John the Baptist was a prophet who lived in the wilderness of Judea around the time of Jesus Christ.
He was known for preaching a message of repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan River. His most famous statement was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
This verse summarizes the core message that John the Baptist proclaimed to prepare people for the coming of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
John’s Message of Repentance
The first key aspect of John’s statement is the call to “repent.” To repent means to turn away from sin, wrongdoing, or disobedience toward God.
When John called people to repent, he was telling them to examine their lives, confess and turn from their sins, and produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8).
John demanded inward repentance that came from the heart, not merely outward religious rituals.
John’s baptism was an outward sign of repentance and cleansing from sin. But he made it clear that true repentance involves bearing spiritual fruit such as a changed heart and lifestyle.
John rebuked those who came to be baptized without “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:7-9). He told tax collectors to collect no more than the legal amount, soldiers to stop extorting money, and everyone to share their food and possessions with those in need (Luke 3:10-14).
True repentance involves both turning away from sin and turning toward righteous obedience to God.
John’s Proclamation of the Kingdom
The second key aspect of John’s statement is the declaration that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The long-promised kingdom of God was now approaching in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah. John’s ministry prepared the way for Jesus to inaugurate the kingdom during His earthly ministry.
The Old Testament prophets had foretold this coming kingdom where God’s reign would be established on earth (Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6).
John announced that the waiting was over – God was now bringing His promised kingdom through the arrival of the Messiah.
However, the kingdom did not come in the political or military form that many expected. Instead, it came in a spiritual way through the preaching of the gospel and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 17:20-21).
John’s Role as Forerunner
John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of a “voice calling in the wilderness” to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3). His mission was to turn people’s hearts to God and make them ready to receive the Messiah.
John boldly confronted sin and called people to repentance in preparation for Christ’s arrival.
His preaching convicted people of their need to get right with God before the Messiah appeared. Huge crowds came to hear John preach and be baptized by him in the Jordan River as they responded to his call to prepare for the One who was to come.
John declared that while he baptized with water, the One following him would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:7-8).
John even said that he was unworthy to untie the sandals of the One to come after him (John 1:27). When Jesus began His ministry, John told his own disciples to follow after Jesus, saying “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:22-30). John humbled himself before the Messiah he came to prepare the way for.
John’s Preaching of Repentance Fulfilled Prophecy
John the Baptist’s call to repentance fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 40:3-5 which foretold that God would send a messenger to “clear the way for the Lord” through preaching repentance.
The winding roads would be made straight and the rough ways smooth through repentant hearts ready to receive the Messiah.
John’s ministry also fulfilled the prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 that God would send “Elijah” before the coming “day of the Lord” to turn people’s hearts back to God.
Jesus confirmed that John the Baptist fulfilled this role of Elijah who would come (Matthew 11:10-15). John preceded and prepared the way for the Messiah, calling people to repent and believe the good news of the kingdom.
John Bore Witness to Jesus as the Messiah
A key aspect of John’s ministry was bearing witness to Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah.
When John baptized Jesus, he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus and heard the voice of God declaring Jesus His beloved Son (Matthew 3:13-17).
John testified boldly that Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29-34).
John said his joy was made complete by seeing Jesus increase while he decreased (John 3:25-30). He described Jesus as “the bridegroom” and himself simply as the “friend who attends the bridegroom” (John 3:27-30).
Although John drew huge crowds, he made it clear that Jesus was the true Messiah and Son of God. He willingly stepped aside to point others to believe in Jesus.
John Rebuked Sin and Unbelief
John the Baptist was not afraid to confront sin and unbelief among both the religious leaders and the common people of his day.
He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for relying on their heritage as Jews and trusting in religious rituals rather than genuine repentance (Matthew 3:7-9).
He challenged people from all walks of life to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” instead of simply going through the motions (Luke 3:10-14).
John did not hesitate to speak truth to power. He chastised King Herod Antipas for adultery and other evils, which eventually led to Herod putting John in prison and later beheading him (Matthew 14:3-12).
John had no fear of man, but remained humble before God and devoted to his prophetic calling until the time of his death.
