Luke 3:4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.(A)
Isaiah 40:3-5
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3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.(A)
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.(B)
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
John 1:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”
as the prophet Isaiah said.(A)
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John 3:28-36
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28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,[a] but I have been sent ahead of him.’(A) 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.(B) 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[b]
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.(C) 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.(D) 33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified[c] this, that God is true.(E) 34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.(F) 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.(G) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.(H)
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Luke 1:76-79
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76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,(A)
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.(B)
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break[a] upon[b] us,
79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”(C)
John 1:26-36
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26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!(A) 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.(B) 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’(C) 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”[a]
The First Disciples of Jesus
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”(D)
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- 1.34 Other ancient authorities read the Son of God
John 1:7
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7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
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Matthew 3:3
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3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”(A)
Malachi 4:6
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6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.[a]
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- 4.6 Or a ban of utter destruction
Isaiah 62:10
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10 Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up an ensign over the peoples.(A)
Luke 1:16-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.(A) 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(B)
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Mark 1:3
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3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight,’ ”(A)
Isaiah 57:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A Promise of Help and Healing
14 It shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way;
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”(A)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.