Title: Prepare the Way for the Lord
prepare the way of the Lord
Luke 3:3-17
2009. 12. 6, morning (Second Advent)
one life to live. After that, your life will be organized and remembered in one or two lines. Today is the second Sunday of Advent and the first Sunday of December. As the end of the year approaches, I'm thinking about this. How will people remember and evaluate me when I am called by the Lord? If only there could be no shame in looking up to the sky like an old poet's song... I think about how great it would be.
Today, during Advent, we would like to take a look at the core work of John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus to come so that we can have the opportunity to seriously prepare for the coming of Christ. The theme of this text is that in order to be saved, we must bear fruit worthy of repentance. First, let's think about the background of the times in which John the Baptist lived, the message of John the Baptist, and the consequences of that message.
1. Historical background (:1-2)
This text shows the relatively accurate historical background of when John the Baptist prepared for the coming of the Lord, and when the Lord came to this world and did the work of saving us. In particular, it shows the political and religious conditions of the time well. Look at verses 1-2 of the main text.
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturae and Tragonith, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene. And the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias while they were kings, and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests."
A few familiar faces are emerging. Tiberius Caesar (14-37 A.D.) was said to have been on the throne for fifteen years. Writing the chronology of the king's reign is the method of historical description in the Biblical age and the method of recording the history of Luke, the author of this book. At this time, A.D. 29 years. This was the time when John the Baptist began his ministry and Jesus began his public life for salvation.
Next, the author of this book, Luke, records in detail the political situation of Judah at that time. Here are the names of Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, and the three tetrarch. To understand this part well, you need to know the political organization of Palestine at the time. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, the king of Judea was King Herod. He had six sons known to him. But before he died, he asked Rome, the then-dominant kingdom, to divide the kingdom among his sons. The Roman government accepted his petition and installed four of his sons as kings. So the king's name was "Bonbon King" (