Drawn to Repentance

Matthew 3: Kingdom Trailblazer (2)

Pray Psalm 38.1-4.
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
For Your arrows pierce me deeply,
And Your hand presses me down.
There is no soundness in my flesh
Because of Your anger,
Nor any health in my bones
Because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Sing Psalm 38.1-4.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
O LORD, rebuke me not, nor chasten me in wrath!
Your arrows pierce my sinful heart and fill my path.
Your heavy hand weighs down; my flesh and bones grow weak.
My sins oppress, confuse, confound – I cannot speak!

Read Matthew 3.1-17; meditate on verses 4-6.

Prepare.
1. How was John dressed? What did he eat? 

2. Who came to hear John’s preaching?
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Meditate.
John fits the descriptions of Elijah in 2 Kings 1.1-8; and we recall that among the last words of the Old Testament are those promising that Elijah will come to blaze a trail for the Messiah (Mal. 4.5, 6). Jesus identified John the Baptist with Elijah who was to come (Matt. 11.14). 

John’s was an austere existence to say the least. He understood his calling (Jn. 1.19-23), and he needed nothing more than the bare essentials to fulfill it. We perhaps look on John as a rude and exceptional person, not one to be emulated. But Jesus said he was the greatest man born of women prior to the coming of the Kingdom (Matt. 11.11). We may not dress like John, and probably don’t fancy his diet; however, we should certainly strive to be like him in understanding and pursuing our calling in the Kingdom with as little distraction and encumbrance and as much zeal as possible.

People came to John from “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan” to confess their sins, repent, and be baptized. John was not offering them prosperity or fun times. He was offering forgiveness and a heart ready for the coming of the Kingdom of God. We may not think the message of repentance, forgiveness, and making ready for the Kingdom to have much drawing power. But God uses such preaching to draw unto Himself those whose hearts He has prepared. 

John baptized people as an outward sign of their confession and repentance. Those who submitted to baptism were expected to live differently, to bring forth the kind of fruit in their lives which accompanies true repentance from sin (v. 8). Baptism was the starting-point, not the end game, for those who came to John.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Every nuanced thing about John bespoke his deep commitment 
to the calling given him as a “Nazarite-like” prophet.
He was clothed in camel’s hair, ate locust and wild honey (Matt. 3.4), drank neither wine nor strong drink, and he was “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Lk. 1.15).

There was nothing about his life or ministry that screamed health, wealth, or popularity.
And there was certainly nothing about his life that could be seen as hypocritical.
He was what he spoke. He lived what he proclaimed. 

And the people then—as are the people now—were hungry for righteous truth-telling.
Words and lives that make sense. A belief worth dying for.

Matthew knew that John had caught the people’s fancy; and his writing played into that.
This passage is like an informative article written for People Magazine.
What did he wear? What did he eat? Where did he preach? What did he say? What did he do?
Who came to hear him? What happened then?

This man, that would be beheaded in the not-too-distant future, was the epitome of courageous and bold.
Many came to hear his message. Many lives were prepared for Kingdom living. 
This was his calling; and he did it very well. To the very end.

John the Baptist’s life provokes these questions:
Are we courageous and bold?
Are we dressed for the work and the battle? (Eph. 6.13-18)
Are we living ostentatiously or simply?
Are we proclaiming the way of the Lord? (Jn. 14.6)
Are we hypocrites?
Does every nuanced thing about our lives ring true? Like John’s life did?

Seeking first the Kingdom of God is a good start to being more like John (Matt. 6.33).

How wonderful if it will be said of us, as was said of Daniel, 
“I have heard of you, 
that the Spirit of God is in you, and 
that light and understanding and excellent wisdom 
are found in you” (Dan. 5.14).

May our lives and words draw many to repentance.

Reflect.
1. How is it clear to the people in your Personal Mission Field that you are entirely sold out for Jesus?

2. Do you believe people today are open to believing the Gospel of the Kingdom? Why or why not?

3. How can “our lives and words draw many to repentance”?

See how great was the power of the coming of the prophet! He stirred up the people. He called them to consider the meaning of their own sins. It was indeed worthy of wonder to behold his remarkable human form, his great freedom of speech, the strength of his reproof of all as if they were children and the abundant grace beaming out from his countenance. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 10.5

Pray Psalm 38.9-22.
We have to listen for the Lord to convict us of sin and lead us to repentance (cf. Ps. 139.23, 24). Listen now for the Spirit’s conviction. Confess and repent of your sins as He leads.

Sing Psalm 38.9-22.
Psalm 38.9-22  (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
You know all my desire, my sighs You know full well.
My strength fails and light’s holy fire my eyes dispel.
My friends and loved ones fail; the wicked do me wrong.
My life they seek, my soul assail the whole day long.

Their threats I will not heed, nor speak to their reproof.
To hear or speak I have no need—I claim Your truth!
Lord, hear my fervent prayer! Let not my foes rejoice.
Redeem me from their traps and snares—LORD, hear my voice!

My sins I now confess; my anxious soul relieve!
Though foes are strong, LORD, heal and bless all who believe!
Forsake me not, O LORD! Repay my foes with wrath.
Stand by me with Your saving Word and guard my path!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast begins readings from If Men Will Pray. Our Crosfigell teaching letter concludes its brief series on the early 6^th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. The ReVision column continues its look at how to grow the divine economy. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.