What then shall we do?

Luke 3:1-10

Have you explored or wondered why both Jesus and John waited till the age of 30 to begin their ministry?  If you turn to the book of Numbers 4:1-3, it brings some understanding; “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral house, men 30 years old to 50 years old –everyone who is qualified to do the work at the tent of meeting.”  In 1 Chronicles 23:3, “The Levites 30 years old or more were counted; the total number of men was 38,000 by head count.”  If you keep reading, the age requirement went down to 20 years of age, but it implies they were in training till the age of 30.

If you read commentaries you will find some that believe Zechariah and Elizabeth both died when John was still a young child, and this might explain why he grew up in the wilderness of Judea between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. But never doubt that it was God’s plan for John to be the forerunner of His Son. The prophet Isaiah gives this information in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”  And we find in the Gospel according to Mark this insight; “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”(Mark 1:1-3 ESV)

Also it is of importance to notice how Doctor Luke gave the history and time line of this very important event, with the area, the ruling governor and the high priest of Annas and Caiaphas.  When Luke tells us the “word of God came to John in the wilderness,” what is not told is how that word came, by a messenger such as an angel, or in a dream or vision, or in a time of prayer.  This we know, John’s calling was to the region around the Jordan and the message was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Now to you who like a no nonsense, straight shooter preacher, you are going to like John, I also appreciate such a man. This was the message from the Holy Spirit through John’s lips: “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.”

Now it seems the crowd identified with the message for this was their reply: “What then shall we do?”  What a wonderful reply, for until we are willing to come clean before God and man we will not experience repentance.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice