 |
 |
||||
John’s Message. But what is Isaiah 40:3-4 all about? At first the prophecy
does not seem to have any special meaning. It appears to just be figurative language. The reason for this impression
is that we are missing an important cultural fact. The emphasis of Isa. 40:3-4 is not just the “voice
of one crying in the wilderness.” The emphasis includes what follows. Ancient history tells us that when
a king, governor, or someone of importance came to visit, road crews were sent out to prepare the roads for
his coming. The roads were literally straightened, potholes were filled, rocks and debris were removed, and
the roads were smoothed. The message of Isaiah 40 is that the forerunner would straighten the spiritual path.
So John came preparing “the road” for Jesus. He was preparing the spiritual road. John was calling
people to straighten out their spiritual lives. His message was a call to repentance - to stop sinning.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (NASB) Matt. 3:2 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . . . and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (NASB) Mark 1:4-5 . . . preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (NASB) Luke 3:3 This illustration of preparing the road is a symbol of repentance. That is what John the Baptist called
the people to do - repent!
Call To Repentance. John used baptism as an external illustration of inward
repentance. In Jesus’ day baptism was for those Gentiles who desired to become converts to Judaism. The
Qumran community used it in a ritual way, but John the Baptist used it as a symbol of a repentant heart. John’s
baptism was a sign of an inward change - a repentant heart.
John was calling people to act differently: to flee from sin - to change their hearts and lives.
So when some unrepentant Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, he responded with some harsh words,
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (NASB ) Matt. 3:7 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. 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.” (NASB) Luke 3:8-9 |
|||||
|
|||||
| Life & Heart of Jesus | |||||
