Luke 3
Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests, but "the word of God came unto John." What disorder! two high priests at one time. Yet the grace of God sent the message by John the Baptist. John's message was the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
Of John it had been prophesied: "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth... all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (See Isa. 40:1-51Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:1‑5).)
The valley speaks of the soul that is humble, ready to listen to God's Word. The hills and mountains speak of proud hearts, like those of the Pharisees and scribes, who will not listen; judgment will overtake them. The crooked speaks of man's ways. The healing of the sick, the lame and the lepers by Jesus are the rough places which are made smooth. Salvation is offered to all mankind.
To the multitude who wish to be baptized John says, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Man is likened to a tree. If he bows to the Word of God in repentance, he bears good fruit; if not, he will be judged.
The people ask what they must do. He says that he who has two coats should give one to a person who has none, and with food likewise. The publicans also ask, and He tells them not to take more than the tax requires. The soldiers were told not to use violence, nor to make false accusations, but to be content with their pay, showing that corruption and violence, the two main forms of evil, will end the age-the man (beast) will be characterized by violence and the woman (Babylon) by corruption (Rev. 17).
In speaking of Christ, John says that, although he baptizes with water, the One coming after him baptizes with the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost).
Israel is the floor that will be purged. The wheat, believers, will be gathered into His garner, but the chaff, unbelievers, will be cast into unquenchable fire, which burns forever. If men only knew what lies just ahead for them, they might be ready to inquire about salvation from the coming wrath. Think of it: unquenchable fire! eternity! punishment for one's sins for eternity!
Heaven Opened
When Jesus was baptized, He was praying and the heaven was opened for all. Matthew and Mark just record that the heaven was opened to Him. The Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon Jesus, and a voice from heaven said, 'Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased."
Because the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, because of His becoming a man, and because of the cross, we too, who are believers, receive the indwelling Spirit. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13).
John the Baptist was shut up in prison for reproving Herod. John being in prison and having accomplished his mission, Jesus, who was about thirty years old, began His ministry.
The genealogy is given from Jesus to Adam rather than from Adam to Jesus, for the mischief affecting the entire human race began with Adam, so Jesus the Savior goes all the way back to Adam to correct it. The work of Christ covers all men, even those in their graves, if they have had faith (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)). What a Savior,