Introduction
The coming of the Son of God to this world in human form is a decisive event in saving sinners. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will be saved and will go to heaven, but if anyone rejects and does not believe in Jesus Christ, he or she will be eternally destroyed. However, no matter how precious the Son of God is, it is of no use if people do not know about it. Someone trustworthy must introduce Jesus Christ.
So, the four Gospels consistently begin the ministry of Jesus Christ with John the Baptist testifying about Jesus Christ. Of course, Jesus could have ministered without John the Baptist. But why did God send John the Baptist first? We can think of two reasons: One is because people are too suspicious. So, when Jesus testified about himself, there were many people who doubted and did not believe. Who could believe that a Galilean who looked just like them and came from humble origins was the Messiah or the Son of God? However, when someone like John the Baptist, who is recognized by the Jews, testifies about Jesus, people are less suspicious. For example, if a person suddenly appears at a gathering and introduces himself and boasts about himself, people are unlikely to believe what he says. However, when a famous person who is recognized by society introduces him, people believe him. John the Baptist was a prophet recognized by most Jews. As John the Baptist testified about Jesus, many people came to believe.
Another thing is that the period during which Jesus could minister was too short. To use a short period of time efficiently, it is best to prepare in advance. For example, when a good doctor has a very short period of time to examine patients, it is like having nurses check basic things such as blood pressure and temperature before treating patients. This saves the doctor time because he only needs to check the important parts. Likewise, the time given to Jesus was only three years. In order to get everything done in three years, it was necessary for someone to come first and prepare for Jesus' ministry. That person was John the Baptist.
I. Beginning of John’s activities (vv. 1-2)
Luke first explained the situation of the world at that time (v. 1). The Roman emperor at that time was Tiberius Caesar. Tiberius Caesar was the successor to Caesar Augustus, who took the census at the time of Jesus' birth. Judah was ruled by governor Pilate, and Galilee was ruled by Herod as tetrarch. This Herod was Herod Antipas, the second son of Herod the Great, who ruled when Jesus was born. The people who ruled Judea and Galilee at that time were Gentiles and did not fear God at all.
The high priests of Israel at that time were Annas and Caiaphas (v. 2a). Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, was deposed by the governor of Judea named Balelius in 14 AD, and Caiaphas, his son-in-law, became high priest. However, because the high priest was a lifelong position, Annas was still called high priest even after Caiaphas took office as high priest. So there were two high priests.
During this time, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert (v. 2b). Why was John in the desert? I don't know the exact reason because it is not in the Bible, but if I were to guess, it would be as follows. John must have heard everything about how he was born from his mother and father, who were devout priest. When John's father, Zechariah, went into the temple to burn incense in his order, the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that his older wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son and that he should name him John. The angel said that in order for John to become great in the sight of the Lord, he was never to take wine or other fermented drink, but would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth and bring many of the people of Israel back to God (1:15-16). Next, the angel said that John would go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and prepare a people for the Lord (1:17). Zechariah said that when John was circumcised and named, his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he prophesied that John would be called a prophet of the Most High (1:76).
John must have lived with his parents from a very young age, learning the word of God from his father, who was a priest, and living a life close to God. Then he would have performed a coming-of-age ceremony called a ‘bar mitzvah.’ And from then on, John did not follow his father's path as a priest, but lived in the desert on his own until the day he appeared to Israel to be called a prophet (1:80). The desert is called ‘Eremos’ in Greek, which is the same as ‘Midbar’, the Hebrew word for desert. Midbar is a derivative of ‘Dabar (Word)’. The desert is the place where the word of God comes. Most of the Old Testament prophets, such as Moses and Elijah, were people in the desert, and Jesus also began his public ministry after fasting for forty days in the desert.
The desert is a place where people can get away from the world, become simple, and think deeply. John spent time in the desert preparing until he could begin his ministry. Not only did the angel Gabriel inform him that John had the spirit and power of Elijah (1:17), but Zechariah also said to John, 'He is called a prophet of the Most High,' so John spent his days in the desert wearing camel hair clothes and a leather belt around his waist, the same clothes worn by Old Testament prophets, and eating natural honey and locusts (Zechariah 13:4, Mark 1:6). When John was isolated from the world and living in the desert, the word of God came to him (v. 2b). It has been nearly 400 years since the prophet Malachi that the word of God came.
II. John’s mission (vv. 3-6)
When the word of God came to John, he went to the area around the Jordan River and preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (v. 3). Looking at the Old Testament, the Jews did not have a baptism ceremony, but there was a purification ceremony (Leviticus 14:8, 32; Ezekiel 36:25; John 2:6, 3:25). The purification ceremony was a ritual of cleansing by washing with water. The Israelites washed their hands before eating and sprinkled water on them when they returned from outside. Baptism was performed only when a Gentile converted to Judaism. It was a sign that they would wash away the dirty life they had lived as Gentiles in the past and now live as God's people. However, it was surprising that John gave the Jews a baptism of repentance that allowed them to receive the forgiveness of their sins. In other words, John was shouting to the Jews that they were no better than the Gentiles.
Therefore, while John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, he encouraged the Jews to repent of the sins in their hearts and prepare to receive the Messiah. Therefore, John's baptism was different from the baptism received as a proof of belief in Jesus Christ and being born again. In Acts 19:3~5, when Paul met some disciples in Ephesus and asked them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed, they answered that they had not even heard that there was a Holy Spirit. At that time, Paul asked what kind of baptism they had, and they answered that they had John's baptism. Paul said that John came and gave them a baptism of repentance and told them to believe in the Messiah who would come after him. When Paul said that the Messiah was Jesus, they were immediately baptized in the name of Jesus. This refers to baptism as proof of belief in Jesus. In this way, John's baptism was preparatory and was intermediate between the baptism of the Old Testament and the baptism of Christ.
However, Luke said that John's preaching of the baptism of repentance was similar to what was recorded in the Book of Isaiah. Look at verses 4~6. “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation." '” In the past, roads were not flat or paved, but rather were trodden by foot. Therefore, when the king was on his way, a pioneer went ahead of the king's path and called out the king's coming, gathered nearby residents, raised low places and lowered high places, and made the king's way smooth. In this way, John the Baptist was sent before King Jesus to prepare people's hearts to welcome the Messiah.
To prepare the hearts of the people, John cried out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Things that stand in the way of accepting the Messiah in people's hearts, such as a deep inferiority complex or guilt like a valley, a proud mind like a mountain or a hill, an uneven, rough, bad, and dirty mind, people bent by the fleshly lust, the visual lust, and the prideful lust, etc. He shouted to repent and straighten their hearts and welcome the King, Jesus Christ.
The Israelites of the Old Testament washed their clothes clean and sanctified their lives before meeting God. In this way, John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance that purified and set apart the hearts of the Israelites so that they could receive the King, Christ Jesus, into their hearts.
III. John’s sermon (vv. 7-9)
John preached the baptism of repentance and said that formal repentance was useless. And he made it clear that the lineage as a descendant of Abraham was of no help. Look at verses 7 and 8. “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.' ” John the Baptist told them to bear fruit worthy of repentance. Usually, fruit trees bloom before they bear fruit. But what happens if many flowers bloom but no fruit is produced? It is a useless tree.
Likewise, a person who temporarily feels sorry before God, but cannot clean up his sins, will never bear fruit worthy of repentance. Therefore, bearing fruit worthy of repentance means not only hearing the Word and receiving grace, but also completely abandoning sin and living in obedience to the Word. What is important in repentance is a willful decision. Repentance is not just reflecting on sin. For example, this is the case of Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5). When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Judas Iscariot realized that he had done wrong and he clearly regretted. However, instead of turning around and living a new life, he hung himself and died. This is not true repentance.
