Preach the Coming of Jesus
By Pastor Jim May
Luke Chapter 3:2-18
God’s plan for the salvation of man was coming to pass. Jesus had been born in Bethlehem and he began to grow and gain wisdom and stature; gaining favor with both God and man. He learned quickly and, at 12 years of age, we find him sitting in the temple with the religious elders, teaching them about the scripture. They were astounded by the wisdom and understanding of this young man. At that young age Jesus was teaching the teachers and they just couldn’t understand how he could know so much. If only they could have realized that he didn’t just understand the scriptures; Jesus had inspired the scriptures and was the living embodiment of the scripture. He was, and is, the Living Word who was made flesh and walked among men.
Jesus could have been the ultimate in problem teenagers if he had chosen to. After all, what did he need a mother and father for? He could no doubt have made it on his own for he had the power to create anything that he would need. Yet, in order to be perfect in all of his ways and to fulfill all scripture, the very Son of God made himself subject to the teaching, training and leadership of Joseph and Mary. He grew up as every other child and remained under their care until the day came that he was to become a man according to the Law of Moses.
We, in America, think of our kids as being adults at age 21, and sometimes even at age 18. I submit to you that not many of us knew much of anything at 18 or 21, and if we had waited a little longer to gain some wisdom and understanding in the ways of the world, we could have avoided some of our mistakes that were made in those early years. Under the Law of Moses, in effect at the time that Jesus was born, a boy did not become a man until he reached 30 years of age.
Just a few months before Jesus had been born, there was another little boy born in Israel. He was the cousin of Jesus and the scripture says in Luke 1:15 that this young man, by the name of John, was full of the Holy Ghost from the moment he was born. John’s whole purpose in life was to be the forerunner, the evangelist, who would announce the coming of the Lord to a nation steeped in the darkness of sin.
God never intended for the birth and life of his Son to be a secret. He had revealed that Jesus would be born through many witnesses throughout the Old Testament. He had given Isaiah words to write that described, in detail, what Jesus’ purpose would be. God had sent his holy angels to sing Hallelujah on the hills of Judea. He had placed a star in the sky to guide those who were watching right to the very doorstep of Jesus’ house. He had created John to be his forerunner, preaching the coming of the Lord. It wasn’t God’s fault that no one saw the coming of the Son of God except for a few shepherds, a few wise men and some barnyard animals. God had tried to give every warning; every clue possible; but as usual, mankind just wasn’t listening, wasn’t watching and didn’t really understand what they were waiting for. Though Israel, as a nation, had longed for their Messiah to come, they really didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
We do not know just how long John preached the coming of the Lord, but I am convinced that he did not start preaching until he had reached 30 years of age too. Regardless of his age though, John burst upon the scene in a blaze of fire and brimstone preaching. It had been hundreds of years since Israel had heard this kind of preaching. John’s message was strong and uncompromising. He preached without favor or fear of any man. He had a message to deliver and deliver it he did.
John’s message was one of repentance and remission of sins. Luke 3:4-6 says that he was, "… 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; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
John wasn’t a man to mince words. He spoke what the Spirit inspired him to say and just let the chips fall where they may. When the religious leaders and the crowds of people would come near they never left without getting an earful of God’s message for the hour. Listen to how strong his message was.
Luke 3:7-8, "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, 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."
John had to be a Pentecostal, Full Gospel preacher. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and power. His words carried the ability to penetrate right into the heart of the sinner and bring them to their knees in repentance. That kind of preaching and power only comes through the power of the Holy Ghost anointing on the preacher and his message! Of course not everyone who heard him would repent, but none left without knowing that they needed to get ready for the coming of the Lord. Many would still harden their hearts and walk away still lost in their sin. But many would need the message, repent and then allow John to baptize them in water. He baptized so many that be became known as John the Baptizer or John the Baptist.
How are you known today? Are known as _________ the preacher of righteousness? Are you known as ___________the teacher of God’s ways? Are you known as __________ a true man or woman of God? You will be known by what you do, not just by what you say! We should be about our Father’s business just like John was and Jesus was.
What would the birth of Jesus mean without the preaching of repentance and remission of sin? Jesus came to be the Savior of the world, not just another baby boy born in poverty. He had a mission to fulfill, and the Father in Heaven would see to it that every detail of that mission would be completed. What good does it do for us to say that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, unless we say that Sin and Salvation or the reasons for Jesus’ Coming? Without the message of repentance for sin, and salvation for sin, we don’t need the message of another baby being born in Bethlehem!
We are supposed to be Full Gospel, Pentecostal, Born Again, Spirit-filled Christians; at least that what we claim to be. If that is true then we should be doing the same thing that John the Baptist did, “PROCLAIMING THE COMING OF THE LORD TO A WORLD LOST IN SIN!”
