Luke 1 | Preparing People For Jesus

John the Baptist had a unique role in the economy of God. Luke records that John was sent to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). God knew people needed this … that somehow this prophet was essential to help people get ready for the coming of Christ. Luke 1, verses 13-17 tell us the story.

HIS EMPOWERING

... for the task was to be "filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15). The gifting he needed for this important work was the filling of the Holy Spirit. John could not do this, nor could anyone. It was only done by God in him and through him.

HIS WORK

... was to come in the "spirit and power of Elijah" (vs. 17). Elijah was a great prophet who called rebellious people to repentance. He showed them their need for God. John was always tasked to do the following:

"Turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God ... to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous" (vs. 16-17).

And John fulfilled this task faithfully. Fast forward 30 years from John’s birth. Prior to Jesus coming forward to begin his ministry, the "word of the Lord came to John ... and he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" using as his text the prophecy of Isaiah to "make ready the way of the Lord" so the King of Glory could come in (Luke 3:4-6). He called sin, sin and told them to repent because the Lamb of God was coming. He "preached the gospel" to the people with many words.

OUR ROLE

Although no one would be so prideful to think he was like this great, God-sent prophet, John the Baptist, our calling today is much the same.

The desperate need of our day is the coming of the manifest presence of the Lord. We need Him to rend the heavens and come down to do a mighty work of revival in the church and spiritual awakening among the lost.

Should not our message and passion be the same? Should we not be—every week and every day—making a highway ready for our God in the hearts and lives of people? And then we must simply point people to Jesus and declare, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Lord, thank You that You are always communicating to people what they need to know to come to experience You. As You’ve used messengers throughout history, Lord, use me to point people to Jesus. Give me eyes today to see those around me who need the good news.