When Jesus was arrested and interrogated before the high priest, Peter also cursed down and swore to the female servants and those standing by him that he did not know Jesus. Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus' words, so he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:69-75). Up to this point, it is the same as Judas Iscariot. He regretted of his own sins. But Peter did not commit suicide. He met the resurrected Jesus and confessed three times, “I love you, Lord.” And he devoted himself to caring for the Lord's sheep until he was martyred by hanging upside down on a cross. This is what bears fruit worthy of repentance.
John the Baptist called those who came to watch without any intention of repentance “a brood of vipers.” That means they are still under Satan's control. This does not mean that the offspring of vipers can never become children of God. Jesus can make any poisonous snake a child of God. He simply must make the decision to thoroughly hate and forsake sin.
And John said that they were not unconditionally saved because of their lineage as a descendant of Abraham. Abraham's children only had the privilege of hearing the gospel first, but if they did not believe in the gospel, even being Abraham's children would be of no use.
John the Baptist called for an urgent decision from those who repent. Look at verse 9. “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Now a man chopping trees has arrived with an axe. And he leaned the ax against the root of the tree. He's putting on his gloves or catching his breath before he lifts his final ax and strikes it down. Once he's ready, he'll start chopping right away. Therefore, witnessing the gospel is something that must be done most urgently. Because opportunity isn't always there. Because one decision determines their eternal state. We must all spread the gospel, whether we have the right time or not.
IV. Urge to make ethical decisions (vv. 10-14)
The repentance preached by John the Baptist was very specific and ethical. When John preached the baptism of repentance, people heard him and came to ask him how to repent. Then John applied it specifically to people. He said that whoever has two tunics should give one to someone who has none (v. 11a). This seems to teach that we should not have more than one set of clothes. But that is not the case. ‘Tunics’ here refers to underwear, which is not that important. Travelers usually wear two sets of such underwear. But Jesus said there was no need to do that (Luke 9:3). Therefore, John encouraged those who wore two sets of underwear in the wilderness to give what they did not need to others. Therefore, this is a warning against excessive individualism, and does not establish the principle of unconditionally sharing personal property with others. He also said that those who have food should do the same (v. 11b). True repentance does not mean keeping everything for oneself, but sharing it with others.
When the tax collectors came and asked what they should do, John did not tell them not to work as tax collectors. He told tax collectors not to collect any more than they were required to. (vv. 12-13). At that time, tax collectors got rich by collecting more taxes that were much higher than those required by the Roman government. In Jewish society, tax collectors were hated and synonymous with sinners along with prostitutes. Also, when the soldiers came and asked what they should do, John told them not to extort money and not to accuse people falsely. The reason the soldiers did that was to receive bribes. However, John told the soldiers to be satisfied with the pay they received (v. 14).
Of course, making these ethical decisions and living an ethical life does not mean that they have become God’s people. Doing this is just preparation. It fills in every valley in the heart, makes every mountain and hill low, makes the crooked straight, and makes the rough ways smooth. In this way, people prepare to receive Christ, the King, into their hearts. To become God's people, people must accept King Jesus Christ into their hearts.
Conclusion
As prophesied in the Bible, John the Baptist came before the King Jesus Christ and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in the Jordan River so that people could receive Jesus Christ in their hearts.
Like John the Baptist, we must introduce Jesus Christ to people. We must testify that only Jesus can solve the problems of our lives and that Jesus is the only way to save our souls. In order for our testimony to be accepted by those we preach to, our lives must be ethically clean. We must be honest, sincere and clean person. We must not sin. We need to be respected person in the field we work in. We must become person who helps and understands the neighbors around us. Otherwise, people will not accept gospel even if we preach it a thousand times.
Although we may not be able to live in the desert meditating on the Word and eating locusts and wild honey like John the Baptist, we have no moral or ethical problems and must be an example to others. Only then will our evangelism be accepted by people.
