Luke 3:1-9 KJV
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Looking at Luke's Gospel this Resurrection Month. Luke was a doctor and his interest in Jesus probably came from Jesus' healing ministry. Yet he the only one that goes into detail of Jesus birth besides a small portion in Matthew. No one else records John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, birth.

John the Baptist began to preach and even the high Priests came out to hear him in the wilderness for it was known the word of God had come to him to preach repentance and remission of sin. Baptism was a symbol of spiritual purification. Priest going to do their duties would perform ritual purification that Jews still do today. Why because it away of preparing heart and mind and separate from bodily cleanliness. It represents the removal of any spiritual purities if faith. He did this in the wilderness surrounding the Jordan river area as people were going into Jerusalem. The picture clear but maybe not complete. Those crook roads of life need straighten by God's grace. This was being taught before Christ's ministery began. As revival came forth around the Jordan river it was helping people prepared for the Lord. A type of triumphal entry for Christ coming and his anointing but we not to that part of the story yet.

We at the place John Baptist is not only speaking about spiritual purification but to repent meaning turn away from sin. With this baptism we are to walk in the newness and rededication of faith to good works that bring forth fruit of faith. No longer laying on deadworks that lead to death.

John was not preaching anything new. For us those who never read the Old Testament or have no knowledge of the New Testament this is new. For us to think Jews were only ones that preached purification rituals this would be untrue. It interesting what happening here is a prepation to know Jesus. A process to prepare to know God. I am believer in Christ but to know other's not knowing of Jesus baptized leaves one asking is their a difference. The spiritual baptism is stronger the water and full of God's ability to work in the human heart that brought by the power and fire of the Holy Spirit. This power is not about control but enabling the believer to walk and do the will of God in life journey. God's will be far more difficult and more treachous without Jesus. You be on the wrong side of God's word. I not saying without God's word you cant be a good person for eben heathens love their children and friends. If you want a life that glorifies your Creator and final judge ypu will want to do it his way. Follow and believe his word to have every lasting life. To live by faith and not always by sight.

Dear Heavenly Father purify my heart and my your work in my life bring forth fruit of praise. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Chronicles 30:17-19 KJV
17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one
19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

Acts 21:26 KJV
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.