Luke 3:1-6 - "The Word of God Came"

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!