And all the land of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
This verse testifies to the great impact of John’s preaching. After years of spiritual silence, people felt the power of God’s word and came to hear that prophetic call. Their coming shows that the human heart, however hardened it may be, can awaken before God’s truth. They were not only being baptized, but also “confessing their sins,” which shows that true repentance begins with recognizing sin. This passage teaches us that God’s grace works where a person stops justifying himself and, with humility, opens his heart before the Lord.