Repentance-In the Eyes of John the Baptist

December 5, 2025

Repentance-In the Eyes of John the Baptist

So who exactly is John the Baptist? John was born to a father named Zacharias who was a Levitical priest and a mother named Elizabeth who was the sister of Jesus’ mother Mary. His birth was miraculous to begin with as we can see in Luke 1:7 and it states, “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” Not only was Elizabeth barren but she was well advance in years meaning beyond a child barring age. In fact, this conception was so important and divine in nature that the Lord sent an angel to let Zacharias know about the birth of his son as well as provided him with the name of the child.

Luke 1:13 discloses, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” In the future John would have an extremely important role and that was to be the forerunner for Jesus Christ. This was one of the most important tasks in the entire New Testament.

His role was so significant that the angel Gabriel gave Zacharias special instructions for John even before his birth. Luke 1:15-16 reveals, “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

John the Baptist’s mission was so vital that the angel Gabriel caused Zacharias to be mute because of his unbelief, Luke 5:20. We can never forget that death and life are in the power of our words and Zacharias’ disbelief could have hindered John’s miraculous birth. He was going to pave the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, that is an extremely critical task and nothing could get in the way of it coming to pass!

So what exactly what John’s primary message?

We can see what John the Baptist’s primary message was in Matthew 3:1-2 and it states, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” He was the forerunner for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the first thing that needed to be said was to repent! He knew that the kingdom was at hand and people were perishing daily without having a relationship with God.

One very special thing mentioned about John was the fact that he was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, Luke 1:15. The Lord knew how significant this task was for John so much so that He filled him with the Holy Spirit as a helper (John 16:13) and a guide (John 14:26) to complete the mission in front of him!

One thing about John the Baptist is that he lived a very humble life. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey as Matthew 3:4 details, “Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.” John always knew that he was the forerunner for someone that was coming that was more powerful than he was with a much greater authority than he had, Matthew 3:11.

He never allowed his ego to get in the way of the task that was before him. He always made sure to acknowledge the fact that Jesus Christ is the One that was going to take the sin away from the entire world. We can see this revealed in John 1:29 and it states, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The role that Jesus Christ plays in all of humanity was far more superior than the role that John the Baptist played, but he had no problem recognizing that fact. He mentions it on multiple occasions so that people that heard him shouting repent would not mistake the one who was paving the way for the One that is the way!

So why was repentance such an important message? Luke 3:3 depicts the answer perfectly as it states, “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” The words “the remission” being used here is the Greek word “aphesis” which means: forgiveness or pardon.

John knew that Jesus Christ would take away the sin of the world in the sense that the penalty for all sin would be paid for by His death on the cross. However, people that wanted to partake in salvation would have to repent and completely turn away from their sinful life. The stipulation attached to the forgiveness of sin was that the person receiving the forgiveness would no longer live a life that did not align with the Word of God.

Many people were receptive to the message that John the Baptist preached as we can see in Matthew 3:5-6. It discloses, “Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.” They began to confess their sins showing that they wanted to live upright in the eyes of God.

John loses his life

John the Baptist was so serious about his message of repentance that it actually cost him his life. We can see this being unfolded in Luke 3:19 and it states, “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done.” This particular rebuke ultimately led to his death and we can see that illustrated in Mark 6:27-28.

It details, “Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.” Herodias could not stand John because of the rebuke that he placed on Herod concerning her and so she took matters into her own hands.

She used her daughter to persuade King Herod to give her John the Baptist’s head on a platter and that is exactly what he did! The mission that the Lord placed in John from the womb was something that John lived wholeheartedly until the moment of his death. His goal was to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ because God’s Kingdom was at hand.

That message should be the same message today and even more so as we get closer and closer to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be very careful not to sit under a ministry that never teaches about repentance, never teaches about changing your wicked ways, and never teaches about renewing your mind. There was a reason that the repentance was the first message preached by Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and many others.

God does not condone sin of any kind and makes it abundantly clear in His Word. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is very revealing as the Apostle Paul states, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

Before we came to know Jesus Christ, we were all sinners. Once you confess your sins and proclaim the fact that you need a Savior and that you can’t overcome your sinful nature on your own, the Lord will wash your sins away by His precious blood, 1 John 1:7. That doesn’t mean that you can remain living the same way that you used to live in willful sin, Romans 6:1-2. That is why the message of repentance is so significant.

Conclusion

Before Jesus Christ came on the scene preaching the message of repentance there was one who was crying out in the wilderness also preaching repentance, John 1:23. It was John the Baptist whose purpose was to pave the way for Jesus Christ. Attached to the word repentance was the urgency that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand.

The fact of the matter is that God hates sin and that is why it’s so important that we try to stay as far away from sin as we possibly can. Once we become believers of Jesus Christ, He gives us the free gift of the Holy Spirit that comes to live inside of us: guiding us, teaching us, and leading the way for us. There is no excuse when it comes to living an obedient life upright in the eyes of God.

Also, don’t forget to check out my other current blogs:

Repentance-in the eyes of Jesus

Repentance-What is it?

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Renouncing

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Confess and Repent

Recognizing Spiritual Strongholds

What are Spiritual Strongholds?

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 1

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 2

The Spiritual Laws of God-Restoration

The Spiritual Laws of God-The General Principles

The Spiritual Laws of God-The Power of Your Tongue!

The Spiritual Laws of God-Having an Understanding

Below are some books that I have personally read that I recommend to help you get set free from the enemy and his devices. Each one provides you with warfare practices that you can apply to your daily life. Just click on the Link below the book and it will lead you straight to it. You will not be disappointed!