John’s Message Prepared People for Christ’s Kingdom
By preaching a message of repentance and declaring the imminent arrival of God’s kingdom, John spiritually prepared people to receive Jesus the Messiah and enter His kingdom.
Repentance removed sinful stumbling blocks that would hinder them from receiving Christ.
John’s call to holiness and obedience allowed his hearers to align their lives with the values and ethics of God’s kingdom rule.
Those who embraced John’s message became part of the faithful remnant who were ready to follow Christ when His ministry began. John’s ministry aimed at preparing a repentant people who were hungry for the Messiah and His kingdom.
John Announced the Kingdom Before Jesus Began His Ministry
An important timing aspect is that John the Baptist began preaching his message of repentance and the imminent kingdom before Jesus started His own ministry.
John prepared the way beforehand so that people would be ready to receive Christ.
John’s ministry mainly took place in the wilderness (Luke 3:2), while Jesus later transitioned from the wilderness to preaching in the towns and villages of Israel (Matthew 4:12-17).
John laid the groundwork so that the fields were ripe for harvest when Jesus began sowing the gospel message (John 4:35-38).
The Kingdom Arrived in Stages
While John announced that the kingdom of heaven was “at hand,” we might wonder why it did not fully arrive during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus later said the kingdom would come in power after His resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Mark 9:1, Acts 1:4-8). So God’s kingdom came in stages:
- John announced the kingdom was approaching as the Messiah arrived.
- Jesus inaugurated the kingdom spiritually during His earthly ministry.
- There was a turning point as the kingdom broke in with power at the cross and resurrection.
- The kingdom continues to increase and expand in the world through the church age by the Spirit’s work.
- The kingdom will be fully consummated when Christ returns and completely defeats all evil forever.
The full arrival of God’s kingdom happens progressively in the person of Jesus Christ. John’s message prepared people for the kingdom’s inauguration during Jesus’ earthly ministry.
John’s Urgency in Proclaiming Repentance
John the Baptist preached his message of repentance and the kingdom with a sense of urgency. There was no time to waste because the Messiah was coming very soon. People needed to repent right away to be ready for the kingdom.
John’s clothing and lifestyle in the wilderness also reflected the urgency of his task (Matthew 3:4). He did not follow the latest fashions or seek earthly comforts.
John was an urgent voice proclaiming an urgent, uncompromising message. He devoted his life entirely to preaching repentance to prepare for the Christ.
John’s urgency reflects the importance of his prophetic role and message. He did not apologize for his bold preaching but fulfilled his mission faithfully.
John took the task of preparing people for the Messiah seriously because their eternal destiny hung in the balance. The fields were ripe for harvest (John 4:35).
Application of John’s Message Today
While John the Baptist lived in a specific time and place, his core message of repentance and expectancy of God’s kingdom remain relevant today.
Just as John prepared the way for the Messiah’s arrival, we too should prepare people’s hearts to receive Jesus.
We can take the following applications from John’s ministry model:
- Preach repentance from sin, not just outward ritual.
- Bear spiritual fruit in keeping with repentance.
- Turn hearts to Christ by giving faithful witness to His identity.
- Humble ourselves rather than seeking fame or platform.
- Do not fear to speak truth to power when necessary.
- Fulfill our mission faithfully even when it leads to persecution.
- Announce that the kingdom of God has come near.
- Preach with urgency to make people ready for Jesus’ return.
As the body of Christ today, we carry the kingdom mission forward until all is fulfilled at Christ’s second coming.
John the Baptist’s example challenges us to prepare the way for the Lord through bold, urgent preaching leading people to repentance and faith in Jesus.
Jesus’ Endorsement of John as More than a Prophet
After John was put in prison, he sent messengers to ask Jesus if He was the promised Messiah. Jesus pointed to His miraculous works as evidence of His identity and praised John as the prophesied Elijah who would prepare the way (Matthew 11:2-15).
He declared that John was more than just a prophet – he was the messenger God had promised to send (Mark 11:9-13).
By praising John as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus put His stamp of approval on both John’s ministry and message.
