Luke 3:1-9
3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Luke sets this account in history with the precise and demonstrably true facts of these men, their positions, and their reigns. Among other things, the fact that these historical people are placed correctly in history demonstrates yet another way that Scripture authenticates itself.
And almost all of these gentlemen, we recall, were key players in Christ’s passion and crucifixion playing prominent but unwitting roles in God’s plan of salvation. If nothing else, this reminds us that God has frequently used evil and unbelieving people to accomplish His will, particularly in bringing about the mock trial and horrid torture and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On one level, the terrible events of that first Holy Week seem grossly unfair and corrupt; they are downright offensive to the idea of human justice. Some might say that Jesus never really had a chance as all the corrupt political powers were overwhelmingly stacked against Him.
But the evil intent of these men in political power at the time was no match for God as He used them for His glory and purpose, even as He used evil and unbelieving Pharaoh in the exodus of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, and even used the devil against himself in Christ’s crucifixion and death.
With God, nothing is impossible. So when life seems impossible or all the worldly cards seem stacked against us, we turn in faith to Christ who took our sins into Himself and was crucified for us, paying for all our sins and overcoming the Evil One for us. And by so doing, He demonstrated that He alone has all power and authority, and we are comforted and strengthened by Christ’s words and work on our behalf
Let us pray: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the Incarnation of Your Son yet more wonderfully restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
