John the Baptist Introduced

     This passage is one of a set of parallel passages found in all four Gosels (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-6; Luke 3:1-6; and John 1:19-23) that introduce John the Baptist onto the scene for us. The three in the synoptics are virtually identical with some minor differences and the accont in John deals more with his appearance and the generalities of the message as opposed to the specifics.

1. The Period of the Crier (Luke 3:1,2)
     The time when John the Baptist, the crier or herald of Christ, came on the scene was given in an informative way.
     The confirmation of the time. “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene” (Luke 3:1). Luke informs us who was in high places of government when John began his ministry. Five rulers are named and where they ruled. Skeptics of the Scripture can examine archeological records and verify that Luke was right. First, Tiberius Caesar. He succeeded Augustus; the sea of Galilee was for a time named after him (“Tiberias” John 6:1; 21:1). Second, Pilate. He is famous for his condemning Christ to death on the cross when he knew Christ was innocent. He ruled for ten years over Judea. Third, Herod the tetrarch of Galilee. “Tetrarch” means one fourth and is used to describe one forth of a land such as Palestine. He was the one who beheaded John the Baptist. Fourth, Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis. He was a half brother of Herod. The areas he ruled were north and east of Galilee. He was not the brother whose wife was Herodias, whom Herod of Galilee married. Herod the Great had two sons named Philip, one from a wife named Mariamne and the other from his wife named Cleopatra. Fifth, Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene. This territory was north of Palestine.
     The character of the time. “Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests” (Luke 3:2). The character of the time could easily be ascertained by the political rulers, but it was especially shown by the high priest situation. God’s Word plainly specified that there should only be one high priest in Israel. But here there were two. The reason for this is that Rome decided who would be the high priest. Politics ruled religion. That always brings corruption. That religion was corrupted is manifested in the attitude of the religious leaders to Jesus Christ.

2. The Place of the Crier (Luke 3:2,3)
     “The wilderness” (Luke 3:2). As great a preacher as John the Baptist was, he did not do his preaching in the Temple or some prestigious prominent auditoriums in the land. Great preaching and preachers are seldom accorded this kind of status. The great prophet Amos was told to stop preaching in the king’s chapel and court (Amos 7:12,13). Many choice men of God have been forced to preach in fields, in out-of-the-way places, and in lowly assemblies because organized religion will not accept them or their Biblical message.

3. The Preaching of the Crier (Luke 3:3,7, 9, 16, 18)
     “Preaching the baptism of repentance … O generation of vipers … the axe is laid unto the root of the trees … One mightier than I cometh … many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people” (Luke 3:3,7,9,16,18). At least five things are said of John’s preaching in this chapter.
     The repentance in his preaching. “Baptism of repentance” (Luke 3:3). People were to change and this change was to be indicated by baptism.
     The rebuke in his preaching. “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7). John did not hesitate to rebuke the religious hypocritical leaders who came to him for baptism.
     The retribution in his preaching. “The axe is laid unto the root of the trees” (Luke 3:9). Judgment was part of his message, too. And it said judgment was imminent (“is laid”).
     The realm of his preaching. “Many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people” (Luke 3:18). John the Baptist preached on a wide variety of subjects.
     The redeemer in his preaching. “One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose” (Luke 3:16). This was the major theme of the preaching of John the Baptist. He was the herald of Christ.

4. The Prophecy About the Crier (Luke 3:4–6)
     “As it is written in the book of … Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet … The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4). The ministry of John the Baptist, as the herald of Christ, was predicted hundreds of years earlier by the prophet Isaiah.