As I read this chapter, I was thinking about who might have been the John the Baptist in my life, preparing the way for Messiah. I remember a camp I was invited to … not the point of decision, but a time to hear the need for decision.
Luke 3.
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Interesting to think about-who was a “John the Baptist” for me…I think my answer would be plural. 🙂
This chapter brought several thoughts to my mind:
1) I have lived in several developing nations, and the roads are usually not great. Also, the countries are small and I have lived in the capitals. Once in Egypt, I noticed the road by my university had been beautifully repaired – smooth surface, painted curbs, trimmed trees – it was so nice. Then someone said, the president is coming. And where I live now, there was one time that the main road through my part of town was being torn up and widened. It was a mess for months. And one Sunday morning, we were walking to church, and there was a particular section of road that was being repaired. A bunch of workers and important looking men were walking around. They were paving over a big trench that had pipes and wires and was part of the main road that was under construction. There was an embassy in the neighborhood and someone important was about to visit. Whenever I remember this passage about preparing the way of the Lord, about the mountains made level and the valleys filled in, I remember these instances. People should know someone is coming, because all the signs are there!
2) John’s answer to the people about what they should do is interesting to me. Why, when threatened with the coming judgement and being cast out of Abraham’s family, is the answer essentially, “Stop being greedy!” John tells the crowds to give away their excess, the tax collector to only collect what the law requires, and the soldiers to not extort and make false accusations. What is the connection between greediness and judgement? Of course, it’s not good to be greedy but I wonder why that particular sin is called out.
3) The part about the soldiers making false accusations and extorting money hit home. A friend whose nephew is in the army here is anxious. One of the guys in his unit was found with drugs, so the whole unit is being brought under discipline, and now he has to pay a bunch of money.