John’s Message of Repentance

In the days immediately preceding the Lord’s earthly ministry, John the Baptist arose on the scene “preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). Repentance was (and still is) the necessary preparation of the heart to receive the Lord. There can be no forgiveness (remission) of sins without repentance and only the Lord can forgive sins. Luke, quoting from the prophet Isaiah, testified that this message was the very heart of John’s ministry. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth” (Luke 3:4-5).

Repentance demands a change of mind about one’s sin and results in a change of practice, a turning away from that sin. Luke gives three responses by those who heard John’s message that demonstrate the results of true repentance. The first of these responses demands contentment with enough that we might be generous with those who have need. “And the people asked him [John], saying, what shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:10-12).

Avarice, extreme greed, is an evil that lies near to the heart of every man. We must learn contentment. Jesus himself taught that “take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Paul wrote to Timothy “the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10).

The second response that John demanded was to show integrity in commerce. “Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, exact no more than that which is appointed you” (Luke 3:12-13). The publicans were the tax collectors for the Roman government. They were required to collect a certain amount for the government, but anything above that they kept for themselves. Consequently, they often took great liberty levying taxes which far exceeded what they would remit to Rome. Taking advantage of one’s fellow man in business is a practice as old as man himself, but it is condemned by the God who made all men. “A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work” (Proverbs 16:11).

The final response demanded faithfulness under authority. “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, and what shall we do? And he said unto them, do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). John’s response to them required that the soldiers confine their service to the scope of their authority and that they not use their position to unjustly harm others, including plundering their belongings.

True repentance requires that we acknowledge and turn from sinful practices in our lives. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (I John 1:8-10).