Repentance Comes Before the Rejoicing of Regeneration

In those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. Matthew 3.1.

The emphasis of John’s work is different from that of our Lord’s work. John stresses repentance, because he is sent to prepare the way of the Lord. For this reason he stands in a different position from that of the Lord with respect to the world.

John makes the wilderness his home, whereas the Lord accepts the city as His inn. John comes to make people weep, but the Lord comes to make them dance. John causes people to weep, as though he were wearing sackcloth; the Lord, however, causes people to dance, as though He were supplying the music. A complete salvation is first to weep and then to dance. In other words, repentance plus belief.