Luke 1:80

My Notes

What Does Luke 1:80 Mean?

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel." John the Baptist's development is summarized in one sentence: physical growth (grew), spiritual strengthening (waxed strong in spirit), and wilderness dwelling (was in the deserts). The preparation for his public ministry happened in the DESERT — away from the Temple where his father served, away from Jerusalem where the religious establishment operated, away from society where reputation was built. The wilderness WAS the preparation.

The phrase "waxed strong in spirit" (ekrataiouto pneumati — he was being strengthened/empowered in spirit) describes INTERNAL development: John didn't just get bigger physically. He grew stronger SPIRITUALLY. The spiritual strengthening was a PROCESS — the Greek imperfect tense suggests ongoing, continuous strengthening. The spirit was being built over time, progressively, in the wilderness. The desert was the gym for the spirit.

The "was in the deserts till the day of his shewing" (ēn en tais erēmois heōs hēmeras anadeixeōs autou pros ton Israēl — he was in the wilderness places until the day of his showing/presentation to Israel) means the wilderness was John's HOME until the public ministry began: the deserts were where John LIVED — not visited, not retreated to occasionally, but INHABITED. The wilderness was his address. The preparation wasn't a weekend retreat. It was a lifestyle. The years between childhood and ministry were DESERT years.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What desert are you in — and could it be preparation for your 'day of showing'?
• 2.What does John's spiritual strengthening happening IN the desert teach about wilderness being the training ground?
• 3.How does the wilderness being a LIFESTYLE (not a visit) describe the length of preparation required?
• 4.What 'day of showing' is your desert building toward?

Devotional

He grew. He grew strong in spirit. He lived in the desert. Until the day he was shown to Israel. John's entire preparation — from childhood to public ministry — happened in the WILDERNESS. The desert was the seminary. The emptiness was the curriculum. The years of invisibility were the training.

The 'grew and waxed strong in spirit' pairs physical and spiritual development: the body grew (natural). The spirit strengthened (supernatural/disciplined). The two happened together — the same years that produced physical maturity produced spiritual power. The desert that seems empty of resources was full of the conditions that produce spiritual strength. The nothing produced the everything.

The 'was in the deserts' is a LIFESTYLE, not a visit: John didn't go to the wilderness for retreats. He LIVED there. The desert was his address from childhood until public ministry — potentially twenty to twenty-five YEARS. The years between 'the child grew' and 'his shewing unto Israel' were DESERT YEARS. The longest section of John's life — the hidden, invisible, unknown section — happened in the wilderness.

The 'till the day of his shewing unto Israel' means the desert had a PURPOSE: the wilderness wasn't punishment. It was PREPARATION. The desert years HAD a destination — the day of showing, the day of presentation, the day John would step out of the wilderness and into the Jordan and begin baptizing. The 'till' means the desert had an expiration date. The hiding had a revealing. The invisible years were building toward the visible day.

What desert are you in — and is it preparation for the 'day of your showing'?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture