eschatology, Prepare the Way (Luke 3, John 1)

John the Baptist is important to eschatology as he announced the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and introduced the nation of Israel to their Messiah - the Lamb of God (the one who will fulfill their covenants - in the Millennium).  John the Baptist also prophesied several things:  that Jesus was there to take away the sins of the world (because through the nation of Israel, all people would be blessed);  that the Holy Spirit was going to be made available through Jesus;  that the Tribulation would happen before all people would realize (but not necessarily believe) that salvation is only possible through Jesus; and that Jesus would one day judge the world.  John the Baptist's messages also emphasized (Old Testament) scripture which Jesus was going to use...

(Luke 3:1-17)  Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4 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 of the Lord, Make His paths straight.
5 ‘Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low;  the crooked will become straight, and the rough roads smooth;
6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”

7 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? 8 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. 9 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.”

10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, 16 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. 17 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.”

Not only John the Baptist, but God Himself lets people know that Jesus is the Son of God...

(Luke 3:21-22)  Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

(John 1:29-34)  The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Today's takeaway:   Remember, (most of) the Israelites and their spiritual leaders had forgotten the critical part about being obedient (about being a believer), thinking that it was enough just to "be" an Israelite.  It was enough just to practice some of the laws that suited them.  This is exactly how some people think that they are Christians - just because they grew up in a Christian home, or because they go to church, or because they live in a "Christian country", or because they are not "so bad - but pretty good people" etc. All these things do not make anyone righteous or a child of God. 

John was preaching the gospel and emphasized the message that the evidence of faith is works (service).  The church that I'm a member at has a "two-cross vision":  the first (upright) cross represents Jesus, what He did on the cross for us, and salvation;  the second cross (on a slant) represents the cross that believers need to pick up and carry.  Serving God and people does not save us.  Rather it is an outpouring of God's love, and is a testimony of our faith.  Denying myself means I realize I am nothing without God and need His salvation, and desire to do things according to His will - NOT doing things my way or the world's way (which only gets me into trouble in the long run)...

(Matthew 16:24-27)  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.