189
See also: The Suffering Servant 190–93 ■ The Divinity of Jesus 190–93 ■
The Baptism of Jesus 194–97 ■ The Empty Tomb 268–71J
ohn the Baptist was a Jewish
prophet who heralded Jesus
in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke
3, John goes out into the country
and calls the people to repent and
be forgiven. He baptizes those
who accept his message in the
River Jordan.
The author of Luke presents
John’s actions as the fulfillment of
a prophecy in the Book of Isaiah.
John quotes Isaiah 40:3, in which
a voice in the wilderness exhorts
listeners to prepare the way for
the Lord. They are to make the
path straight, level, and smooth,
and then all will see the coming of
God’s salvation. Although Isaiah’s
prophecy spoke first about God’s
rescue of the Israelites from exile in
Babylon, the Gospel of Luke reports
that John the Baptist interpreted it
to have a further fulfillment in his
own ministry.Baptism by fire
In the next scene, the followers of
John begin to wonder if he is the
Christ. John affirms his role as
messianic precursor, declaring thathe is not worthy to untie the sandal
of the one who is to come. He says
that while he baptizes with water,
the one more powerful than him
will baptize with the Holy Spirit
and fire. John concludes his
message with an image of Christ
as a winnower, separating the
wheat from chaff and burning the
chaff with unquenchable fire (3:17),
symbolizing the Final Judgment.
John hopes that all will hear the
news of the coming Christ, repent,
and be saved. ■THE GOSPELS
IN BRIEF
PA S SAGE
Luke 3:1–18THEME
The prophecy fulfilledSETTING
c. 26 ce The country around
the River Jordan.KEY FIGURES
John the Baptist Son of
Elizabeth and Zechariah.
A prophet who baptizes Jesus
and is later beheaded by
King Herod.Isaiah An ancient Israelite
prophet, to whom the Book
of Isaiah is ascribed.Jesus The Messiah and Son
of God in the period before
He begins His ministry.PREPARE THE WAY
FOR THE LORD
LUKE 3:4, THE COMING OF SALVATION
The ax is ... at the root
of the trees, and every tree
that does not produce good
fruit will be cut down.
Luke 3:9US_188-189_A_child_in_temple_The_coming_salvation.indd 189 27/09/17 5:58 pm