The wheel of history turns toward its end. At that time, Augustus Caesar had died in AD 14 after he reigned 45 years over the Mediterranean, calling himself the savior of the world (B.C. 31 to AD 14). Tiberius Caesar succeeded him in Rome, and was filled with spite, hatred, and distrust toward all the people. He reigned from AD 14 to AD 37 and during his dominion all the events reported in the gospel took place.
The physician Luke particularly focused on the year AD 28/29, for in that year John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner went out of his ascetic isolation in the wilderness. The then political and religious situations were so bad, for Satan reigned over the whole country.
At that time, the bloody Herod, killer of the children of Bethlehem had died. Antipas and Philips, sons of Herod had divided with Lysanias the kingdom of Herod who was an agent to Rome. They were no less proud, haughty, and adulterous in their grandiose palaces, which were full of adultery, than their father was.
During the disorder that took place after Herod’s death, Rome abolished the liberty of Judea, and appointed governors with unrestricted authority. The second governor over Judea was Pontius Pilate, a violent, cold, conscienceless ruler who once mixed his enemies’ blood with that of the sacrifices offered in the temple, to abuse the rites, laws, and faith of the people.
The governor who preceded him had deposed Annas, the high priest in AD 15 and appointed in his place some of his relation whom he also deposed thereafter, until he found in Caiaphas, the attorney general, his obedient person who would do his will. Caiaphas, on his part, delivered legal opinions in agreement with Pilate’s policy toward the Jewish law and customs. The Jewish law had appointed that there should be but one high priest at a time, but here were two, to serve some ill turn or other.
Consequently, the situations became worse, and the hearts of people became like a burnt desert having no water. Yet, particularly, in the midst of public corruption, God began to save mankind, not in the temple, but in the wilderness. There the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, and not vice versa, for man in unable to establish salvation through his own prayers and acts, but God pierces the wall of our sins with his word, and lightens our stupid minds with his gospel. This is the consolation in the beginning of the year and at all times. The word of God comes to you and fills you, so that you may become like a holy carriage loaded with the word of your Lord and running toward the world causing a new age to shine.
John, the greatest of all prophets, preached those who were thirst for righteousness with a small word of six letters: "repent" (turn back to your Lord. Turn away from your worldly designs and seek God. Change your mind and realize the Holy One so that you may know your terrible sins. He, who lives without his Lord, remains superficial and aimless, in spite of his high diplomas and good manners. Penetrate deeply into the gospel, and confess all your sins, asking God’s forgiveness, so that the power of Lord may dwell in you.
John came, in the name of God, with baptism, in token of repentance, for drowning in the Jordan symbolized the drowning and burial of the thief, whereas his coming out of water signified consecration of the purified one to the holy service of God. Did you realize the meaning of your baptism? Did you die to yourself and resurrect in the Spirit of your Lord?
How astonishing! The gospel does not only command you to repent and to deny yourself, but guides you, first of all, to the ancient prophecy in (Isaiah 3:4-5) which Luke writes in the Septuagint. The motive in this prophecy was to reveal the coming of the Lord. To John, the preaching of repentance, baptism, and remission of sin was preparation of the way of the Lord, for the Holy One visited mankind in his Son. Are you ready to meet your Lord, with your heart prepared to receive him?
You cannot come to your Lord while you are unclean. The Holy Spirit leads you to straighten your crooked ways, break the mountain of your haughtiness, and fill the valleys of your abominations and the trenches of your error with the grace of God. However, if you try to reform yourself, you will experience, in fact, that you are unable to prepare the way of the Lord. So, we advise you to commit your sinful soul in Christ’s hands from the first day of this year, so that he may give you the power of the Holy Spirit who practices in you useful repentance, overcomes your corrupt sins, and fills you with God’s salvation. Repent, dear brother, for your Lord is coming to you.