THE SET UP
Just as Luke describes a unique and supernatural birth and destiny for Jesus, he tells us that his cousin, John, has a special purpose as well. John grew up to be known as “John the Baptist” because he was always calling people to repent and then he baptized them. You wouldn’t think that being told to repent of sin would draw a crowd, but John did. People from all walks of life came from far and wide to listen to John and be baptized.
Repentance means more than being sorry. It means to stop doing wrong and start doing right. When people asked John what to do, he told them to do the opposite of what they had been doing. If they had been lying, he told them to tell the truth. If they were cheating people, he told them to be honest. John was doing all of this to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry that was to come.
PASSAGE TO READ
Luke 3:1-20 (Page 615 in our house bibles)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
When you read this passage, how do you picture John the Baptist?
What does the word “repent” mean to you?
What would repentance look like in your life? If there is a sin you are struggling with, what would it look like to do the opposite?
PRAYER IDEA
Ask God to help you search your heart. If there are things there you need to repent of, ask Him to forgive you AND help you to turn from those things and do the opposite.