Luke 3:1-22

Here's my version of a brief recap of Scripture study for the last two weeks.

2 weeks ago - Nov 2nd

Luke 3:1-22

I don't remember the details of this one that well, but we talked about baptism, it's sources in the Old Testament being part of a cleansing ritual for certain uncleannesses and for bringing in foreigners to the Jewish community and what that could mean for how John's contemporaries interpreted his actions and message. We talked John's baptism and 'repentance for the remission of sins', about 'repentance' being a complete change in the way you go about life, and what it means to bring forth 'fruits befitting repentance' (I think that's how TC's bible put it). So, if the fruits are the actions that go in accordance with repentance, then the actions are not themselves the repentence. It's not just that you change your actions, you change the intentions and motivations that those actions come from. And then, because you've changed your intentions, a difference in actions should follow from that.

We talked about the image of the ax at the root of the tree ready to destroy trees that do not produce fruit, and what that might mean if in preparation for Jesus' ministry and this baptism with fire deal.

We talked about how even though the ax at the tree was a very threatening image, and even though John calls people a brood of vipers, his invitation to repentance is for everyone. Everyone can come to change who they are or who they want to be. They ask John what they have to do - the soldiers and the tax collecters come to ask what they must do, and John tells them. It's not an exclusive club. Even the soldiers and the tax collectors can come. These people groups were like, the scum of the Roman empire in the Middle East. They were the manifestations of the Roman presence/oppression in Jerusalem - the military and the taxes of Rome. But John says that they can come, too.
If you're wondering what to do, but you aren't specifically a soldier or a tax collector, maybe John's message to the general public applies:
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Interestingly, the German House just celebrated St. Martin's Day which is in honor of a saint who shared his cloak with a freezing beggar.


And then Jesus was baptized too. Why? In one of the other gospels, Jesus makes a statement to the effect that it must be this way 'in order to fulfill all righteousness.' Maybe it's a formality, but not an insignificant one.

Tune in to the next email for a continued confusion at what things Jesus as the Son of God (Luke 3:22) finds it appropriate to do.

-Tracy

p.s. I probably left a lot out of this email, but I don't think it's too bad for trying to remember 2 weeks back.