Life of Christ part 23 Matthew 3.1-12, Mark 1.1-8, Luke 3.1-20

 Matthew 3.1-12, Mark 1.1-8, Luke 3.1-20

Luke’s Gospel anchors the events of Jesus' ministry in its historical context. Tiberius was now the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate had become the governor of Judea. Two descendants of Herod the Great ruled portions of the land, Herod Antipas having jurisdiction over Galilee and Perea, and Herod Philip ruling over the regions east of Galilee. Luke’s historical note reminds us that the events of Jesus’ life took place in time and space. He really lived, He really walked among us, He really died and rose again.

It was within this historical context that messianic expectations grew among the people of God. The Jews were ready for a change. They desperately wanted David’s promised descendant to rule on the throne. At this very moment in history John the Baptist burst on the scene. The Old Testament scriptures had predicted such an individual, a “voice crying in the wilderness.” Indeed, John's ministry took place in the desert of Judea where he called God’s people to repent. They had lived for themselves long enough. It was now time to turn back to God. John must have been a striking figure. He wore the traditional garb of the ancient prophets, a camel hair tunic and a leather belt. He lived and preached in the rugged Judean wilderness. He challenged people to demonstrate their repentance by being baptised in the Jordan River. Many people, hungry for spiritual reality, responded to John's message and were baptised.

Not everyone, however, was favourably impressed with John's message. Two sects of religious leaders, the legalistic Pharisees and the compromising Sadducees, went out to the Judean desert to inspect John's work. John addressed these sceptics in harsh terms, referring to them as snakes and demanding that they show fruit of repentance. At the same time John assured the crowds that he himself was not the Messiah they were anticipating. The Messiah would be more powerful, more authoritative, and more worthy of honour. In fact, John described himself as unworthy even to untie the coming Messiah’s sandal!

The Messiah would baptise, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire.