Preparing the Way of the Lord PHBF 10.25.09 Scriptures are inerrant only for theology and morality, not history. But TEXT: SCR. READING: Luke 3:1-22 that’s precisely what we must NOT say, because our whole theology and **Words for kids: , Repent, Idol, Baptize morality rests upon the historical reality of the man, Jesus of Nazareth. SERIES: From the Manger To the Cross For the World

Mention the series title and 3 distinct emphases… These verses also remind us of the trustworthiness of the . One of these characters – “Lysanias tetrarch of ” – has been the subject ILLUS: our experience at the Milwaukee Hilton, experiencing the of some small controversy over the years. The Jewish historian preparations for John Kerry on his Presidential campaign lists a regional ruler named Lysanias, but if this is the man Luke has in mind, his abilities as a historian are in question. According to Josephus, …a window to look at Jesus’ life Lysanias, king of Abila, ended his administration in 36 BC, several decades before the 15 th year of . Several commentators over the Jesus is about to go public. Chapters 1-2 have taken place pretty much years have thus concluded that Luke made an obvious historical error, in the background, but in chapter 3 begins to move toward his public naming the wrong man at the wrong time. But archeological work has ministry. In chapters 3-4, Luke gives us eight witnesses to Jesus’ identity uncovered inscriptions which name a ruler in this region named Lysanias and mission which prepare for and validate His ministry. who would have been contemporary with Tiberius Caesar. As Robertson puts it: “So Luke is vindicated again by the rocks.” ( Word Pictures , 37) 1. THE PROMISED ONE (vv 1-6) The witness of the OT Scriptures • Divine (vv 3-4)

Three aspects of Jesus’ person and character in view as the Promised John’s baptism was a sign of repentance, the first step toward One: forgiveness of sin. Repentance is “to turn.” It is a reorientation of life, from sin/self to God. Why was that important for these people at this • Historical (vv 1-2) point? Because of who was coming.

These are real events, rooted in history, connected to genuine historical Luke explains John’s ministry as a fulfillment of Is 40:3-5 – a voice crying figures. Luke connects the ministries of John and Jesus with known in the wilderness, anticipating the coming of… whom? According to figures on the timeline of human history in v 1 and redemptive history Isaiah, it was Yahweh – “the LORD.” But when Isaiah’s prophecy comes in vv 2-6. to fulfillment, John’s voice cries in the wilderness to prepare the way for Jesus. The obvious point is that this Jesus is Yahweh Himself. He is God. Tiberius Caesar was ruler of the ; Pilate, Philip, and Lysanias were regional rulers in the area. Based on Luke’s marker of Those who submitted themselves to John’s baptism were the ones “the 15 th year of Tiberius,” this was probably about AD 28 or so. willing to humble themselves before God. They recognized their status and sought His forgiveness. Why do these references matter? Two reasons… • Savior (vv 5-6) It reminds us that the Christian faith is a historical one, not merely a philosophical one. Our beliefs are rooted in real, historical events. If we Luke is not alone in this view; all three of the other writers quote miss this point, we could fall prey to a view of the Bible that says the Isaiah 40:3 to explain the ministry of . But only Luke Preparing the Way of the Lord Page 2 extends the quote from Isaiah 40, running all the way through verse 5. He came in the mode of the OT prophets. The phrase “the word of God Why? To get to this last phrase in v 6: “all flesh shall see the salvation of came…” is an OT formula. John was expecting the Day of the Lord to God.” Luke wants to emphasize that Jesus brings salvation to all flesh, come with fury and vengeance. As in Nahum, John was expecting the the whole world. Divine Warrior to break into history and destroy His enemies… But when Yahweh came in the form of Jesus, He was gentle and kind. Was John The universal reach of the gospel is in view from the beginning of Jesus’ wrong? Was he mistaken to predict judgment and Yahweh’s immanent mission. That’s the point of John’s baptism – everyone needed it, appearance as the Divine Warrior? No – he was actually preaching including Jews , because ethnicity does not bring us near to (or keep us better than he knew. Jesus did come to war against the enemies of God away from) God (cf. v 8). Repentance does – or, we should say, “Jesus and God’s people, but He took the battle to a deeper level than John does.” anticipated. Jesus came to fight evil at its source – in the heart – and John’s preaching prepared people for that. He calls them to repent – to Note that the “salvation” here described is Jesus Himself, not merely turn away from sin and idolatry to God. something Jesus offers. ’s prayer: :29-32 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, What repentance is NOT: 30 31 according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that a feeling – regret, sorrow 32 • you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to • a thought – mental ascent to the truth the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." • a vocation – the ascetic life of a prophet like John

• a religious ritual – trying to earn God’s favor (penance) Jesus IS salvation. We often say “salvation is by grace through faith,” but this is simply a way of saying “salvation is by Jesus .” What saves What repentance is: literally “to turn.” It is a reorientation of life, from us is not our faith; what saves us is Jesus. the worship of idols to the worship of God.

