The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

1And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, ‘Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,’

3for this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths.’

4And this John had his clothing of camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field. 5Then were going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan, 6and they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

7And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! who did shew you to flee from the coming wrath? 8bear, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation, 9and do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have — Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham, 10and now also, the axe unto the root of the trees is laid, every tree therefore not bearing good fruit is hewn down, and to fire is cast.

11‘I indeed do baptize you with water to reformation, but he who after me is coming is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to bear the sandals, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire, 12whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather his wheat to the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.’

The Baptism of Jesus

(Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee upon the Jordan, unto John to be baptized by him, 14but John was forbidding him, saying, ‘I have need by thee to be baptized — and thou dost come unto me!’ 15But Jesus answering said to him, ‘Suffer now, for thus it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness,’ then he doth suffer him. 16And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and lo, opened to him were the heavens, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him, 17and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.’