At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for Him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'”
Luke 3:2-6
What questions did you come up with? I came up with the following:
- Why is John in the wilderness? Why isn’t he where the people were?
- Is John just following the prophecy in order to fulfill it?
- Why does he go both sides of the river?
- What’s the meaning of baptism in that context? Repentence? Forgiveness?
- How does this match with the passage in Isaiah. Compare the two accounts!
- What’s with the “voice in the wilderness” refrain? Why?
- How do you prepare the way for Messiah’s coming? What has to happen?
- Why the poetic language of valleys being filled and mountains leveled?
- How will all people see the salvation from God? What does that refer to?
Did any of my questions match yours? Maybe you have some extras that I didn’t ask. Perhaps I just didn’t see them. I think these are the main questions to ask but you may have others. There’s lots to focus on.
Comparing Isaiah and Luke:
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'”
Isaiah 40:3-4
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for Him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.”
Luke 3:4-6
I will leave it with you to stew another day.
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