The faith which justifies is emphatically not another work. No, to say 'justification by faith' is merely another way of saying 'justification by Note that John’s eschatological concern (vv 7-9) does not work against Christ.' Faith has absolutely no value in itself; its value lies solely in its social concern; it provides the ground for it. He doesn’t call for object. Faith is the eye that looks to Christ, the hand that lays hold of him, isolationism; he calls for a heart transformed by repentance that the mouth that drinks the water of life. (Stott, Cross of Christ , p 187) produces a life transforming the surrounding world. He doesn’t even call tax collectors or soldiers to change professions; they are just to live out While John calls the people to prepare themselves for the coming of kingdom ethics right where they are. Yes, we await the fullness of God’s God’s salvation, God Himself has prepared salvation for them in a kingdom, but we transform the world as we wait. special person. I commit idolatry when I love, trust, or obey something or someone 2. THE END OF IDOLATRY (vv 7-20) other than God. Love. Trust. Obey. Treasure. Savior. Master. John The Witness of John the Baptist hammers several idols in his preaching: • Religion (vv 7-9) – vv 7-8a: family, lineage idolatry: “brood of To this point, Luke has only told us about John’s ministry; now we take a vipers” vs. “children of Abraham.” vv 8b-9: theological idolatry: look at the man himself. Consistent with Isaiah’s prophecy, the gospel “raise up children of Abraham from these stones” writers portray John basically as a voice. His whole life was a sermon. • Individualism & Comfort (vv 10-11) – This is the idolatry that says “I earned it; I own it; nobody else has a right to it.” It is the

Page 3 Preparing the Way of the Lord Preparing the Way of the Lord Page 4 other side of the coin to the previous form of idolatry. How we the sin of the world”; furthermore, Jesus’ baptism is omitted altogether use our wealth is an index of our spiritual condition. in favor of an emphasis upon the Spirit’s descent (1:29-34). • Money & Power (vv 12-14) – career/personal idols that still give rise to all different forms of pagan worship (happy only at work REASONS: or when the accounts are full; assuming money can protect me • A statement from heaven about Jesus’ suitability and readiness from disaster or harm; surrendering to the demands made upon for His ministry – the Father’s voice, the Spirit’s descent me in order to have money or power – child sacrifice) • An identification with sinners, prefiguring the cross itself – • Vanity (vv 15-17) – John denies that he is the Messiah, part of His humiliation, a public identification with sinners remaining true to his mission and resisting the siren song of – If he needed to be baptized for any other reason, a status. private ceremony would have sufficed. • Pleasure (vv 19-20) – John’s preaching against Herod’s adultery For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we Notice verse 18: “So with many other exhortations he preached good might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 news to the people.” How are these exhortations “good news”? Idols always disappoint and destroy. Only Jesus brings satisfaction and life. The call to turn from idols to Jesus is a wonderful, merciful call! It is The stage is set. The way is prepared. From the manger… To the cross… good news! For the world. Our humble Savior, prefiguring the cross, setting the stage so that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” But it is good news only for the humble and trusting. Humble enough to repent, trusting enough to believe that Jesus will make a better [Closing Song: “Jesus Thank You”] Treasure, Savior, and Master than your idol(s) of choice. Only an obsession with Jesus is powerful enough to replace other obsessions. Benediction: Herod’s story is a grim warning to all of us… 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 3. THE SIN-BEARING SUBSTITUTE (vv 21-22) The Witness of the Father and Spirit © Copyright 2009 by Joshua Waltz

NOTE: The 3 members of the Trinity in view…

Why was Jesus baptized? …especially by John, whose baptism was “of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”?

All four gospel writers show some sensitivity about the appearances of what was going on here… In Mark, John acknowledges his unworthiness (1:7-8). In Matthew, John objects that he should be baptized by Jesus (3:13-15). In Luke, John is dropped from the scene altogether, and Jesus’ baptism is less the focus than the descent of the Holy Spirit (3:21-22). In John, the Baptist calls Jesus out as “the Lamb of God who takes away

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