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John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the Desert of Judea.
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John is the one Isaiah the prophet had spoken about. He had said, “A messenger is calling out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)
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John’s clothes were made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
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When they confessed their sins, John baptized them in the Jordan.
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John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing. He said to them, “You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger?
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Jesus Is Baptized
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He wanted to be baptized by John.
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But John tried to stop him. So he told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?”
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Jesus replied, “Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God’s holy plan.” Then John agreed.
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Jesus Begins to Preach
John had been put in prison. When Jesus heard about this, he returned to Galilee.
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Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them.
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Jesus Is Asked About Fasting
One day John’s disciples came. They said to Jesus, “We and the Pharisees often go without eating. Why don’t your disciples go without eating?”
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Here are the names of the 12 apostles. First there were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Then came James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
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Jesus and John the Baptist
Jesus finished teaching his 12 disciples. Then he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
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John the Baptist was in prison. When he heard about the actions of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him.
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Jesus replied, “Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see.
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As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?
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What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is.
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Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it.
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All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came.
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If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come.
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When John came, he didn’t eat or drink as you do. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’
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John the Baptist’s Head Is Cut Off
At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee and Perea, heard reports about Jesus.
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He said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead! That is why he has the power to do miracles.”
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Herod had arrested John. He had tied him up and put him in prison because of Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.
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John had been saying to Herod, “It is against the Law for you to have her as your wife.”
