The Christmas Story: Repentance & Forgiveness

And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
Luke 1: 76-77

This was Zechariah’s prophecy eight days after his son, John the Baptizer, was born to him and Elizabeth. The bible describes the couple as “advanced in age”, and Elizabeth was barren. Does that remind you of another older couple in the bible who didn’t have children until God fulfilled His promise? Yes - Abraham and Sarah. In Genesis 21:1-5, Abraham was 100 years old while Sarah was 90 when she gave birth to Isaac.

God never runs out of creative and powerful ways to bless His people in the middle of the most unlikely circumstance and even when we doubt His promises. Have you ever prayed for years, waiting for God’s promise, with no sign your prayer will be answered? That’s me today - I have been praying for my child to return to her faith in the Lord for years, but see no indication that my prayer will be answered anytime soon. But I can sense the Spirit telling me to keep praying and to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight of His love for me and my child. His answer may not look like what I have in mind, but I know He is working and I can trust Him. Whatever the answer may look like, I place it in His hands.

The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. Psalm 145:13b

John’s Birth

Zechariah doubted the angel Gabriel’s words and so he became mute. Nevertheless, God fulfilled His promise - the child was conceived and was born so that there was rejoicing not only in Zechariah’s home but in their neighborhood and town as well. Even before John began his mission, the story of his birth had already touched many lives.

Has God done something wonderful in your life? Have you shared it with someone so they can rejoice with you and be encouraged by your testimony? Just like John, I believe it is also our mission as followers of Christ to share the good things God has done for us. I am always reminded by Mark 5:18-20, where Jesus did not allow the man he healed from demonic possession to go with Him. Instead, He said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” …and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

You may not realize that your Jesus story is powerful and could change someone’s life. I encourage you to share your story with someone today.

John’s Mission

Luke 1:76-77 And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

The birth of John the Baptizer was the fulfillment of angel Gabriel’s promise that Elizabeth will bear a son and that the child will “turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children…” Luke 1:13-17

John was set apart for one special mission – to prepare the hearts of the people to receive salvation found only in Jesus Christ. In Acts 19:4, it is written: And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

To repent means to turn away from one’s sin or to change one’s mind. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sin. In this context, repentance and forgiveness are between a person and God, as opposed to repentance and forgiveness between people—a different subject for another day. Because of our sin, we have offended and wronged God; therefore, we need to repent, and He will forgive us so that we may be reconciled to Him. This is how we find salvation, which is another way of saying that we are brought from darkness into light, we were lost but now we're found, we were dead but now we live in Christ!

Here are more Bible verses pertaining to repentance and forgiveness:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

…and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

It is true we hardly ever hear about John the Baptizer in the Christmas story, but his name is worth mentioning because he taught us about repentance, so we can be prepared for the coming Messiah. He will come again, only this time, not as a baby but as the reigning King. Are you prepared for His coming?

Jesus described John the Baptizer as the greatest prophet. You may read more about John in Got Questions website here.