December 2018 Messenger Newsletter

"The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness."
(Luke 3:2)

Second Sunday of Advent

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--
Luke 3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
Luke 3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
Luke 3:6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Luke 3:1] "Fifteenth year" is interpreted in three different ways: (1) from the date of the emperor's accession, which for Tiberius would run from August 19, A.D. 28, to August 18, A.D. 29; (2) from Tiberius' being made co-emperor with Augustus in A.D. 11, which would make it A.D. 25-26; or (3) by the Jewish system, which had two New Years: the sacred on 1 Nisan and the civil six months later, on 1 Tishri. Reigns were calculated from the New Year preceding accession, which would make the fifteenth year begin on 1 Tishri, A.D. 27. Thus, the reckoning refers to a time between A.D. 27 and 29. These initial verses provided precise chronological reckoning worthy of the most eminent historians.

[Luke 3:2] "The wilderness" is the uninhabited territory just north of the Dead Sea.

[Luke 3:3] "Baptism of repentance" suggests that the only acceptable recipients of the baptism were those who were willing to repent. The remission of sins, having already been accomplished in repentance, is symbolized in baptism.

[Luke 3:6] Verse 6 is from the LXX version of Isa. 40:5 and stresses the universal nature of Christianity as it is offered to both Jew and Gentile.

Readings for the week of December 16th
Third Sunday of Advent
First: Zephaniah 3: 14-20
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Second: Philippians 4: 4-7
Gospel: Luke 3: 7-18

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon