Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

John Baptizes Jesus

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.

A Great Multitude Follows Jesus

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea

and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.

Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.

And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

John the Baptist Beheaded

Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

Defilement Comes from Within

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.