Brief commenary on Luke 3

I love John the Baptist’s zeal for sincerity.  We see this in Jesus too, who spent a lot of time with social outcastes who were honest about who they were, unlike the proud religious folks of the day against whom Jesus railed also.  John the Baptist rebuked those who came to be baptized only to "cover their bases"—people who generally thought they were “in” because of the family to which they were born.  John called them a brood of vipers—snakes, or a reference to Satan.  His language is strong. He contrasts this behavior of going through the motions with bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.  He is saying—be real.  If you really belong to Jesus—your love for others will be what shows it, not your genealogy. While some are quick to mistake John for Jesus, John does not take advantage of the attention or praise for himself, instead he points to Jesus for whom he is not even fit to untie the strap of his dirty dusty sandal (in a culture where touching feet was a sign of humility).  At Jesus’ baptism, the Trinity is referenced—God the Father, God the Spirit and God the Son and Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is confirmed.  In Jesus’ genealogy, we see that He could trace his descendants all the way to Adam.  As I read the genealogy, I am amazed at how long and intricate was God’s plan for humankind.  I see how Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise given by God to His people—starting with Adam—the first man!