John the Baptist
(Mk 1,2-8; Lk 3,1-9.15-18; Jn 1,6-28)
1 It was during those days that John the Baptist (Immerser) arrived in the desert of Judea and began proclaiming the message:
2 "Repent and turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!"
3 This is the man Isaiah prophesized about saying:
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness
'Make ready the way of the LORD
Make straight paths for Him!' "
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4 John made his cloth from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist,
and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Many came out to him from Jerusalem, from all Judea, and from the whole region around the Jordan.
6 Confessing their sins, John baptized them by immersing them in the Jordan River.
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7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be immersed by him, he said to them,
"You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment?
8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it!
9 And don't suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, 'Abraham is our father'!
For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones!
10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, ready to strike,
therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire!
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11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me comes He who is more powerful than I and
whose sandals I am not even worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing (spreading) fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor,
gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff (straw) with unquenchable fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mk 1,9-11; Lk3,2I-22; Jn 1,32-34)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying: "
I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"
15 But Jesus answered him: "
Let it be this way now, because we should do everything as righteousness requires."
Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus had been immersed (baptized), he came up out of the water.
At that moment heaven was opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lights on Him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "
This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
