Preparing Our Heart for Jesus (Luke 3)

12:30 PM





John the Baptist served an important role. His mission was to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people to accept Jesus as the Messiah. “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"” (v3-6)

The timing of John’s message was also important:
“The year is established in relation to Emperor Tiberius and the leadership that the Romans have put in place in and around Judea.  In this opening, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas are all mentioned. Herod would be responsible for the death of John the Baptist and, along with Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas, would be in part responsible for the death of Christ. This opening verse sets the scene for a world that has gone awry, a world where God’s people live as a conquered people in their own land and where those in power would crucify the one God sent to save the world.” (James Shenko).

The Jewish people were looking for salvation from Rome but Christ came to save them from their sin. John came to prick their hearts with awareness of sin and their need to repent. Many who came to listen to John had become complacent to their own sin. They were counting on their standing as Jews to consider themselves righteous. But John warned them that God would judge the heart. 

“He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."” (v7-9)

John got the attention of receptive hearts, willing to ask an important question.
“And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"” (v 10) John provided individual examples of how a heart desiring to please God will respond and these examples hold true even today.  In contrast to a world rooted in selfishness, those who want to please God will extend his love to others. 

The Baptism of Repentance signified that the Jewish people were not putting their faith in their heritage as Jewish citizens for salvation but publicly declaring that the condition of their heart would be judged and their sin needed to be forgiven. They were putting their faith in the mercy of God. John was an important man of God, but John was not the Messiah. Only Jesus could provide eternal forgiveness of sin. Only Jesus could bring the New Covenant and provide the Holy Spirit who would help us live out the Christian life and produce spiritual fruit. 

“John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."” (v16-17)

Although we do not earn or maintain our salvation by works, if our heart is in alignment with God’s will, the love of Christ will be evident in the fruit produced in our lives. We will be truly concerned about the welfare of others, about being honest in our business dealings and personal relationships. We will see the resources that God has blessed us with and be good stewards of those resources. We will be glad to bless others who have need of our time,money, food, companionship, etc. 

Examine your own heart and see if there are areas where you have become complacent about sin. Ask God through his Holy Spirit to help you surrender your heart to His will and produce good fruit. 



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