The Messages That John the Baptist Preached
- John the Baptist preached in the Judean wilderness in those days.
- And said, “Repent [alter your inner self—your old way of thinking, mourn past mistakes, conduct your life in a way that demonstrates repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- For he is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke: “The voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his pathways straight.”
- John wore a camel’s hair robe and a leather belt around his waist; his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.
- Then, Jerusalem, Judea, and the entire Jordan Valley went out to him.
- He baptized them in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
- But when he observed many Pharisees and Sadducees approaching for baptism, he exclaimed to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath and judgment to come?
- Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance:
- And do not think to yourself, “We have Abraham as our forefather,” for I tell you, God may create offspring for Abraham from these stones!
- The ax is already at the root of the trees, and any tree that does not bear good fruit will be chopped down and burned.
- I use water to baptize those who have transformed their hearts and lives. The person pursuing me is far more powerful than I am. I am unworthy of carrying his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- He has his threshing fork ready to separate the wheat from the husks. But, instead, he’ll keep the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a never-ending fire.
John Baptizes Jesus - Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan.
- However, John attempted to stop him. “Why have you come to me to be baptized?” John asked. “You ought to baptize me!”
- “Allow it for now because this is the way for us to accomplish all righteousness,” Jesus said. Then John consented to his baptism.
- And after being baptized, Jesus arose immediately from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descend as a dove and come upon him:
- “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” a voice from heaven said.