When you think of John the Baptizer, what image comes to your mind? A man with a strange diet (locusts and honey) and questionable fashion sense (garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt) (Matthew 3:4)? A fiery preacher, who called some people a brood of vipers and warned them that every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Luke 3:7,9)? A courageous man who spoke truth to a king even though it cost him his freedom (Luke 3:19-20) and eventually his life (Matthew 14:1-12)? Or even as Jesus saw him when He declared that among those born of women none is greater than John (Luke 7:28)?
Out of all that we think about John, one word that probably doesn’t come to mind is the word “joy”. Yet, in announcing John’s birth to Zechariah, Gabriel highlights joy three times in one verse. He says, And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth (Luke 1:14). Now, we understand Zechariah and Elizabeth’s joy. After years of waiting and well past normal child-bearing years, they are told that they will get a baby and not just any baby but the forerunner of the Messiah.
But why will many people rejoice? Gabriel goes on. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared (Luke 1:16-17). The word “turn” is not a physical turning but a spiritual one. It is the idea of repentance and so it is no surprise that John’s preaching is summarized as a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).
We usually associate repentance with sorrow, especially a sorrowing over the grievousness of our sin. This is right and John’s ministry provoked that (Luke 3:10) as did Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37). Think of David’s magnificent psalm of repentance in the aftermath of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (Psalm 51). David utters poignant phrase after poignant phrase to express his repentance. And yet, even here, joy is lurking (Psalm 51:12).
This connection between joy and repentance is highlighted in Luke’s gospel. For example, take Luke 15, one of the best-known chapters of his gospel, if not the entire Bible. Jesus shares three parables (or one parable in three parts) concerning lost things (sheep, coin, son) that are found. Note how each part ends. For the sheep, Jesus’ conclusion is Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance (v.7). For the coin, Jesus ends with, Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (v. 10). And though the words “joy” and “repent” are not explicitly used at the end of the prodigal son parable, the heart is there when the father says to the elder brothers, It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found (v. 32).
Saints, it is right to take sin seriously and to grieve it appropriately. But don’t get stuck there. God’s grace in leading you to repentance is to turn you back to Him. And when we turn back to him, there is rejoicing in heaven and the joy of our salvation is restored. So, let us be a joyfully repenting people, both in our own repentance and as we see the Lord granting repentance to others. In such a way, the joy of the kingdom of God comes into our midst.
