WWUTT 2287 Prepare the Way of the Lord (Luke 3:4-9)

John the Baptist and the Call to Repentance

John the Baptist came proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He was preparing the way of the Lord to come. And so we must all bear fruit in keeping with repentance when we understand the text.

This is when we understand the text, studying God's word to reach all the riches of full assurance in Christ. Thank you for subscribing, and if this has ministered to you, please let others know about our program.

Here once again is Pastor Gabe Hughes.

Thank you, Becky. In our study of the Gospel of Luke, we've been reading about the ministry of John the Baptist. And I want to pick up where we left off yesterday. So let me start reading here in verse three, and I'll go through verse nine.

Hear the word of the Lord. 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.

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.

John's Baptism and Christian Baptism

Now yesterday, as we finished up, I mentioned that I wanted to come back to verse three and reflect upon this baptism that John was doing, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

And I wanted to examine the difference between John's baptism and the baptism that Jesus commissioned the disciples, the apostles, to go out and do. So John the Baptist's baptism versus the apostolic baptism.

Where are they the same and where are they different? So we're going to start with that. And then after that, we'll look at the prophecy itself as made from Isaiah in verses four through six. And then we'll see John's teaching to the people in verses seven through nine.

Tomorrow, when we come back to this, we'll see the crowd's reaction to what he has taught and John answering their questions. And that's beginning in verse 10. That's the part we'll get to tomorrow. So first of all, back in verse three, where it says that John went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

What is the difference between John's baptism and the baptism that we receive now? Because there is a difference. When you go to Acts chapter 19, the apostle Paul came to Ephesus and he found some disciples and he said to them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

And they said, no, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And Paul said to them into what then were you baptized? And they said into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him.

That is Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

There were about 12 men in all. And so from that point on, they joined Paul in the missionary work that he was doing in Ephesus and in the surrounding region for what was that two years or something like that, that he was teaching in that region.

So there you see there's a difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism. These disciples had already been baptized in John's baptism, but that wasn't sufficient because they had not known of the Christ, who is Jesus, and then being baptized into his name, they received the Holy Spirit whom they had not even heard about.

So you can see there in Acts 19 that there's a difference between Jesus' baptism and John's baptism. What is the difference? And how are they similar? Well, John's baptism was preparational. So it's preparing the people for something, whereas Jesus' baptism, or rather the baptism that he commissions the apostles to go out and do, that baptism is looking back on what Christ has done for us.

So John is preparing the people. It's as if they're being cleansed before the king arrives. Nobody can just walk into the king's throne room and address him, you had to be bathed before you went in. So it's in this sense, John is cleansing the people for the coming of the Holy One, the Anointed One, who is the Messiah.

But this baptism is also called here in Luke 3 .3 as repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Well, that is the same as the baptism that the apostles would do. This is where the baptisms are the same. They're both a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

If you go all the way to the end of the Gospel of Luke in chapter 24, verse 46, Jesus says to his disciples, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.

That's the same phrasing that's used in Luke 3 .3 regarding the baptism that John baptized with. You have the same thing at the end in Luke chapter 24. So the very message that the apostles are going to proclaim is the same message that John was proclaiming, but he is preparing the people, whereas the apostles are proclaiming Christ and when a person is baptized, they are baptized into Christ.

Romans chapter six, verses three and four. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Now both baptisms have that aspect to it as well. When John the Baptist baptized somebody, once they were cleansed and came up out of the water, they were to walk bearing the fruits in keeping with repentance as John is going to go on and share here in the verses down below.

So they needed to walk in that new life. They were not to return to their former sins. And so it is the same with the baptism that we receive in Jesus name. But this baptism in Christ is more than just cleansing.

It's also symbolizing that we've been buried with him in his death and risen again from the grave to walk in newness of life. And that's an aspect that John the Baptist baptism did not have. So what we see here, similarities and differences.

They're both baptisms that are proclaiming repentance for the forgiveness of sins. They're both baptisms that are cleansing. Both baptisms point to Christ. But John's baptism is preparing and is not really complete.

Whereas the baptism that Jesus gives to the apostles to do is complete in Christ. It is a statement just like John's was. It's giving a testimony that I have repented of my sins and I have been washed clean.

But it's also bearing witness that I have been buried with Christ in my sins and risen to walk in newness of life. There's also a hopeful aspect to it in that we are anticipating the resurrection of our bodies just as Christ was raised from the dead.

