What did the baptism of repentance prepare the Jews for?

Les explains that John maintained that if the Jews were going to show saving faith in the fact that the King and the Kingdom were here, they had to show that with the baptism of repentance. That is why it is always called the baptism of repentance; the two could not be separated. As these Jews repented of their failure of the system of Law and everything else, they were preparing their hearts and minds for the King and His Kingdom. Les also notes the question, 'Why baptism?' and says it throws a curve at almost everybody, then reminds us to remember who we are dealing with.