Reading Luke 3:1-2 (NIV) today.
"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— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness."
I love these few verses. At first you may think that Luke is setting the stage for an accurate account of John's ministry. But the list seems a bit overkill to simply establish a time line.
What I feel he is doing, is creating a contrast. A list of all the important people, the main religious leaders and the people in power. As I read his words listing each person and their impressive titles, I picture a camera zooming over their faces, like the Academy Awards, until we get to...
"the word of the Lord came to..."
Almost like, "and the winner is..."
Yet the Lord did not pick any of them. He went to John, a man living in the wilderness.
A great reminder that the Lord looks not at the accomplishments we can rack up to impress others. He does not look at the importance of position or at the number of people that can be influenced by them.
He simply looks for an individual who will be completely sold out to him.
Is he looking for you?
