LUKE 3
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS + GENEALOGY FROM ADAM
John the Baptist receives a message from God, so he goes out to the Jordan River preaching about the arrival of Jesus and calling the people to repent of their sins. John recalls the words of the prophet Isaiah, saying that he will prepare the way for God and make His paths straight. (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Some of the religious leaders of the time, called Sadducees and Pharisees, arrive at the Jordan. These leaders are known for their skepticism and legalistic view of the law. John is angry with them, calling them out for their pompous religiosity. It is not their ancestry or status that matters to God, but their hearts of repentance.
The crowds ask John questions around repentance and righteous living. John encourages them to be generous and fair, not taking advantage of people or exploiting the poor.
Filled with hopeful expectation, some of the people questioned if John the Baptist was the Savior Himself. John explains that the one who is coming after Him, Jesus, is far greater and mightier. In comparison, John says he is unworthy to even untie the shoes of Jesus. John will baptize the people with water, but Jesus will baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
John states that Jesus will clear the threshing floor and gather His wheat. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, those who trust God’s plan and follow Him, symbolized as wheat in this analogy, will be set apart as believers of Christ.
Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Once He comes out of the waters, the skies open up revealing God’s Spirit descending on Him like a dove. Along with the Holy Spirit was the voice of God, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Luke records the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His ancestry all the way back to creation. Luke highlights that Jesus is the Son of God, but also a descendant of Adam. Throughout the lineage are many key people in God’s story of redemption throughout the Old Testament, including Adam (Genesis 1), Abraham (Genesis 12), Isaac (Genesis 21), Jacob (Genesis 25), Judah (Genesis 29), Boaz (Ruth 2), David (1 Samuel 16).
