When the Word of God Comes

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

                          “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” (Luke 3:1-6).

The Holy Spirit returns our attention to John the Baptist who grew up in the wilderness of Judea… “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel” (Luke 1:80). There in the desert outside of the busy and noisy cities and villages of Israel the young man was separated from political and cultural distractions and he was free to hear the Word of God. And the Lord spoke to the young man and he was compelled to proclaim that message throughout the region around the Jordan River. Through Luke’s record of the Baptist’s message, the Teacher reveals three precious truths about the Word of God for thirsty truth seekers. Genuine disciples will find encouragement to abide in His Word here as learn more about what happens when the Word of God comes.

The Word of God precipitates the wilderness of life. John lived intentionally outside of the crowded cities and villages of his community. There was little distraction in the wilderness. There was also little food and water in the desert. He was more dependent of the Lord for physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment, and God was faithful over the years to meet and commune with His maturing prophet. Could it be that when we get too busy and distracted to hear Him, God initiates wilderness times in our lives? Might you be in the middle of a desert in your life? Consider increasing your time in His Word. I believe He will meet and speak to you in the quiet, thirsty times just as He met the Old Testament children of promise… “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10).

The Word of God prepares the way of the Lord. Compelled by the Word he received from the Lord, John immediately proclaimed that Word to others. The hearts of his listeners were changed and they were prepared to receive Christ through a baptism of repentance. God’s Word still prepares the heart of the earnest truth seeker to discover more of Jesus by replacing complacency with conviction and challenging us to repent of sin that keeps us from deeper, refreshing intimacy with Christ… “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20).

The Word of God presents the salvation of God. John was confident that if he faithfully proclaimed the Word that God revealed to him, everyone would catch a glimpse of the salvation of God. Jesus Christ is the salvation of God. Jesus taught that when maturing disciples earnestly and humbly abide in the Word of God, our lives are illuminated and transformed by His truth and we receive assurance of our salvation… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Serious disciples who seek and share the gospel as revealed in the Word of God become effective disciple makers, revealing His salvation, Christ the Savior to the world around us… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

As we grow up into Christ we discover faith-growing truth as we listen closely…

When the Word of God Comes.