Baptism of repentance (Luke 3a)

Baptism of repentance

Luke 3:1-20

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Introduction: Today’s passages open a beginning of the work of God for the salvation of men. John the forerunner of Jesus began the God’s plan for salvation. His ministry was unique and short lived. God planned this because it was necessary for the salvation of his people. His work was preparatory before the real message of salvation was delivered by Jesus the Messiah. The only message John delivered was repentance.  So his ministry is called ‘baptism of repentance.’ John’ mission was so focused on this that he was called ‘a voice’ As we go through this passage I pray that we may come to know the significance of ‘repentance’ and what it means to repent.   

It was the time of Tiberius Caesar. (1-2)

Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Roman empire. His adopted son Tiberius succeeded him to be the Emperor, the second one. He ruled from AD 14 through 37. So 15^th year of his rule means AD 29 when John began his ministry. At that time, Pontius Pilate was the Governor of Judea; Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee; Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonits; Lysanias, the tetrarch of Abilene.  These were the political leaders that John and Jesus had to handle. As for religious authority, there were high priest Annas and Caiaphas. What does these tells us?

•        John’s as well as Jesus’ ministry was anchored in history with a particular time, particular location and particular circumstances. In this way, Luke attests that what he wrote in the rest of the book is also recording of what happened in history.

•        There are three layers of authorities—the emperor first, kings or governors the second and the high priest, third. These were the representations of the conglomeration of the power of men in its utmost form. They held all authority and power over people, political, economic, and religious, particularly over God’s chosen people Israel. In this sense they were the expression of men’s sin in its fullest extent and formed the antithetical forces against God’s will and truth. This was well seen in the personal lives of Emperor Tiberius and king Herod Antipas.

•        As God began to do the work of salvation, all of these three layers of authorities and power must be dealt with power of truth. John began the first of this fight as God called him to do.  As we know by history all these three layers of authorities crumbled down by the power in the Messiah Jesus.

1.       John preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (3-14)  

 (2b-3) This is a succinct summery of John’s ministry and life. The word of God came to John and John delivered it to the people. The message was single one, baptism of repentance and the purpose was for the forgiveness of sins of his people.

How did he carry out his call? It is detailed in the next passages. I will divide this into three.

a.       According to the prophecy through Isaiah (4-6)

Isaiah 1-39 describes the failure of Israel resulting God’s judgment on Israel. From ch 40 Isaiah begin to describe the hope for Israel by coming messiah. So by ch 39 there were vivid descriptions of how Israel would suffer under God’s judgment; exile in foreign nations.

Under this condition, Isaiah gave this prophecy (40:3-5). So the minds of people of Israel were depicted as four different terrains in which coming Messiah must face. They were valley, mountain and hills, and crooked road, rough ways.  These are the figurative description of the conditions of the people of Israel under their sins. As they were, it would be impossible for them to see and to understand the messiah and his message of salvation.  So here God promised to send a voice of one calling in a desert ahead of Messiah. So this voice would bring changes in these four unhospitable terrains so that they might be ready for the coming of the Lord.

What kind of mindset does each of these symbolize? The bible does not say what each of these means. But as we look at the use of the language in other parts of the Bible, we can fairly accurately understand what each of these mean. Mountains and hill were often used to depict arrogance and pride. Valley might be the mind that lost hope and vision suffering from hopelessness and depression. Crooked one might be the mind that is scarred so much by evils of the world and cannot see things straight. Rough ways might be the ones who see violence as the way of solution.

These are the result of or outcome of what men did under the power of sin. These are the emotional and mental scars left behind by sins of men. A young man became a world champion at 17. He became a hero, having all honor, glory, and money. He was so pumped up in arrogance and would not listen to others. He chased after women and carried a wild life. In such high spirit, no good word was any value to him. This is a mountain. There was a young man who grew up beaten by his father so many times. So whenever he faced fatherly figures, he engaged the person with doubt, fear and rebellious mind.  So he had very hard time to get any messages from any fatherly figures. A lady was abandoned by boyfriend after being raped during her college life.   This left her a deep mental and emotional scar. Though she overcame the shock after many years, yet in the depth of her heart, deep distrust to men could not be erased. So she could not meet any men with genuine love and trust. There was a young man. His father died of cancer when he was just a boy. His mother remarried and left him to his grandmother. But only few years later she died too. So in his mind death was all too real and he could not overcome sense of futility of life. Under meaninglessness, and hopelessness, he barely maintained his life. He could not laugh and he could enjoy any funs of life. His daily events are drudgery and boring, and meaningless.

