Luke 3

This is the third time I have read about John the baptist,
and each time he seems to be a richer, more interesting character.

I used a harmony to compare the accounts:
http://www.jaxpage.net/Jack/JaxFaith/Harmony/c02i.html#ss01

and now I realize that quite a variety of people
are joining him in the desert, not just Jews.

Luk 3:12
And tax-collectors also came to be baptized
and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
Luk 3:14
And the soldiers also asked of him,
saying, And what shall we do?

Tax collectors?
and soldiers?

People must have really been hungry
for something more in their lives.

Do you think it was just word-of-mouth?
I'm sure there were lots of deranged people back then
spewing all types of different messages,
what was it about John that caused so many to trust him?
To follow him to such a remote location?

And he wasn't just telling people to prepare,
he was giving actual concrete advice:

Luk 3:11
He answered and said to them,
He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none.
And he who has food, let him do likewise.
Luk 3:14 (snip)
Do not forcibly extort anyone,
nor accuse any falsely.
And be content with your wages.

Besides preparing people for the coming of Jesus,
he actually baptizes Jesus.

Then Herod throws him into prison.

I wonder what would have happened
if John hadn't been removed from the scene.
Would he have continued baptizing?
Would he have steered them towards Jesus?
Would he have become a disciple?
Would he have been Jesus' right-hand man?

I know, its silly to speculate.
What happened is what happened.
God works in mysterious ways. right?

I wonder what John is doing right now?
I wonder what God is doing right now?

-=-=-

The chapter ends with another genealogy.

Previously I made a big deal about
how Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Jew,
and traced the lineage from the father of the Jews, Abraham
and how Luke would present him as the perfect man,
so he traces him back through the first man, Adam.

What confuses me is that if you are proving his humanity,
wouldn't you start the genealogy from Mary?
since she is the only human component of his being?

Well, its not important enough to linger on,

I'm movin' on...