How did the Jews' repentance prepare them for the coming King and His Kingdom?

Les explains that baptism has caused division among believers, with conflicting views about whether it is mandatory for salvation or unrelated to salvation, and whether it is sprinkling or immersion. Then he points to Scripture: John maintained that if they were going to show saving faith in the fact that the King and the Kingdom were present, they had to show it with 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 now preparing their hearts and minds for the King and His Kingdom.