Participating in
a Start Up
Luke 3 SCC
2/28/16
GOD INAUGURATES
A MINISTRY OF REPENTANCE FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS 1-6
Jesus ministry
in world history 1-2a
Luke
names seven rulers working from the most comprehensive political ruler
down to regional spiritual leaders. Tiberius ruled from a distance through
Pontius Pilate who was on the ground in Jerusalem. The region was governed by
tetrarchs responsible to Pontius Pilate like Herod Antipas of Galilee, his
brother Philip and Lysanias. Annas
and Caiaphas were key Jewish religious authorities. John’s ministry stepped into this complex political and religious situation.
Gods revelation to John 2b-6
Luke
wrote three things about the beginning of John’s ministry. (1) The word of God [the call to prophetic
ministry] came to John, the son of
Zacharias, in the wilderness [where he was living (1:80)]. (2)
And he came into all the district around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (3) His
ministry was a fulfillment of the words
of Isaiah the prophet v 4-6. Although Isaiah was writing about the return of the exiles from
Babylon, all three Synoptic Gospel writers applied Isaiah’s words to John the
Baptist. The point is John’s calling clears the way and heralds the ministry of
Jesus Christ coming as the deliverer from God. John is connecting the dots with
Old Testament prophecy after 500 years of silence. So the
biblical authors, in this case Isaiah and Luke, had different meanings in mind
for this statement, but the Holy Spirit had both meanings in mind.
REPENTANCE IS
NECESSARY TO AVOID THE DECISIVE JUDGMENT OF GOD 7-14
First, John has harsh
words for everyone who is opposed to God if they do not prepare for his coming
v 7. Second, John told those who came
out to be baptized, to repent and not depend upon being descendants of Abraham.
Third, he said, Indeed the axe [the judgment of God]
is already laid at the root of the trees [the nation of Israel]; so every tree [every Israelite] that does not bear good fruit [the
evidence of repentance] is cut down [individually
judged] and thrown into the fire. God’s
decisive judgment is nearer than they realize. Fourth, then John gave
five examples of repentance: give clothing and give food v 10-11, don’t swindle
v 13, don’t steal v 14, and be content with your wages v 14. This applied to
the multitudes, and the tax-gatherers and soldiers they hated. This repentance
is a concern for God, that he is present and coming, expressed through just
treatment of fellow human beings. This is a basic human rights concern of God.
Israelites were nasty to each other throughout their history. God demanded
basic human justice in his theocracy. He asks for the same from His household
today.
NB: There is going
to be a judgment. One for unbelievers here with eternal
consequences.
THE MESSAGE OF
REPENTANCE DIVIDES PEOPLE INTO TWO CAMPS 15-18
Verse 15: The people had
a high level of expectancy now. John had created hope in the people.
Speculation about John increased. All were fully reflecting upon the matter.
Was John the Messiah? John’s humility when he is being mistaken for Messiah is
telling.
Verse 16: So inferior is
John that he is not worthy to preform the most menial task for his master. One
baptism is then offered to the world but it has two consequences. Those who
accept it by accepting the one who brings it are purged and taken in baptized
by the Holy Spirit—the purpose of Jesus first coming. Those who do not are baptized
by fire—the purpose of Jesus second coming. Jesus, the Mightier One, will test
all people and divide them. His ministry divided people.
Verse 17: The chaff
tossed to the wind, gathered, and burned illustrates the fate of those who
refuse him. That separation is perilous bringing decisive judgment. Jesus separates between people—all
people. Luke wraps up this overview the message of good news v 18. John is a
part of the movement toward salvation and sets the table for it.
NB: Jesus’ ministry
is in a different class than John’s. John’s teaching prepares for rather than
parallels Jesus’ teaching. God calls for people to humble themselves by
repenting of any attempts to secure one’s salvation, and receive Jesus Christ
becoming children of God. There is no other way. There is no other name. Attempts to unite under a Jesus is contrary to his ministry
and message. The Pope uses Jesus as a means of social gospel to unite people
under a Jesus that does not exist in the Bible.
PEOPLE WILL
REFUSE REPENTANCE REQUIRED BY JESUS 19-20
A message about
sin will not be welcomed 19-20
First, John moves
from exhorting the crowds’ v 18, to rebuking a leader v 19. The rebuke was on
two grounds: (1) Herod Antipas marries the wife of a near blood relative, his
brother—a violation of Lev 18:16. (2) His rebuke included all the evil that
Herod had done. Second, Luke includes
the worst crime of all. Herod silenced the criticism of his lack of morals by
locking John up v 20. Herod’s decision to suppress John indicated his rejection
of John’s critique with the power od the law for this
tyranny.
