A brief historical background overview for Jesus' baptism (Luke 3:21-22)

The setting of the baptism of Jesus bears the deep imprint of Israel's post-exilic political, cultural and social history, as well as the religious influences of sects within first-century AD Judaism. According to his genre conventions, Luke self-consciously places John's ministry and Jesus' baptism in the settings of leaders of his day (Luke 3.1-2)-but this connotes not merely date, but also the background and situation. Luke expects his first-century readers to understand the larger implications of this placement. This paper briefly explores the broader background, immediate circumstances, and desperation which combined to highlight John as a Messianic herald. For a desperate people, to "repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near" is the best news imaginable.