So also we will be raised from the dead. So that is tied into the baptism of Christ that we have received in his name. So anyway, just wanted to touch on that, that we would see the differences between John's baptism and the baptism that Jesus did.

But again, what John was doing, it was still a baptism that was supposed to be a testimony of repentance and that person was to go on from their baptism bearing fruit in keeping with repentance. We'll see that as we go on here.

Isaiah's Prophecy of the Coming King

Let me continue to verse four and we'll read of this prophecy from Isaiah and how John fulfills it and how Christ fulfills it because really it's John pointing to Christ. So Luke 3, 4, 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.

Now this is referenced from Isaiah chapter 40 and really the one that is crying out in the wilderness, that's the reference to John, but everything else is in reference to Christ. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, there's John the Baptist, prepare the way of the Lord.

So the rest of this, from this, this last statement in verse four through verses five and six, all of this is about Christ. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Make the way for him to come, get out of the way.

Here comes the Lord, stand at attention, receive the King as he enters into the city, into the crowd of the people. That's the proclamation that's being made with prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

It could also be prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord. It could also be interpreted that way because the Lord will come up out of the wilderness. If you go into the song of songs, it talks about the groom coming to his bride and him coming up out of the wilderness.

So he's coming from a desolate place and coming to give life once again. That's the anticipation of the coming of the King. Our land is desolate. Here comes the Lord through the wilderness into this place to make it fruitful once again.

That was the anticipation that the people had of their Messiah, that he is restoring all things and making it all new. In verse five, every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

Now, all of these different pictures that are painted here regarding what the Savior is going to accomplish, this is what Jesus did during his earthly ministry. And we see these things being accomplished with the proclamation of the gospel even today.

First of all, looking at it in terms of what Jesus did during his earthly ministry, when the valley is filled, then those souls who are longing for life again, those poor souls as Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

They are poor in spirit because they recognize they have nothing. I cannot do this on my own. I am incapable of lifting myself up and making myself worthy for the coming of the King. So like a poor beggar, they have their hand out looking for the Savior to give them good things.

And so the valley being filled is when those lowly and penitent souls receive assurance of their pardon, that God has forgiven their sins. He has atoned for their sins, provided their atonement by the giving of his Son.

And their valley, the low place, the deep pit that they felt like they were in has been filled and they have been lifted up. That's what's accomplished in the ministry of Christ. The next portion, every mountain and hill shall be made low.

This is speaking of the pride of the religious folk, the scribes and the Pharisees, the Sadducees, all of the hubris that they had and the belief that because of their great works and their superior religion that they were next to God and would receive the kingdom of heaven.

But their lofty places to which they had ascended in their pride would be brought low when Christ would come and rebuke them and even tell the people don't be like them. They would be humbled by God himself.

The next portion, and the crooked shall become straight. This is when tax collectors learn to be honest. Those who are prostitutes do not continue in their sin, but repent and come to an honest way of life.

And then the rough places shall become level ways. These are, this is in reference to soldiers and we'll see this coming up with John the Baptist teaching here too, because he's going to address soldiers.

He'll have a face to face conversation with some of these soldiers asking, what should we do? Jesus had a conversation with soldiers. These men who were aggressive in charge, who tore other people down, who oppressed, well, even they, the rough ones will be taught not to do violence any longer, to lay down their arms, to love their fellow man.

Anyone who would bully or anyone who would oppress would be taught by Christ to love and to build up and to consider other's needs ahead of their own. The rough places, those who make it rough and hard for everybody else, those places will be made smooth.

Their souls will be tamed by the gospel of Christ. So in this way, we see how Christ fulfills this statement made from the prophet Isaiah. And then finally in verse six, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

All flesh is referring to all nations. So it's not just Jews, even though it will be to the Jews that Jesus will come. But even Gentiles, all nations will be brought to the savior. That's the reference to all flesh.

So there will be no obstruction. Whereas other nations at this time and place, they're not coming to God. Even when the proselytes from the Jews are going out and attempting to proselytize, there's not this mass revival or movement of people that are turning from their pagan ways to God, but that's going to happen through the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All flesh will see the salvation of God, not just Jews, but even Gentiles. And so going on from there, the next portion, we have the further teaching of John verses seven to nine. He says 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?

Now it's in a sense that these people are coming out to be baptized by him. They are coming to him wanting to be cleansed. They believe the Messiah is coming. And as I mentioned yesterday, some of them are questioning if John is that guy, because John the Baptist himself was a miracle baby.

