John
The Baptist Prepares The Way
In
those days John the Baptist came,
Preaching
in the Desert of Judea and saying,
2
'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.'
3
This is he who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah:
'A
voice of one calling in the Desert,
PREPARE
THE WAY FOR THE LORD,
MAKE
STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.'
4
John's clothes were made of camel's hair,
And
he had a leather belt around his waist.
His
food was locusts and wild honey.
5
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea
And
the whole region of the Jordan.
6
CONFESSING THEIR SINS,
THEY
WERE BAPTIZED BY HIM IN THE JORDAN RIVER.
7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
Coming
to where he was baptizing,
He
said to them:
'YOU
BROOD OF VIPERS!
WHO
WARNED YOU TO FLEE FROM THE COMING WRATH?
PRODUCE
FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE.
And
do not think you can say to yourselves,
'We
have Abraham as our father.'
I
TELL YOU THAT OUT OF THESE STONES
GOD
CAN RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR ABRAHAM.
10
THE AX IS ALREADY AT THE ROOT OF THE TREES,
AND
EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT
WILL
BE CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
11
'I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER FOR REPENTANCE.
BUT
AFTER ME WILL COME ONE WHO IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I,
WHOSE
SANDALS I AM NOT FIT TO CARRY.
HE
WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE.
12
HIS WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND,
AND
HE WILL CLEAR HIS THRESHING FLOOR,
GATHERING
THE WHEAT INTO HIS BARN
AND
BURNING UP THE CHAFF WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.'
The
Baptism Of Jesus
13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
To
be baptized by John.
14
But John tried to deter Him, saying,
'I
NEED TO BE BAPTIZED BY YOU,
AND
DO YOU COME TO ME?'
15
Jesus replied,
'LET
IT BE SO NOW;
IT IS
PROPER FOR US TO DO THIS
TO
FULFILL ALLRIGHTEOUSNESS.'
AT THAT
MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED,
AND
HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD
DECENDING
LIKE A DOVE
AND
LIGHTING ON HIM.
17
AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID,
'THIS
IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE;
WITH
HIM I AM WELL PLEASED.'
(Matthew
3)
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