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Jun 20, 2023 18:30pm

Before and After

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I love before and after pics.

Whether it’s a complete remodel of a home, a personal weight loss journey, or a car rebuild, it’s just really cool to see the incredible transformation.

The thing I like best is at the beginning, you get the full picture of what they were up against. If it’s a remodel, you see the run down home, holes in the floor, wild animals dead in the walls, ceilings collapsing, you name it. It looks like the biggest mountain and you get overwhelmed just by laying your eyes on it. Whew!

When you see what someone is facing, that giant mountain they have to climb, you realize how much more incredible the outcome is.

If someone told me they ran a marathon, I’d say, “Great job!” But if they told me they have been battling brain cancer for the last year, I would say, “Oh my goodness! That’s incredible! Look what you’ve done!”

As we jump into our text in Luke, we see something similar.

Luke 3:1-2

“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, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”

The entire first verse was written to establish one thing – power. Look at the titles of each of these men. They hold a powerful position. In fact, they are the most powerful leaders in the area! Pilate, Herod (Antipas), Philip and Lysanias were all Roman officials appointed to govern areas and keep the peace among the Jews. Caiaphas had taken the role as the High Priest after the Romans had “replaced” Annas. This man was actually Caiaphas’ father in-law, and was allowed to keep his title and power that went with the position, but really Caiaphas was in control.

Power.

Roman control over the people of Israel.

But then, we see a little glimpse of a new character coming on the scene. Look at verse 2. It says, “the word of God came unto John”. While there were many John’s, we know this one is Zacharias’ son, because it says so in the text.

Remember him? He was the son that was promised to Elisabeth, the cousin of Mary, by an angel of the Lord.

And where does it say he received the word?

In the wilderness.

Now what kind of power would this guy have?

Here he is, living in the wilderness, scrounging for food, shelter, water, etc.

He has no money.

He has no position.

He has no power to do anything, really.

Right?

But God…

Man, don’t you love it when you hear that?!

Here is a guy, a nobody to the Romans and the Jews, and we see what he’s up against. We see this display of Roman authority and overwhelming power.

And he’s about to flip things upside down.

Does your own life feel like that? Are you facing something that seems impossible and you think, “Lord, how will I ever do this?”

God is in control.

He makes a way.

When we see what we are up against and it feels overwhelming, we need to stand tall because here comes God.

He is the real source of power! He is the true and mighty King! He is the Creator of ALL, the One who spoke and the world was formed! He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end! There was none before Him and He is eternal! He is our provider, our protector and our personal Savior. He is the one and true Living God and His Holy Spirit lives within each believer.

Just like John, whatever we are up against, I’m thankful God’s with me.

Aren’t you?

I pray you know Him. You need Him for the battle ahead.