In the Wilderness

Luke 3:1-2 - In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Are you famous? Are you influential? Are you at the top of your game? If not, you are in good company. In his quest for accuracy and solidity, Luke ties the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry to a specific date by noting all those in power around him. Luke did not need to mention of all these rulers. The statement, “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,” would have been enough to let us know when John started baptizing. However, by mentioning regional Roman and Jewish leaders, Luke gives us a great contrast between those who seem to have power and those with lasting influence. All of those Roman governors like Pilate and Lysanias, the Idumean puppets Herod and Philip, and the Jewish priests Annas and Caiaphas fought hard to get their positions. There was no small amount of finagling, politicking, and manipulation to gain those places of prominence with their palaces and servants.

Meanwhile, “in the wilderness” God sought out someone who was completely unlike them: humble, unassuming, living with no comforts. No one would have guessed his impact would be felt centuries after the Roman Empire and all of its trappings had fallen. Those who looked like they had power ultimately lost it. The one who seemed to go unnoticed had the greatest impact.

Whatever your wilderness may be, remember that God will often speak to you there and do a greater work in and through you than can be immediately seen.