13. The Message of Hope
Luke 3:1-7
As I grow as a child of God and as a preacher of the Gospel, I am continually amazed, and even sometimes overwhelmed, by the greatness of our Almighty God. A God who would send His only Son to be born of a virgin; that Son lived a sinless and perfect life, who then died on an old rugged cross, was buried, then rose from the grave victoriously so that you and I might be saved. Does that not amaze you? Realizing that we are all sinners and our sin has condemned us to hell is not a message we like to hear, although true. But there is a message of “hope" for each and every one of us.
We see that message in our text today. Luke Chapter 3 shows us John the Baptist announcing the fulfillment of God's long-awaited promise of a Messiah, "the hope of Israel and the world." About thirty years has come and gone since the birth of John and Jesus Christ. John has been kept in a state of readiness to do what He's been called to do..."to prepare the way of the Lord". John's message was one of hope, Salvation is here. "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." There is hope in Jesus Christ.
-Pastor Terry