JOHN THE BAPTIST Luke 3:2-9

This post covers the beginning work of John the Baptist.

John came to the Jordan and abundant water for baptizing.

This is the John that became John the Baptist, Luke 3:2-3: “…the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  

 His work fits Is. 40:3-5 as quoted again in Luke 3:4-5.

This language sounds like that of a forerunner for a king on a journey. A forerunnerr made the trip easier for the king by leveling the unleveled or rough places and straightening the crooked places.

Likewise, a forerunner announced beforehand the coming of a king. Thus, John would announce that Jesus –the Messiah—had come.

But first, preparation of the people needed to occur.

Also, John spoke with fiery words, Luke 3:7-9:

“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? 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. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.” 

When his audience invoked their ancestral ties to Abraham, he explained that, instead, God wanted repentance and fruits that showed a real change of heart.

John’s final statement–an axe laid at the foot of the trees—meant that the time for repentance had arrived, and destruction of the nation by God would occur.

In summary, what do these verses teach about John the Baptist?

1.He did the work of a forerunner and provided an opportunity for his audience to truly correct their sins.

2.Because he fulfilled the prophecy by Isaiah, his work also constitutes a powerful proof that God sent him, because only God can prophesy.

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