The Saints Gospel 13
The Voice in the Wilderness
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Woven from Matthew 3:1–12 · Mark 1:1–8 · Luke 3:1–18
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s rule, when Pontius Pilate governed Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John, Zechariah’s son, in the wilderness.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea and went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Look, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way; a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every ravine will be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth roads, and all flesh will see God’s salvation.’”
John wore clothing of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees among the crowds coming to his baptism, he said, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bear fruit, then, worthy of repentance, and do not suppose you can say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones. Already the axe lies at the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire.”
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He answered them, “Let the one who has two tunics share with the one who has none, and let the one who has food do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect nothing beyond what has been appointed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one, do not make false accusations, and be content with your pay.” As the people were waiting expectantly and everyone was considering in their hearts whether John might be the Christ, John answered them all, “I baptize you in water for repentance, but the One coming after me is stronger than I. I am not fit to carry His sandals, nor worthy to stoop down and untie their strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the storehouse; but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
With many other exhortations also, he announced good news to the people.
← 12 In the House of His Father · The Saints Gospel: all scenes · 14 The Beloved Son at the Jordan →
Saints Translation · The Saints Gospel · a harmony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts 1 · words of Christ in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.