NB: Some cannot
stomach God’s message confronting their approach to life. Sin is ugly and some
cannot stand to have it exposed. This is the tragedy of Herod’s response. Jesus
says His message will divide people who are provoked by a message of repentance
for forgiveness of sins.
Jesus message
forces people to choose 21-22
First, John notes
that all the people were getting baptized underscoring his popularity v 21.
Jesus choice to participate in Johns baptism: (1)
represents an endorsement of John’s ministry and message. (2) indicates how Jesus
identified himself with people as he began his ministry. (3) Jesus emerges with
the spirit descending as the coming one John had referred to.
Second, heavens opening is a common idea for God’s dramatic action
like Stephen in Acts 7:56. God is entering into the everyday world. Clearly God
is taking initiative to show humanity the way to him. Luke portrays a heavenly
endorsement of the arrival of the Coming One v 22. The manner of the Spirits
descent was like the way a dove floats gracefully through the air—it was dove like
but not a dove image.
Third, God’s voice at
this moment consists of three parts: 1. A reference to
the Son; 2. A reference to the beloved; 3. A reference to pleasure in his son.
Here is the idea of Jesus’ intimate and chosen position specifically in
relation to His father’s calling upon Him. Psalm 2:7 is an OT messianic element
behind the voice’s endorsement.
NB: So this is the
first testimony to Jesus from heaven as Gods special agent as he prepares to
embark on his mission. The baptism is an inauguration to begin the mission for
which Jesus was always headed. Now with God’s confirmation having come to
Jesus, John who was an introductory figure passes off of Luke’s stage. It is
time for the main character to step forward.
JESUS MINISRTY
OF REPENTANCE AS MESSIAH IS AUTHENTICATED 24-38
This
genealogy connects Jesus’ relationship to all humankind as their representative
all the way back to Adam and not just Abraham.
First, beginnings are
important to Luke and he highlights them frequently. The age of thirty is an
important marker for the beginning of service. This would be the age for
priesthood (Num 4:3); the age of Joseph entering Pharaoh’s service (Gen 41:46);
age of Ezekiel when called to ministry (Eze 1:1); and
David when he started reigning (2 Sam 5:4). The age of thirty connects Jesus
with these OT notables.
Second, Jesus sonship to Joseph comes with a remark showing that his sonship is strictly a legal one ‘supposed’ possibly
alluding to the virgin birth. So the
legal status of Jesus right to reign and claim of messiahship is his relationship
to Joseph.
Third, most of the
people mentioned are unknown until Nathan v 31. Nathan was David’s third son,
born to him in Jerusalem. God promised David Your house and … your throne shall be established forever (2
Samuel 7:16). This meant the king must have two things #1 a blood connection to David and #2 a throne connection to David.
Fourth, the Solomon
line had those two rights to reign after David chose Solomon as his successor.
But in Jeremiah 22:30 God said of Coniah, the
would-be king of Solomon’s line, write
this man down childless [even though he had children] … For no man of his descendants will prosper sitting on
the throne of David. So
Coniah’s descendants had #2 the throne connection but
lost #1 the blood connection to David. Joseph was a descendent of Coniah so he had #2 the throne connection to David but if his
seed entered into a child, that child suffered the curse of Coniah
and could not be king over Israel. Mary was also a descendent of David and
Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). [Bathsheba bore David four children after the
first one died.] through a different son, Nathan. So
she had #1 the blood connection to David, but not #2 the throne connection. The
marriage of Joseph and Mary, with the virgin birth of Jesus made Jesus
the only legitimate descendent of David with
both the throne connection and blood connection to David.
CONCLUSION:
1.
The only message that has an understanding of a biblical view of reality is repentance
for forgiveness of sins. Our message for instance, is not a social gospel or
global mending.
2.
Repentance for forgiveness of sins is the ONLY way to avoid Gods decisive
judgment to come.
3.
This message will bring division with some believing and many denying the need
for repentance.
4.
Expect his message to be refused categorically by those unwilling to hear Jesus
message.
5.
Jesus message is genuine, authentic, and Gods view of reality though rejected.