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, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:1–3 (RSV)
St. Luke roots his Gospel in the ebb and flow of history. He records names and dates familiar to the reader. St. Luke makes it clear that he is not writing a pretty story or a pious tale. He has put pen to paper as a record of the events making up the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Names that made people tremble are listed as minor players in the great drama of salvation. Caesar's far-flung empire is the humble stage upon which the Son of God will live out the redemption of all things.
Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas are merely extras as John the Baptist enters, proclaiming his repentance and forgiveness message. John, the last and greatest of the prophets, declares the preparation of all things for the Messiah's arrival. He who is the greatest ever born of woman is unworthy to untie the Savior's shoes' laces.
Jesus comes into history, as God has always done throughout the ages. Year upon year has the Father sent his Word on the lips of the Holy Prophets, awakening His people from their dullness to burning faith. Now, in these last days, He has sent His Son.
We are the stage of God's history, playing out our part in the great drama of salvation focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have our role to play, our witness to give, our faith to live out.
It may be that we are in the final scene of the great drama of the Lord's salvation. We may also be the next act that sets the stage for the Lord's coming. Whatever our role, let us play it faithfully, witnessing to the One who has come and will come again.