Jesus affirmed that John’s call to repent and make straight the way for the Lord was the divinely ordained task of John the Baptist.
Although John himself had doubts while in prison, Jesus removed any question and validated John’s crucial ministry.
John as Forerunner for Christ’s First and Second Comings
Most scholars believe that John the Baptist fulfilled an Elijah-like forerunner role to prepare for both Christ’s first and second comings.
At His first coming, John spiritually prepared people for receiving Jesus as the Messiah. But John announced the kingdom was “at hand” rather than fully realized at Christ’s first coming.
This has led many to conclude that John will also fulfill an end-times forerunner role right before Christ’s second coming.
The return of an Elijah-like prophet to turn hearts to God would then immediately precede the full arrival of God’s kingdom and Christ’s return (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 17:11).
This future forerunner who prepares the way for Christ’s second coming is sometimes called the “second Elijah.”
John Called People to Produce Kingdom Fruit
John demanded that individual lives be transformed through repentance. He rebuked religious hypocrisy and called people to inward change that led to righteous deeds.
John taught them to share food and clothing, be honest, and not abuse authority (Luke 3:10-14).
He prepared people for Christ’s kingdom by instructing them to live out godly values like justice, generosity, and integrity.
John taught that true repentance involved both turning from unrighteousness and producing the spiritual fruit of a changed heart. This kingdom fruit bore witness that they were ready to follow the coming Messiah as citizens of His righteous kingdom.
John Baptized in Water But Pointed to Christ’s Superior Baptism
A key part of John’s ministry was water baptism of repentant sinners in the Jordan River. Yet John said his baptism merely symbolized repentance and cleansing from sin.
The one who would come after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Only Jesus could impart the inward gift of the Holy Spirit.
John said he needed to decrease while Jesus increased (John 3:30). His water baptism prepared the way for people to receive Jesus’ superior baptism in the Holy Spirit.
This baptism brings inward regeneration, empowerment to live righteously, and purification as by fire. John said Christ’s baptism in the Spirit would far surpass his own symbolic baptism of repentance.
John’s Message Called People to Decision
John’s urgent preaching demanded a decision from his listeners. His call to repentance forced people to confront their sin and commit to living a changed life God’s way.
Those unwilling to repent openly rejected God’s purposes. But those who embraced John’s message aligned their hearts with the coming Messiah.
By preaching both a negative message of repentance and the positive message of the dawning kingdom, John compelled his hearers to decide where they stood.
They either allowed John to prepare them for Christ’s arrival or they hardened their hearts against his prophetic warning. John’s message brought an urgency and finality to people’s need to get right with God.
Components of John’s Message
We can break down the key components John the Baptist’s proclamation as follows:
- Repent – Turn from all sin and wrongdoing. Reject wickedness.
- The kingdom of heaven – God’s reign through the Messiah is at hand.
- Is at hand – The waiting is over. The kingdom is here imminently.
- Prepare the way for the Lord – Get ready in your hearts to receive the Messiah and His kingdom.
Together, these components called people to urgently ready themselves through repentance and anticipation for the arrival of God’s long-awaited kingdom through the appearing of the Messiah.
John Used Old Testament Imagery
John’s message was saturated with Old Testament imagery, prophecies, themes, and concepts.
He frequently alluded to passages in Isaiah, Malachi and other prophets that pointed ahead to his own ministry. By doing so, John showed his continuity with Israel’s prophetic tradition as he prepared for its fulfillment in Jesus as the Messiah.
Some key Old Testament references and images in John’s preaching include:
- Isaiah 40:3 – A voice calling in the wilderness
- Malachi 4:5 – Elijah will come before the day of the Lord
- Isaiah 52:10 – God’s salvation and kingdom will be seen by all
- Isaiah 40:4-5 – Preparing the way for God’s arrival
- Psalm 24 – “Who may stand in God’s holy place?”
John’s extensive use of the Old Testament roots his radical new message in Israel’s history and God’s prior revelation.
He shows that he is proclaiming the culmination of God’s purposes in the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom.
