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John Prepares for Jesus

This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God,[a] as the prophet Isaiah wrote:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you.
    He will prepare your way.” Malachi 3:1
“There is a voice of a man who
    calls out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make the road straight for him.’” Isaiah 40:3

John was baptizing people in the desert. He preached a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins. All the people from Judea and Jerusalem were going out to John. They told about the sins they had done. Then they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. This is what John preached to the people: “There is one coming later who is greater than I. I am not good enough even to kneel down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water. But the one who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Baptized

At that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place where John was. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10 When Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open. The Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:1 the Son of God Some Greek copies do not have this phrase.

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