Repent!

This is Part 1 of 2 of Lesson 3: John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.

John’s birth was unusual in that it was prophesied in advance to an elderly barren couple. Right up front the angel advised that this child would be great in the eyes of God, and would have a special mission:

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also … make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16, 17 (NKJV)

His key message was:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2 (NKJV)

Ellen White provides some insight to how this message was delivered:

With no elaborate arguments or finespun theories did John declare his message. Startling and stern, yet full of hope, his voice was heard from the wilderness: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With a new, strange power it moved the people. The whole nation was stirred. Multitudes flocked to the wilderness.

Unlearned peasants and fishermen from the surrounding country; the Roman soldiers from the barracks of Herod; chieftains with their swords at their sides, ready to put down anything that might savor of rebellion; the avaricious tax gatherers from their toll booths; and from the Sanhedrin the phylacteried priests–all listened as if spellbound; and all, even the Pharisee, and the Sadducee, the cold, unimpressible scoffer, went away with the sneer silenced and cut to the heart with a sense of their sins. Herod in his palace heard the message, and the proud, sin-hardened ruler trembled at the call to repentance. {RC 339.5}

John’s message was pretty straight. It wasn’t couched in soft terms, or preceded with philosophical reasoning. However we know that the Spirit of God was with him, and the results were startling.

It is one thing to go out and evangelise to the world, it is another thing to have the world come out to a remote location to hear you simply due to the power of your message!

But what does the ‘repent ye’ message mean?

The study guide notes that the Greek word John uses for repentance means to ‘change one’s thinking about something’. John was known as ‘the Baptist’ because the repentance he sought was accompanied by baptism, a confession of sins and forgiveness. The people:

…were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:6 (NKJV)

… Luke says John preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3, NIV). Being washed in the water symbolized the changed view of life, the fresh start, and the forgiveness of sin. ABSG-t p36.

To John, repentance was no mere mental agreement – it has to be lived out in a new life with God:

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Matthew 3:8 (NLT)

It wasn’t just John who bore this message of repentance. From the start, Jesus preached the same:

“… I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 (NKJV).

Jesus presented this repentance as a necessary thing to save people from eternal death. Like John he didn’t ‘mince words’ about it:

But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3 (NIV)

Jesus tells us that the act of repentance by one person is such a wonderful and positive thing that it brings joy in heaven. To me this underlines just how important this is, and why John’s message was so critical.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:7 (KJV)

Is the act of repentance something we do, or is it a gift given to us?

I think the answer is both. Clearly we need to be making the change of our own free will, however God gives us the gift of repentance:

…the goodness of God leads you to repentance… Romans 2:4 (NKJV)

Some further questions to ponder…

After viewing the importance placed by Jesus on the act of repentance, do you think that this message is heard enough today in our society?

Do you think you should be urging more people to repent? That’s a bit of a harder question!

As always we’re interested in your thoughts in the comments below, however click here to go to the last  section of our discussion for this week – John The Baptist.