The lesson of John the Baptist really is a lesson of God’s grace. God didn’t want his people to be unprepared or caught unaware. He wanted them to know their sins. He wanted them to realize how helpless they were. He wanted them to repent. He wanted them to see Jesus and know, “This is the one. He’s the Messiah, the Son of David and Son of God, the King of Israel. This is the Savior we need.”