READ: Luke 3:1-9: … Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance … And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees …
Verse 1 gives the political and ecclesiastical situation in which John the Baptist, as the herald of Jesus, will carry out his life’s work. All the people who will later condemn Jesus to death on the cross are already here. That life’s work had been announced even before his birth by an angel to his father Zechariah (Luke 1:11-17). And shortly after his birth, Zechariah himself prophesied to announce it (Luke 1:67-79).
Soon John withdrew to the wilderness of Judea to prepare himself for his public ministry. Then the moment comes when John leaves his solitude in the wilderness to preach throughout the wider region of both banks of the Jordan.
John’s preaching is a call to repentance. Repentance in the sense of sincere sorrow over sins, with confession of guilt, the desire for their forgiveness, and the resolve to break with sin. But also repentance in the sense of bearing fruit: a transformation toward a life in accordance with God’s Word, out of gratitude (cf. vv.8,9). This means a metamorphosis, a transformation of the heart.
John wants to baptize only people who have this desire. For John’s baptism portrays this: the sins must be wiped away. Then they will be removed from before the face of God, just as the goat laden with sins and sent away portrayed this on the great Day of Atonement (Lev.16:8,20-22).
John also makes known who he is: the one who prepares the way for Christ, the Saviour. He does this by referring to Isaiah: ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD … and all flesh shall see the salvation of God’’ (vv.4-6).
Very forcefully he calls out to the people: brood of vipers, that is, you are deceivers who are intent on the destruction of others, for sins that are covered up and not confessed lead to the wrath of God on His day of judgment. Merely being a child of the covenant or a member of the church (merely saying, ‘We have Abraham as our father’) does not protect against judgment. For that, regeneration is necessary.
Are we, of ourselves, also ‘a brood of vipers’?
Sing: Hymn 14:3 (1984) / 18:3 (2014)