The Jews understood baptism to be a rite of cleansing, conducted by full immersion. But John called not only for cleansing but firstly for repentance – a change of heart. This was new. Repentance had never been associated with baptism before. John was calling for change of behaviour that was connected not to a ritual but to a change of heart.
Preparing our hearts
5 December 2021 • Pastor Michael Dutschke • for the 2nd Sunday in Advent
Bible Passage: Luke 3:1-6
+ expand3 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— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a]
New International Version (NIV) - for other versions see BibleGateway.com
