Luke 3:1-6 (CEB)In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler[a] over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
and the rough places made smooth.
All humanity will see God’s salvation.”
1. Take a few moments in silence to center yourself. Consider what you desire from this encounter with God.
2. Read the scripture passage twice, slowly, so the details become familiar.
3. Close your eyes and imagine what is going on. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch?*
4. What emotions rise up for you? Does anything in particular cause a reaction for you?*
5. Where do you see yourself in the scripture?*
6. What questions or thoughts bubble up?
7. Close this time by talking honestly to God about your experience.
*If you are practicing this with children, offering them crayons and paper to draw the scripture is a good way for them engage with the scripture.