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Articles 2021-2023
While there were many well–known political and religious leaders both in Israel as well as in the larger Roman Empire just prior to Jesus stepping into public ministry, yet it was to a largely unknown man living in obscurity that the God of heaven and earth revealed Himself by His word (Luke 3:1 - 2).
An intervention from Heaven was about to change the course of human history. And the direction it was headed would not be found among the powerful and well–known elites.
But God had been preparing His prophet John.
And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
(Luke 3:3)
God was arising in Israel and it was time to get ready. The way forward was for the people to humble themselves, receive the Lord’s prophet, and repent for sinful thoughts and actions. In fact, they needed to see themselves as immersed in repentance. Many years earlier, God had foretold these very days.
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY (Greek, HODOS – the road) OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
(Luke 3:4)
Just before Isaiah prophesied the above words, he spoke of God comforting His people, that their time of warfare was over, that the time of Heaven’s opposition was finished because her iniquity had been pardoned (Isaiah 40:1 - 2). But many years later in John’s day, that was clearly not yet true. And looking forward from his time, there was still great suffering that would come upon Israel.
So, what was the Lord’s point? What was the connection between Isaiah’s prophetic word about Israel’s forgiven iniquity and John the Baptist’s preaching? It seems that God sent John to reveal Heaven’s necessary route toward her ultimate salvation.
So, he came to prepare the Lord’s road and to make His paths straight. Why did they need to be straightened? Somehow, men had made crooked what was originally perfect. And since our God is perfect, the only way His path could have been twisted would have been by the introduction of thoughts and actions from the imperfect hearts of fallen men. So, His solution for His people was an immersion into repentance.
Some responded; many did not. Jesus spoke of two roads in Israel. One was wide, many people were on it, and it led to destruction. The other was narrow (Greek, THLIBO – which carries the idea of affliction) and it led to life. And notice this: people had to find this narrow road (Matthew 7:13 - 14). It would not necessarily be clear and obvious to all. The hearts of fallen men tend to identify easily with routes as crooked as they are.
So, to perceive the narrow road and then stay on it would require hearts rooted in and bearing the fruit of repentance. And because it would be a road of affliction/tribulation, it would be tempting for those on it to defend or promote themselves. But Jesus would do neither. His goal was to make His Father known.
And so, He walked the narrow road perfectly, revealed the One who sent Him, embraced the inevitable affliction/opposition, and announced that He Himself was Heaven’s road walked out.
”I am the way… (Greek, HODOS – the road)
(John 14:6).
As a result, the great conflict during Jesus’ earthly ministry was about who represented and revealed the God of Israel most accurately. Was it Him or was it those in religious leadership? And those who had submitted to John’s ministry, who were seeking to live in an atmosphere/environment of repentance were able to discern those who were making crooked the straight paths of the Lord. At the same time, they were also able to recognize and receive the One revealing the way of the Lord made straight.
And so, notice Isaiah’s prophecy about the effects of John’s ministry.
EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.”
Here was the fruit of repentance. The Lord’s road would run through the hearts of His people. Places of inferiority (ravines), arrogance and pride (mountains and hills), twisted ways of thinking (the crooked), and self–centered obliviousness to the feelings of others (rough roads) would all come into harmony with Christ who was Heaven’s road walked out in perfection. The result would be God’s promised salvation bearing fruit in people’s lives and then perceived by others.
Of course, while all flesh did not see the salvation of God in the first century, He is still at work. And the promise remains – all flesh will perceive it. The straight road of the Lord is still emerging into clarity before the eyes of the whole world as God’s people come increasingly into harmony with Christ.
And the work of God which He began in John and is now fulfilling through His Son will surely result in the ultimate salvation of Israel. Then Heaven’s road will become even clearer. And finally, when Jesus returns, Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled and all flesh will see the salvation of God.
So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come (Greek, ORGE MELLO – impending wrath)? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”
God’s impending wrath was building over the nation. In fact, the whole New Testament record was written with a view of expectation concerning the coming judgment on Israel that Jesus prophesied would take place in that generation. It was a time to turn to God wholeheartedly, to send spiritual roots down into Him, and to bear the fruits of that relationship. Relying on physical ancestry and religious traditions simply would not suffice. John’s warning was to not even begin to think that way.
”Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
(Luke 3:9)
One primary root that God was laying His axe to was the religious idea that somehow physical descent from Abraham was enough to put one in good standing with Heaven. Jesus’ thoughts on this way of thinking were quite clear. If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham” (John 8:39). Here was what true faith looked like. Abraham did not just mentally agree with the reality of God; he got up from where he was and followed Him. His lifestyle changed as it became centered in the person of the Lord and in obeying Him.
So, the crowds, the tax collectors and even some soldiers began questioning John. “What is good fruit supposed to look like in our lives? How are we supposed to live?” So, as he gave them some personal instruction, the people began to wonder if maybe he was the Messiah (Luke 3:10 - 15). But John’s response was clear.
John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Everybody was headed into fire. Those described by John as trees not bearing good fruit would be cut down and heaved into it. Chaff (those elements in the lives of God’s people that had no spiritual life/nutrition) would be exposed and consumed with unquenchable fire. And everyone who repented and humbled themselves would not only be plunged into the Holy Spirit but also into His fire. The God of Israel who is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) was arising among His people and no one would be exempt from the fiery holiness of His manifest presence. Malachi foresaw the coming visitation of Israel’s Messiah and asked a question.
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire…
Later, speaking of the risen Christ, the apostle John noted:
His eyes were like a flame of fire.
In our own day, our God continues to arise and manifest His holy presence among us. The Lord’s road – even Christ Himself is coming into greater clarity. Let us receive His holy purifying fire. Amen.
Donald Rumble – October 2023
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