The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)
1 UDB While Jesus was still in the town of Nazareth, John the Baptizer went to a desolate place in the province of Judea. He was preaching to the people who came there. He kept saying, BSB BSB: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 UDB "You must stop sinning because God's rule from heaven is near, and he will reject you if you do not stop sinning." BSB BSB: and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
3 UDB When John began preaching, then came true what Isaiah the prophet had said long ago. He said, "In the wilderness people hear someone shouting to anyone who comes, 'Get ready to receive the Lord when he comes! Get everything ready for him!'" BSB BSB: This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
4 UDB John wore rough clothing made from camel's hair. As the prophet Elijah had done so long ago, he wore a leather belt around his waist. His food was only grasshoppers and honey that he found in the wilderness. BSB BSB: John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 UDB People who lived in the city of Jerusalem, many people who lived in other places in the district of Judea, and many others who lived near the Jordan River came to John to hear him preach. BSB BSB: People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
6 UDB After they heard him, they openly confessed their sins, and then he baptized them in the Jordan River. BSB BSB: Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 UDB But John saw that many Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for him to baptize them. He said to them, "You people are the children of poisonous snakes! No one warned you that one day God will punish everyone who sins, did they? Do not think that you can escape from him! BSB BSB: But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 UDB If you truly stop sinning, then do right things to show it. BSB BSB: Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
9 UDB I know that God promised to be with Abraham's descendants. But do not say to yourselves, 'Since we are descendants of our ancestor Abraham, God will not punish us even though we have sinned.' No! I tell you that he can change these stones here into descendants of Abraham! BSB BSB: And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10 UDB God is ready right now to punish you, just like a man who starts to chop away the roots of a fruit tree that does not give good fruit. He will chop down every tree like that and throw it into the fire. BSB BSB: The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 UDB "As for me, I am not very important, because I baptize you only with water. I do it when people are sorry for having sinned. But someone else will come soon who will do very powerful things. He is so much greater than I that I do not even deserve to carry his sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. BSB BSB: I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 UDB He is holding his winnowing fork ready to separate the good grain from the bad chaff. He is ready to clear out all the bad chaff from where he has threshed the grain. He will take the righteous people home, as a farmer puts his wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn the wicked people, like one burns the chaff, in a fire that never goes out." BSB BSB: His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34)
13 UDB During that time, Jesus went from the district of Galilee to the Jordan River, where John was. He did this so John could baptize him. BSB BSB: At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
14 UDB When Jesus asked John to baptize him, John refused; he said, "I need you to baptize me! But you are not a sinner, so why do you come to me?" BSB BSB: But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15 UDB But Jesus said to him, "Baptize me now because in this way we two will do everything that God requires." Then John agreed to baptize him. BSB BSB: “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
17 UDB Then God spoke from heaven and said, "This is my Son. I love him, and I am very pleased with him." BSB BSB: And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”