Even without the full grasp of Hebrew covenantal history, the Roman reader would understand there is a transition here, a shift of great moment. Something old is pulled up, clarified and restated, then replaced. The old must be reviewed to ensure the new has meaning.
Luke offers a distinct sign post of the time frame. Not in the sense we can pin it down to a single day of a certain year, but close enough for the reader to grasp the context. Thus, we currently believe Luke cites the year 28 or 29 AD. At that time, John the Baptist descended from his wilderness home to the Jordan River. Up and down both banks of this river, John preached a prophetic message from God urging repentance, and participation in the ritual cleansing in running water.
John's ministry was prophesied long before, and recorded in Isaiah as the herald of God's wrath -- specifically, that God was coming in person to judge His people. Luke includes enough of the quote to point out the purpose was to ensure all the world, not just Jews, would see the redemption God had offered. In this preaching, John drew a lot of attention. We can't forget there was a powerful ferment of expectation in this time, something of which Roman officials would be keeping track. It's no surprise John drew large crowds.
When they came, John bluntly compared them to snakes, implying they were children of Satan. By the power of the Holy Spirit, John was able to get to the core of the issue: Having Abraham's DNA did not confer any particular standing before God. Rather, it provided only a burden of responsibility to be humble and holy, since they knew more about it than Gentiles did. John echoed the image from prophets of old about bearing fruit for God. Like trees which were planted and tended, but produced nothing good, they were about to find themselves burning in Hell.
The same Holy Spirit who gave the message also made it take hold in the hearts of those hearing. They asked for directions. Luke records specific commands, but it's obvious each represents something far larger. For the common people, the command to share clothing and food was to rekindle the community spirit, to regard the welfare of their fellow Jews as their own. For tax collectors, whom any Roman official knew was regarded by Jews as traitors, John didn't say resign. Rather, since tax collection was simply what governments did, John demanded they do so honestly. Instead of charging extra and pocketing it, they were to accept the generous portion offered by Roman law. For soldiers, it was they should stop abusing their office. Being the only legally armed people around, they should not use their advantage to extort either directly by threat, nor by false accusations -- since Roman soldiers had a higher standing before the law than subjects. Accept the situation and be honest. Together, these samples of John's instructions show the same virtues lauded in every culture of the world.
This harsh speaking man drew huge crowds, and many went under the water with him. With such charisma, could he be the Messiah? John pointedly said he was not. Indeed, while John preached an older righteousness of human change, he was but the herald of One far more demanding. John used rituals and prophecy from the Old Testament, calling the Jews back to the highest standards of their earthly existence. The Messiah, who was coming next, would not concern Himself with ordinary rituals and simple behavior improvement, but with the very souls of people. It was clearly symbolic language, but baptism by fire had long meant a harsh cleansing process, reaching deep into the core of a person's character and personality, a trial so severe many perished in the process. Great Jewish prophet as men took John to be, he knew he was a mere Gentile slave beside the Messiah.
This coming Messiah would thoroughly test the spirits of men, to see if they were of any use to God. Like a man threshing and winnowing grain, the Messiah would discern the real nature, not just the external show a man might put on for human eyes. Those who failed would burn in Hell forever.
Inevitably, such an upright preacher as John would anger someone in power. So it was, Herod Antipas was already wary of John's influence and the attention paid the prophet. How short a step would it be to stirring up a revolt, when it was plain to all Herod was totally un-Jewish in behavior? He was notorious for aping the ancient Persian emperors. When John directly criticized Herod for taking up with the wife of his brother, Philip -- a violation of Jewish Law -- Herod had him arrested. John was standing in Herod's jurisdiction.
However, before this happened, John had the chance to point out just whom he considered to be his Messiah. His cousin, Jesus, came to participate in the ritual washing, directly supporting John's message. As with most people coming up out of the water, Jesus prayed in normal Jewish fashion with His hands raised. In front of a huge crowed, the skies appeared to roll aside, and a Spirit appearing as a dove came down upon Him. In a typical Eastern paradox, this one who came to immerse people's lives in fiery judgment of God, was marked by a Spirit of Peace, of gentle harmlessness. Further, an audible Voice from Heaven declared Jesus was the Son of the Almighty, and quite satisfying to His Father. The phrase was a mark of approval, of more than fatherly pride, but commission to carry on the business on His Father's behalf.
Luke thus makes an unshakable statement regarding the Holy Spirit, whose presence and power had already been seen, was most obviously operating in this Jesus. Further, Luke offers a genealogy which reflects the Roman view of things. Best we can tell, this does not match neatly with Matthew's very Hebrew form of genealogy of direct lineal descent through the male line. Rather, Luke names what we take to be Mary's line of descent, since her husband Joseph was not a son of Heli. Rather, since women are not named in these things, Joseph and perhaps a couple other names in the list, were sons-in-law of their predecessors. Even if Joseph was not His real father, Jesus still came from the Royal House of David via His mother. More, His lineage could be traced to the first humans, since it is all mankind to whom He was sent.
With this, Luke sets out how Jesus entered His ministry very much as a man. While His birth was clearly divine, He chose to walk the human path, waiting on the anointing of the Holy Spirit, before beginning a work as a man of faith and Spirit. He made Himself utterly reliant on His Father, operating as any man of faith might do, should God choose to use him that way.
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By Ed Hurst
21 June 2008
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