Luke 3:1-6
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of
Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis,
and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests,
the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he
went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance
for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of
Isaiah the prophet, saying: "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 brought low; The crooked places shall be
made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.' "
Luke is presenting the historical Jesus to us as the
perfect Son of Man and reminding us at the same time that Jesus is the sinless
Son of God. God Himself robed in human flesh! In chapters one and two, Luke
records the details of the births of John, the son of Zacharias, and Jesus, the
Son of God! After a brief account of Jesus being taken to the Temple as a
twelve-year-old boy, Luke now jumps forward thirty years and describes the
beginning of the ministries of both John and Jesus.
When John the Baptist appeared on the scene, no prophetic
voice had been heard in Israel for 400 years. His coming was a part of God's
perfect timing, for everything that relates to God's Son is always on schedule
(Gal. 4:4; John 2:4; 13:1). The "silent years" were nearly over. God
was about to speak again, first through a prophet and then through His Son.
Because of this fact and because it was so important, Luke carefully dates the
event. He tells us specifically that John’s ministry began in the fifteenth
year of Tiberius Caesar was between A.D. 28/29.
In his introduction to the ministries of John and Jesus, Luke
named seven different men in Luke 3:1-2, including a Roman emperor, a governor,
three tetrarchs (rulers over a fourth part of an area), and two Jewish high
priests. But God's Word was not sent to any of them! Instead, the message of
God came to John the Baptist, a humble Jewish prophet.
So, Luke amasses all of this weight of historical evidence
to document the sudden appearance of John with his rousing cry:
"Repent!" An emperor, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high
priests, all to introduce the man who was, by all outward appearances, just a
backwoods, desert preacher. But what a man! And what a preacher! And what a
message!
Notice how John came in verse 3. He came resembling the Prophet Elijah in
manner and dress (Luke 1:17; Matt. 3:4; 2 Kings 1:8). John came to the same area
“in the wilderness” near the Jordan River where Elijah had ascended into heaven
in a chariot of fire, preaching and baptizing. He announced the arrival of the
kingdom of heaven (Matt. 3:3) and urged the people to repent. Centuries before,
Israel had crossed the Jordan (a national baptism) to claim their Promised
Land. Now God summoned them to turn from sin and enter His spiritual kingdom.
Keep in mind that John did much more than preach against
sin; he also proclaimed the Gospel. The word preached in Luke 3:18 gives us the
English word evangelize ("to preach the Good News"). John introduced
Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and told people to trust in Him. John was
only the best man at the wedding: Jesus was the Bridegroom (John 3:25-30). John
rejoiced at the opportunity of introducing people to the Savior, and then
getting out of the way.
Yes, the Word of God came to John, and he began to preach! Today,
the Word of God, (the Bible in your hands), will come to you if you will take
the time to read and receive it! And Jesus, the Living Word, will come to you
and abide in your heart if you will repent, believe and receive Him!
God bless!