All these are distorted view or way of life under the power of sins. In these distorted mindset or views, even if the Messiah comes they would not be able to entertain the truth and blessing that the Messiah would bring. As they were, they would never be able to see the coming glory of the Messiah (Isa 40:5).

So God prepared a man John to handle this problem. So God gave him His word.  He was to be a voice of one calling in the desert. In the desert all things are dried up or parched by sun light. Not much life is in them. Here John preached; the most powerful thing that he had was his voice—preaching of the baptism of repentance. So the primary goal of the voice in the desert is to level these unfavorable terrains so that they might be able to see the coming glory of the Messiah. How could the voice level these unfavorable terrains?

b.      John calls for repentance.

First he called them children of vipers, He let the people know what conditions they were. Second he demanded a fruit of repentance.

People were called brood of vipers. Vipers are poisonous snakes. John was calling them children of Satan as they were. How could he say that? The fruit of their life testified about them. They were not of God or God’s children. Their living or life itself was filled with ungodly activities. This was inescapable proof that they were not of God.  Then who were they? There are only two categories of people; one God’s children and the other children of devil or Satan. When one does not do the things of God or as God’s children, then he or she is under influence of Satan or ungodly forces of this world.(Matt 4:8-9)  It is worthy to think about why John delivered such harsh word. Such call of designation purports not to point out that they were essentially ‘children of devil’ but to emphasize that, as they were as children of devil, the God’s judgment is true reality as children of devil.  To them, it seemed that God’s judgment was only a remote possibility. But that is totally untrue.  It was so certain even then. They were brought to face this stark reality under God’s judgment.

Today there are many who will refute that they are children of devil.  But when we ask them if what they do is totally good and righteous, then they admit that they have done something ungodly.  Yet they give themselves more credit than they are worthy of and they fail to see their true reality, the coming judgment in fires of hell. It is all to certain as they are and as they continue in what they are doing that their destination was fiery lake of burning sulfur.  But Israel had a best argument against such accusation.

8b.

God promised Abraham that all of his children will be God’s people and God will save them from their sins. So according to God’s promise they are children of God. It seemed to be firmly based on God’s promise.

8c

God expected them to be godly, different from any pagan nations. This must be demonstrated through their faith and in their lives—tangible fruit. But their lives were not much different from the people of pagan nations. If they would not be willing, God could do raise another ‘descendant of Abraham’ out of even a stone. This is what John meant. In other word God’s children must have godly living, demonstrated clearly in their lives, not like the nations of the pagan world. Repentance was called upon based on the fact that they did not produce godly fruit.

c.       John demanded fruit of repentance.

Here one thing that we should not overlook is that God demands ‘actual fruit’ of life from his children. When we see godly fruit in one’s life, we are certain that the person is God’s child.  The prime example of godliness is Abraham, their ancestor, the progenitor of faith and righteousness. Abraham believed God when God said that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Counting on his faith God credit it to his righteousness. That faith was confirmed by his action; he sacrificed his son Isaac as God told him to do so (Gen 22).  The faith in God was substantiated by this action. But the life they lived was not much different from the people of the world. In other word, they were not any better even though they were given message in such clarity on what is good and pleasing to God.

According to John’s demand, it is clear that the fruit of life only can prove if one is child of God or not. Then, who can produce perfect life or purely godly fruit? No one is perfectly godly. Are All under God’s judgment? So Paul declared this in Rom 3:10-11 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 

Is it only a message for the purpose of bringing people to repentance or is this the commanding principle of God for all human beings? This is neither a pretense for the purpose of repentance nor temporary injunctions of God. It is what God demands from all people from the beginning of creation, now and to the end of creation. God wants all of his children to be like him. God has not changed this since.  It is very distressing that we cannot meet up to God and his demand.  Paul exclaimed in this way; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Rom 7)

V9. This is the true reality of men under the power of sin. It is urgent. There is not much time left. If not now, there may never be another chance!

It is critical and life is at stake. What is at risk? The ax is coming down on not one of the branches, not at the trunk but it is at the root. When root is chopped down, then that tree has no hope to survive. The entire life of the tree is at stake. It is neither a temporary setback nor sizable risk for our lives. The entire life is at the stake. There is no escape route except one; repentance.