So is he the Messiah that we have been waiting for? That had a lot to do with their curiosity of coming to John and believing that they needed to be baptized by him, not baptized into his name, though some of them probably did think that, but being baptized that they are prepared for the coming of the Messiah.

John's either going to tell us he's him or he's going to show the Messiah to us. So that's why they come out to him. But John is essentially refusing them. And this is something of a test because we see this exchange happening between the crowds and John the Baptist, which will continue on in the portion we look at tomorrow with verse 10, them responding back, well, then what shall we do?

So they come out to be baptized by him. And this rebuke that John gives is his refusal. I'm not going to baptize you. You brood of vipers, you're snakes. There is venom under your lips. Whatever you say dishonors God, it blasphemes him.

You are not godly people. So who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? In other words, what John is saying to them, if you come to me to be baptized and I baptize you, but it isn't real, it isn't sincere, then you would be subject to God's wrath.

If you're coming to me to be baptized, to be cleansed, if you're professing repentance, which is what John was preaching, because that's the prelude to all of this. He came proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

So the people come to him to be baptized. He refuses to baptize them, even though he's saying to them, you need to be baptized. But he refuses by saying, you're a brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

If you come to me to be baptized, but it isn't sincere, then you are subject to the wrath of God. And so that's why the people are going to respond to him by saying, then what shall we do? You say we need to be baptized.

We come to you. We can't be baptized because if we get baptized insincerely, then the wrath of God is going to be on us. So what should we do? And John says, bear fruits in keeping with repentance. If you're truly repentant, then you're going to demonstrate it.

You're going to show it. It's not just coming out here to receive some sort of religious ritual, and now you're going to be saved. Now you're worthy to stand in the presence of God. It can't be that. Because the baptism has to be in light of the fruit that is already there.

So bear fruits in keeping with repentance. Can you prove it? Can you show that you genuinely desire to be baptized because it is actually a reflection of your heart? And my friends, that's what baptism is.

My Lutheran brethren don't like it when I say this, but nonetheless, baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. And that's what John is telling the people that it needs to be for them here. Are you genuinely repentant and coming to be baptized because the baptism will therefore be a reflection of your heart?

Do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. We know the Jews. We're making statements like we're going to inherit eternal life because we're Jews. We're descendants of Abraham. It's been promised to every single one of us.

John is saying, don't think that that's what makes you safe. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Now, John is being metaphorical, of course, but what he's referring to is hard hearts and no hearts were harder than Gentile hearts.

And even from these hard hearts, God will make for himself children of Abraham. Galatians chapter three says, all of us who by faith have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our children of Abraham.

And so he says, verse nine, even now the ax 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. So this is the warning that's given to them.

You come to me to be baptized, but if you're not bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, God is going to strike you down and you will be burned up with fire. And we'll pick up from there tomorrow with the questions that the crowd asked John and the answers that he gives to them.

But my friends, this needs to be a warning to all of us as well. That we likewise need to understand that our baptism should be a testament to something real that has happened in our hearts. And if it isn't real, God knows it.

And if we're not bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, if we're still committing ourselves to dead works, to sin, whether it's known to people or it is hidden, God's wrath is burning against these things.

As talked about in Colossians 3 verses 5 and 6, the wrath of God comes against such things. And those who have not truly repented, who are not bearing fruits in keeping with repentance, who still hide these sins and love these sins, again, whether they're doing it openly or in hidden places, God knows and his judgment will be poured out on all those who were not truly in Christ Jesus.

So if you are truly Christ's, then you will show the righteousness of Christ that you have been clothed in. In the baptism of Jesus, you have been risen to walk in newness of life. And so my friends, walk in new life.

A Prayer for Repentance, Forgiveness, and New Life in Christ

Heavenly Father, we thank you for what we've read and I pray that it is convicting on our spirits. And we understand that we worship a holy God and a God who is not going to leave sin unpunished. Our sins are going to be dealt with in one of two ways.

Either they've been placed upon Christ on the cross and the record of debt has been canceled. And so therefore, we have nothing to fear of the wrath of God because Christ has paid our penalty on our behalf or we are going to have to suffer the punishment for our sins, which would be an eternity in hell.

And so, Lord, may it be this day that we are holding fast to Christ and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance. We have proclaimed Christ as our savior and we proclaim him in our lives with our works and our actions demonstrating the goodness of God that he has shown to us through his son.

Help us to be bold to share the message of the gospel with somebody else so that they too may know Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sins. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.