a voice in the wilderness - walnut creek church · “a voice of one crying out in the wilderness:...

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

LUKE 3:1-6

LUKE 7:2828 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

1. The Climate of John’s Ministry

LUKE 3:1-21 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

LUKE 3:1-22 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

The climate of john’s ministrya. The physical and political oppression

of the Gentiles.

Tiberius Caesar Ruler of the Roman Empire:

• In complete control over Israel.

Tiberius Caesar Ruler of the Roman Empire:

• In complete control over Israel.

• Claimed to be god.

Tiberius Caesar Ruler of the Roman Empire:

• In complete control over Israel.

• Claimed to be god.

• The Jews hated even acknowledging the reality that Rome was in control of their land.

John 8:3333 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free ?’”

• Tiberius Caesar, Ruler of the Roman Empire

• Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea

• Tiberius Caesar, Ruler of the Roman Empire

• Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea

• Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee

• Tiberius Caesar, Ruler of the Roman Empire

• Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea

• Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee

• Philip, Tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis

• Tiberius Caesar, Ruler of the Roman Empire

• Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea

• Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee

• Philip, Tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis

• Lysanias, Tetrarch of Abilene

The climate of john’s ministryb. The spiritual oppression of the Jews.

LUKE 3:1-21 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

LUKE 3:1-22 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s Word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

The climate of john’s ministryb. The spiritual oppression of the Jews.

The climate of john’s ministryb. The spiritual oppression of the Jews.

• Annas, the High Priest

The climate of john’s ministryb. The spiritual oppression of the Jews.

• Annas, the High Priest

• Caiaphas, the High Priest

How did this spiritual oppression work?

Deuteronomy 16:1616 All your males are to appear three times a year before the Lord your God in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. No one is to appear before the Lord empty- handed.

John 2:13-1613 The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John 2:13-1614 In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and He also found the money changers sitting there.

John 2:13-1615 After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers coins and overturned the tables.

John 2:13-1616 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Matthew 23:13-1613 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in.

Matthew 23:13-1614 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.

Matthew 23:13-1615 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!

Matthew 23:13-1616 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.’

What is the Solution?

2. The Character of God

Luke 3:3-63 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

Luke 3:3-64 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!”

Luke 3:3-65 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

Luke 3:3-66 and everyone will see the salvation of God.

The solution: The Lord is going to move toward us, offering us forgiveness.

this is amazing because: 1. Jesus offers a relational solution

to our problems.

this is amazing because: 2. The root problem of every person

is a broken relationship with God because of sin.

Luke 3:3-63 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

Luke 3:3-64 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!”

Luke 3:3-65 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

Luke 3:3-66 and everyone will see the salvation of God.

• Valley: Low places in the heart.

• Valley: Low places in the heart.

• Mountain and Hill: High place in the heart.

• Valley: Low places in the heart.

• Mountain and Hill: High place in the heart.

• Crooked Places: Crooked or perverted places in the heart.

Crooked à Skolios

• Valley: Low places in the heart.

• Mountain and Hill: High place in the heart.

• Crooked Places: Crooked or perverted places in the heart.

• Rough Way: Uneven, indecisive, back and forth.

this is amazing because: 3. God is the offended party.