Luke 3:1-18
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—2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.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.’”
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.”
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 withwater. 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.
Luke 3:1-18 PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD
Springford Baptist Church: January 8, 2023.
Again, our theme for this new year of 2023 is “BECOMING”. How do we intentionally become more and more of who God intends us to be? How will we prepare the way for the Lord in 2023 by preparing ourselves to become less as Jesus becomes more?
When we are asking significant questions in our exploration of Luke’s gospel, we can consistently discern God’s guiding hand for us as individuals and as a church. We can recognize who God wants us to become.
If we are thinking seriously about God’s guiding hand and if we ask the question that those who had come to hear John asked, What should we do”?, there will be answers that come to us.
In many cases, we already have a sense of the kinds of things that we are called to become as followers of Jesus and His way.
John the Baptist quotes from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah:
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. (Luke 3:4) Before a king made a journey to a distant country, the roads he would travel were improved. In a similar way, preparation for welcoming Jesus the Messiah was made in a moral and spiritual way by the ministry of John. His ministry focused on repentance and forgiveness of sin and the need for a Saviour.
Don’t you find that our awareness of the persistent struggle we have with sin in our lives causes us to be keenly aware of our need for a Saviour?!
John said very plainly, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. (Luke 3:8a)
The question “What should we do” ? is the right question to ask.
It is to be expected with God’s guiding hand that as we confront wrong attitudes or neglect that we will be prompted to be BECOMING different. When we respond with the compassion of Jesus or are aware of anything else in our lives that requires repentance, there will be an answer to , “What should we do”?
The answer provides the fruit that proves repentance.
We can recognize our sin, but if we haven’t made a change and demonstrated our repentance by BECOMING changed, then it is empty and has no meaning.
John called on people to turn away from their sins and the acceptance of his baptism was a sign that they had done this.
However, it is not just turning away from our sins.
Deciding to follow Jesus, is a decision to live to please Him. This is not an easy road to travel. Absolutely, it requires a great deal of us!!
Notice that John gives very practical examples that are close to home in answer to the sincere question, “What should we do”?
“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(Luke 3:11)
Sharing with those in need is for everyone. Even those who have very little can share what they have.
What does this accomplish?
Practical needs are met and our loving God does want to people to be clothed and fed. As a result of sharing, love grows in us.
We are kept from becoming selfish or having more than we need. Both of these can affect our relationship with God and could keep us from turning to God and relying on Him. They could prevent the way being prepared for our Lord.
Through sharing, we can be preparing the way for the Lord and we can be BECOMING how He wants us to be.
vs. 13 This instruction is specific to tax collectors, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to. Tax collectors were notorious for taking more than required and keeping it for themselves.
This of course led to resentment and poor relationships.
The directive here from John the Baptist highlights honesty.
This can be applied to our circumstances when we choose to be honest on our income tax returns and to claim everything accurately. If we follow these instructions, we will not be making false insurance claims.
As followers of Jesus, people should be able to trust our integrity.
Christians must be careful to pay what they owe in a timely manner and to pay a fair and reasonable amount to employees or for services given.
vs. 14 Apparently soldiers, the military also often participated in unethical practices.
In answering the question, “What should we do”? for them it was,“Be content with your pay”(vs. 14) Don’t be trying to get more dishonestly or by intimidating and harassing.
Whatever the context, everyone is expected to live in such a way that Jesus Christ is honoured.
Now we all know that sometimes the standard that people go by is, “Well everyone else is doing it”. Can’t you hear your mother saying, “Does that make it right?”
If you are doing something that you know you should not and that would not please God-STOP IT!
If you are not doing something that you know you should do, don’t make excuses- START DOING IT!
This is the BECOMING we are being challenged around in this new year 2023.
How do we know with confidence what we should do or should not do?
It begins with legitimately caring about doing the right thing which is something that God places in our hearts when we give our lives to Him, when we choose to follow Him.
I can guarantee that if we ask, “What should we do”? God will make that clear. God will show us.
Understand that asking the question, places all of us in a position of responsibility.
When we know what God is asking of us, the only choices are to obey or not to obey God. We cannot protest, “I didn’t know.”
John’s message had a huge impact on the people.
They were stirred up by what he said.
They even wondered in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. (vs. 15) John did not pretend to be someone that he was not.
A strong message that demands change from the insight out is a God-given message.
Of course, only the Holy Spirit can bring about this life change.
Only the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us can move us to do what we should do!
John humbly admits, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I will come…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16)
We can all recall our failed attempts on various occasions to think, say and do what we know we should, what God wants of us. Even heightened determination on our part does not lead to success in keeping resolutions.
If we are to live faithfully as God calls us to live, we will need the life changing power of God’s Holy Spirit!
Thankfully, this overcoming power is available to us. If avoiding sin and consistently living for God was just up to us, we could all expect failure.
But God in His wisdom has given us access to the life changing power of his Holy Spirit. This provides supernatural possibility for us to change, to produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
We could express it this way in answering what any of us as followers of Jesus prepared to live for Him and to welcome Him into every area of our lives should do:
WE SHOULD WALK THE WALK AND NOT JUST TALK THE TALK!
God is waiting for us to invite his Holy Spirit to make this happen and for us to actively be BECOMING those who prepare the way for our Lord!!