In the first chapter of his gospel, Luke tells us a lot about the birth story of John the Baptist. John is an important character in the story of Jesus. He prepares the way for Jesus. He calls for much of the same change that Jesus calls for. And he faces similar opposition to what Jesus faces. John’s appearance in Luke is a good chance to study the forces that work against God’s will, both in the first century and in the 21st. John also gives his audience a prescription for escaping the sinful nature of the world. John lays the groundwork for Jesus.