John preached in the wilderness and you and I are preaching in a wilderness today too. That doesn’t mean that people were not around where John preached. Everywhere he went the crowds would gather because they were hungry to hear from God. They were tired of waiting for something to happen and nothing ever changed. They cried and prayed, wept and begged, sought the face of God with bitter tears and yet, day after day, year after year, no answer seemed to come to their prayers. They wanted more of God. They wanted to be free from their bonds that were the result of the sin in their land and in their own heart. Those who were hungry enough would find their way to John, hear his message and fall down in repentance.
Finally, somebody had an answer to their prayer. Finally they could sense the move of God in their heart again. John preached hope. Yes, he stomped some toes badly. He made some people angry. He didn’t have the spit and polish of a Doctorate in Theology, or an Ordination Certificate on his wall, but he had the anointing of the Holy Ghost and the power of God behind his words. That’s the kind of preaching we need today, not just from the pulpit but from the lips of every Christian in the church. We must be the voice of one crying in the wilderness of this world of sin. We must be crying out, “Make his paths straight, for all flesh shall see the coming of the Lord.” This time he won’t be coming as a baby in a manger, or a man by the shores of the Jordan River coming to be baptized, or as a man hanging upon a cross. Jesus is coming as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the Holy Righteous Judge!
John said in Luke 3:5-6, "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; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
It seems to me that John is saying that God is going to level the playing field. There’s nothing that will stop a man if he wants to repent and come to Christ, and there’s nothing that will stop those who heed the call from making it to Heaven. Likewise though, there is nothing that will slow the process or hinder all who refuse to heed the call from going to judgment and being eternally sentenced to the Lake of Fire. Nothing will hinder or stop God’s plan. Every word spoken; and every prophecy given in God’s Word will come to pass and no power on earth or in hell can stop it. God has removed every obstacle.
All men will see the Savior, will know that Jesus is the Savior, will know and confess that he is Lord, but not all flesh will be saved. Many will see Him and all will know him, but most won’t experience Him. To be so close and yet so very far away is a terrible thing.
John preached about the coming harvest of men’s souls and that message is just as real today as it was then. John said that Jesus was coming. Jesus, the Master builder, the Chief Cornerstone, the very Son of God, who had all power in Heaven and in Earth, and he was coming for a purpose.
Luke 3:17, "… Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."
Jesus was coming to bring a division and to bring a sword that would divide truth from the lie, righteousness from unrighteousness and darkness from light. He would know the heart of every man and he would be fully capable of dividing those who were playing games or living in sin, from those who were faithful and true to God. He is going to swing that giant spiritual fan and blow away the chaff, keeping only the fruitful seed. All men will face his judgment and there he will separate the sheep from the goats and none will just squeak by. It’s either all or nothing; sheep or goat; wheat or chaff – which are you? Will you be gathered with the faithful or burned with the chaff in an unquenchable fire?
Now let’s bring this down to the point of John’s message. Jesus is here. His soon coming is imminent. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow – we don’t know when, but we know it’s soon.
John said in Luke 3:9, "And now also the axe 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."
When God’s axe begins to swing there’s no stopping it. It will all happen in a moment, and in the twinkling of an eye. You’ll either be found faithful and be allowed to stand, or you’ll be cut down and burned in the fire.
The message I have for you this morning is the same message that John preached. It has never changed and never will change until time is no more … make your paths straight. Repent of your sin. Call upon the name of the Lord and baptized in Jesus; believe on him and his shed blood for the remission of your sin. We must all Preach the Coming of Jesus for he is coming soon.
That anointing that John had is still upon you today. When you speak the word and tell others, the Holy Ghost, moving and giving your words the ability to reach into the heart of those who will hear will do the work.
Luke 3:10, "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?" The ordinary man on the street that believes he is all right the way he is will be pricked in the heart.
John’s answer to them was …He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. " In other words, be a servant to God and to men. Be a blessing and serve the Lord, bringing forth fruits of repentance.
Luke 3:12, "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what
shall we do?" The publicans were the Jewish tax collectors working for the Romans.
John’s answer to them was…Exact no more than that which is appointed you. " don’t rob the people. Be honest and truthful in all that you do.
Luke 3:14, "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?"
Even the old hardened soldiers came to John asking for help. God can reach into the heart of any man who allow him in. He wants all men to be saved.
John’s answer to them was … Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. " If we could just learn to mind our own business, not try to hurt one another to make ourselves look good or to not be too quick to judge others. If we could just get enough of Jesus to be content.
The message that we have contains an answer for the lives of every man regardless of their station in life. Our job is just to carry the message and Preach the Coming of Jesus to all men, everywhere.
