Make Ready

during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:2-3


18 years have passed and John is called into active ministry. Annas and Caiaphas represented a corrupt priesthood. Judaism had long been struggling without faithful leadership, since their long-ago descent into idolatry led them into captivity. Now they are slaves to Rome. There are professionals in any system whose main objectives are money and power. They find easy pickings in traditional religion, heavy on ritual, but with little or no understanding of the reality it teaches. These high priests knew how to milk it. John didn't go into the Temple. He went into the desert, and preached. Repentance: about-face. Change your attitude about God's plan. Believe God, rather than the phony rituals prescribed by the phony priesthood. When you understand and believe God's grace (believe, receive, repent), you'll realize you are forgiven by God Himself, through His perfect provision.


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? 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. 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.” Luke 3:7-9


The people apparently came in droves to hear the shocking news that they were not safe just because Abraham was their ancestor. Somehow, they must have been searching for meaning, because they did come, and they did hear John, and he was rough on them. You can be cast away, unbelieving Jew, even though you do claim Abrahamic ancestry. The true line of Abraham are BELIEVERS, not just blood relatives (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob = believers). There's more to salvation than being born a Jew. God can make Abraham's children out of the very stones (or gentiles). You have learned and practiced some evil behaviors, not becoming of a people belonging to God. Refresh yourselves on acceptable conduct toward your fellow man, and see what you've become. There must be a change within your soul. There must be evidence that you believe God. (vss. 7-14)

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 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. Luke 3:15-16


"John must be the Messiah!" No. I'm just preparing you to receive Him. In the baptismal water, you identify with the plan of God. The water represents that plan. You become one with the water, hence one with the plan. But the Messiah will make you one with the Holy Spirit. He has that authority. He also has the authority to destroy by fire those who reject His atonement.


And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. Luke 3:18-20


John didn't just chastise the people, he also denounced the abominable behavior of Herod, King of Judea. So Herod committed another abomination: he imprisoned John. Obedience to God's will comes with a price, but the obedient one is willing to pay that price for the pure pleasure of knowing and sharing the good news that the Savior is at hand. John was always different. He knew who he was and what he was born to do, and he did it with everything he had, to the glory of Jesus Christ.