So repentance is this; knowing this true reality, one turns to God for help believing that he alone is the true source of life.

V 10-11

 People received the message of repentance and asked John questions on what they had to do.

•        Anyone who had two shirts should share with the one who has none. If you have food, then share with those who do not. These handle two basic needs of men, clothing and food. If one would share in these two areas, then it is evident that he or she has true love and compassion for the neighbor. It is an expression of love by giving or sacrificing one’s own comfort. This is the spirit of the Law of Moses as we noted in Luke 10:27 He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " This is the spirit that God wants his children to have for all others, life-giving love!

•        Two came forward and asked what they had to do

•        They are tax collectors and soldiers came forward to look for a solution. These people came to sense and asked for answer. Also they were well known to be ungodly and were condemned to be sinners among Jews.  It is interesting that only these two were mentioned as the response of the crows. In them was the true spirit of repentance that John was looking for.  John gave the answer: tax collectors should not to collect more than the required amount and so must soldiers do live honestly in their job. This is practical application of ten commandments #8-10.  What does it mean?  John upheld the spirit of the Law of Moses in its sharpest term. It is let the world see themselves against God’s holiness and righteousness.  

Did John preach the repentance only to general public or only those who came to him?  

18-20

Here we see the sin of Herod Antipas. He took his brother’s wife, a clear commitment of adultery according to the Law of Moses.  John told in public that Herod sinned against God and he must repent. Otherwise he would face God’s judgment. Herod was rebuked and humiliate by John. John challenged Herod and his wife Herodias to the Law of God. It seems as if John was personally discharging his righteous judgment on Herod and his wife. No! Not at all! It was God’s message to Herod and Herodias. But what did they do? Herod locked him up in prison and eventually in order to meet the demand of his wife, Herod beheaded John.

Humanly speaking it was a tragedy. Was it a tragedy? Not at all!

He served fully his duty as a voice of calling in the desert. His life was nothing but the voice, the voice of God. He delivered this to the entire nation including King Herod. He delivered the single message, repentance in full strength and in its sharpest, uncompromising terms though he knew what would be the consequence for his wellbeing. How long did he carry his mission? It is not clear. But it might be no more than a year. Truly he was the voice of Mighty God. He came and delivered the message and next he was gone.  Jesus said that there was no man born of women greater than John.   Really, John was the greatest man among all those who were under the power of sin. Was such thought only in the mind of Jesus and his disciples? The entire nation became keenly aware of sins of their leaders. Also through this the entire nation became keenly sensitized to God’s utmost demand for holiness. John truly set the entire nation against God’s holiness and righteous judgment. God did this even in the cost of the most righteous man’s life so that the nation may open her heart to coming Jesus, the Savior of the nation.

John called for repentance. This is God’s way to prepare people caught in so much sin.  This is the best way to bring people to come to their senses.

2.       Jesus, the Messiah is coming (15-17)

15-17

Many thought that John might be the messiah. This meant that his ministry or his mission was at the peak and achieved the purported goal. So, John introduced Jesus, the Messiah.

•        John is not the Messiah. He is just a voice calling in a desert.

•        Messiah is coming after John: Jesus is far greater than John.  Jesus will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. He will be the judge and harvest people.

Jesus is the one who will provide real help in resolving sin through the Holy Spirit.(16)  Helplessness in our sin is the stark reality. But John cannot provide any meaningful help as far as resolution of sin was concern.  He directed and gave understanding of the current reality. But he could not go any further. The substantial help that enable men to live good and righteous could not come from him.

Messiah, the Savior, Jesus will provide and assist men in sin in real way; he will send the Holy Spirit to work with our spirit. Jesus will send the HS to help us. HS comes with power do bring changes in our inner being and enable us to do the things that God require.

Man failed but God will accomplish in his power; He will do by sending HS and only Jesus, the redeemer will and can arrange His coming.

Also he will be the judge (17) ; he is the one who will lay down his ax to cut down trees that does not bear fruit and thrown into fire.  

So the Messiah is the real hope. In order to meet him, to know him and to understand him, to taste his blessing, we must begin with repentance.

Finally, could it be possible to accept Christ after rejecting John’s word of warning? Or is it possible to accept Christ without repentance?  I like to leave with you what happened to those who did not repent at the message of John.  

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Through this, we can say that it is almost impossible to accept Christ without repentance. If you have sinned, then repent! This is the way to life! This is the high way to the grace of God in Jesus!