Matt.3:1-3 – Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance telling people to turn away from this wicked generation and turn to God. As much as things have changed since the time of the Baptist’s appearance nothing much has really changed. Religious people are still religious, sinners are still chasing the pleasures of the world, and church people are often just plain bored with church. John showed up as a burning and shining light in the midst of a dark generation. His heart was burning with a passion for God and his mind was shining with prophetic revelation of the coming King and His kingdom. His sudden appearance instigated a change in Israel as the Lord was preparing the world for the appearance of His Son. Here is how Barclay described this moment in time.

“He fearlessly denounced evil wherever he might find it. If Herod the king sinned by contracting an evil and unlawful marriage, John rebuked him. If the Sadducees and Pharisees, the leaders of orthodox religion, the ‘church’ leaders of their day, were sunk in ritualistic formalism, John never hesitated to say so. If the ordinary people were living lives which were unaware of God, John would tell them so.

Wherever John saw evil – in the state, in the religious establishment, in the crowd – he fearlessly rebuked it. He was like a light which lit up the dark places; he was like a wind which swept from God throughout the country.”

So John rebuked the political leaders, the spiritual leaders, and the common man who lived a life separated from God unaware of God’s goodness and greatness that surrounded them. We are in a similar circumstance today waiting for the return of our Lord. Maybe its time for a generation of John the Baptists to arise and call the nation back to the Lord. Our politicians, church leaders, and the common man far too often ignore the majesty of our great God and live lives dominated by secular interests. It’s time for everyone to repent and turn back to God, His return may be nearer than we know.