We are lairs, evil doers, and the object of God’s wrath. As sinner, we are the object of God’s wrath. However, thank God! There is way to flee from the wrath of God even for such sinners. What is it?How can we flee from the wrath of God? If you think “I am fine for I am a shepherd or Bible teacher,” “I will be OK for I am descendants of Abraham.” “ I will be OK for I repented yesterday!” that is terrible misunderstanding. Who you are can not save you from God’s wrath, even if you are a king or royal birth. How can we flee from God’s wrath?

Look at verse 8. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” John is calling for real, visible repentance in our lives. Repentance is bearing spiritual fruit in our lives. The result of genuine and persistent repentance produces fruit which is changed lives. Genuine and persistent repentance changes the cold-hearted into loving, the habitually grumpy into joyful, the restless wonderor into peaceful, the hot-tempered into patient, the proud into humble, the selfish into sacrificial, the lazy into diligent, the legalistic into gracious. Repentance is not lip service. A God’s servant rebukes a believer, saying “when you die, only your lips will go to the kingdom of God because you repented only with lips.” We should repent with our heart and with our lives.Repentance is not one time event. We should keep with repentance. If we are not making steady progress in our growth of character, we are not keeping with repentance. ‘Produce fruit in keeping with repentance’ is the way to flee from God’s wrath.

Look at verse 9. "The axe 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." When we do not produce good fruit; the fruit of repentance, we will be cut down and thrown into the fire. This is argent message. We cannot say, “Let me think about it. I will repent tomorrow. I will do daily bread from tomorrow. I will do serve sheep from tomorrow.” Tomorrow would be too late. God’ wrath is coming. The axe is already at the root of the trees. When we hear God’s word, we should repent of our sins today, and ask God’s forgiveness!

By John’s powerful message of repentance, they were deeply moved. They were willing to change. They asked, "What should we do then?" They knew they have to turn from their sins. With a shepherd's heart, John helped them to repent practically and in detail. Look at verses 11-14. In these verses, we can see that repentance is not doing something extra ordinary. But it is to start living Godly lives in where we are right now. To the crowd, he said, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." They should repent their greedy heart to pile up things of the world. Instead, they should practice the love of God by sharing what they have with those who do not have. To tax collectors, John did not say, “Quick your job and find noble one.” But he said "Don't collect any more than you are required to." As tax collectors, they have to bear fruit of integrity, and honest in their lives. To the soldiers, he did not say “Quick the job and be a farmer” but he said "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay." As soldiers, they have to bear the fruit of kindness and gentleness, thankfulness in their lives. In our home, in our work place, in our school, we need to start living godly where we are. That is how we produce fruit of repentance.

If we ask John “What should we do?” then what might John told us to do? To a student, he might say, “Do not cheat on exam. Study hard for the glory of God!” To a shepherd, he might say “Do not spend all your time and your money to entertain yourself, but serve sheep with delicious food. Feed sheep.” To a missionary, “Do not worry. Do not fear. Get up and go out campus and peach the message of repentance!” We may listen to him and produce the fruit of repentance.

Third, Jesus is the Christ (15-38).

At that time, many people were coming to John and wondering if he were the Christ. They asked him, “Are you the Messiah?” This was a critical moment in John’s life. He could take the glory of Christ as his own. But he never forgets his mission. His mission is to point people toward Jesus. John used the opportunity to proclaim the greatness of Christ and point People’s heart to Christ. He says three important things about Christ. Look at verse 16. "John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'"

First Jesus is far more powerful than John is. Now John is powerful prophet. He was the one whom the word of God came. What a powerful preaching. What a man of truth. But he says about himself comparing to Jesus: “I am nothing. I am insignificant, comparing to the might and greatness of Christ. I am not worthy to be the lowest salve for Christ.” Then how powerful Jesus would be; how great Jesus would be. People began to have hope and wait for the Christ.

Second, Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. John's water baptism is though important. It did not have the power to transform one’s inner being. But Christ’s baptism with Holy Spirit reaches in to the inmost depth of one’s soul and makes him a new creation. The Holy Spirit can burn up their sinful desire, and consume them completely. The Holy Spirit changes smelly terrible sinners into precious and powerful servant of God.

Third, Jesus is the judge. Look at verse 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." As God, Christ is the Judge of all mankind. He will bless those who accept him with the Holy Spirit and eternal life. But those who do not accept him will be judged like the chaff on a wheat floor, burned up with unquenchable fire. John's message of repentance and forgiveness was good news for those who believed (18). However, for those who rejected it, it was not good news.

John rebuked Herod the tetrarch for taking his brother's wife and for all the other evil things he had done. John was the great man of God who fears God only. He did not care what anybody else thought. He only cares to do what God wanted him to do. He was not intimidated by Herod who had power to kill him. He did not worry what he would do. He just spoke the word of God. John was also a true shepherd, especially for Herod. No one care about Herod. No one say even a word about his immoral life which will bring God’s wrath upon him. However, John boldly rebuked Herod to repent. It was not because he hated him. John wanted him to repent of his sins and receive salvation. With many other words, John earnestly exhorted them. Herod should have repented. But Herod did not repent. Instead, he hardened his heart and locked John up in prison. Finally, John was martyred at the hand of Herod. Unrepentant heart is not small matter. It makes our heart hardened and leads us to do evil things against God. John gave his life to fulfill his mission to preaching repentance to his people Israel. Jesus praised John highly, saying “among those who born of women, there is no one greater than John.” We must carry out John's ministry to prepare the way for the Lord in our times. As a shepherd for campus student, we should speak the truth of God. Let’s us challenge our generation with message of repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Look at verse 21 and 22. This part is the inauguration of Christ in his earthly ministry. Look at verse 21a. "When all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too." John’s baptism is the baptizem of repentance. Jesus is sinless, the son of God. Then why was he baptized? He identified himself with sinners. In order to meet the full demand of the Law, he identified himself with sinners. Jesus took upon himself the burden of sin of his people. Even more, this baptism signifies his decision to go to the cross and shed his blood and die to save them.

This baptism is also public inauguration ceremony into his ministry. Look at verses 21b-22a. "And as he was praying, heaven was opened 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." When Jesus was baptized something fantastic happened. The Holy Spirit came in bodily form like a dove. The Holy Spirit anoints him as the Christ to begin his earthly ministry. And the Voice of God came from heaven "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." God himself approved and proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God, the true Savior and Judge of the world. This testimony of God's word gave Jesus inner strength and a clear identity. This would sustain Jesus through the trials and tribulations of his messianic ministry.

In verses 23-38 Luke gives Jesus' genealogy. Unlike Matthew, who traces Jesus' genealogy back to Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, Luke traces Jesus' genealogy back to Adam the first man, and to God. Matthew sees Jesus from a Jewish view point, as the one who fulfills God’s promise to Abraham. But, Luke sees Jesus from a universal view point as a savior of all mankind including the gentiles.

Today we learned that we must repent to prepare the way for the Lord. We may produce fruit in keeping with repentance. We may preach the message of repentance to help others prepare the way with out compromise. We may challenge this generation with the message of repentance by faith!