Justice

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

John came preaching a baptism of repentance from sin. People flocked to him to be baptised. Why did they come? His message must have resonated with them. They went into the Jordan river and were baptised. John had a way of discerning true repentance for he rebuked the Pharisees with, “you brood of vipers, who warned you of the wrath to come?” Nice words! However, he was right. When Jesus appeared on the scene these same people persecuted Him. They were self-righteous judges.

What was the evidence of repentance? John told those who asked, “if you have two garments share the one with him who has none”, and to the tax agent “do not exact unjust amounts” (Luke 3:11). The evidence related to matters of justice.

Amos wrote: ‘let justice flow down like a mighty river, let righteousness flow on and on in a ever ending stream’ (Amos 5:24). Justice is important, a good starting point of repentance.