Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar — when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene — during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ”
A Thought
John the Baptist appears to be a simple cousin of Jesus the Christ living in the wild, dessert eating locusts and wild honey; but it was while here that the word of the Lord came to John. From there, John goes into all the country around Jordan with the message that will fulfill the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah. John was chosen to be the messenger of repentance for the forgiveness of sins introducing God’s salvation through Jesus the Christ for all generations. All who receive this gift of repentance should now be the voice preparing the way for Christ’s soon return.
Our Prayer
Father during this Christmas season, help each of us to celebrate the Advent of long also when Christ was born to give forgiveness from sins. Also make us aware that we are your messengers to the world today; that the Advent of Jesus will soon be fulfilled when Jesus returns in the clouds to call his body of believers to meet him in the air to live eternally with him. Prepare our hearts to meet you face to face. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
