The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)
1 UST While Jesus was living in Galilee, a man whom people called John the Baptizer went to a desolate area in the region of Judea. He proclaimed, BSB BSB: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 UST “Stop doing what is wrong!{ You should do that} because God is about to establish his heavenly kingdom here.” BSB BSB: and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
3 UST That man is the one about whom the Lord said, by speaking through the prophet Isaiah,“In the desolate place, someone will be calling out{ to the people}:‘Prepare yourselves to receive the Lord! Make yourselves ready for when he comes!’” 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 UST As for this man John, he wore rough clothes that he made out of camel’ s hair. He fastened around his waist a belt that he made from animal skin. He ate grasshoppers and honey that he found in that desolate area. 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 UST At that time, people who lived in the city of Jerusalem, many people who lived in the region of Judea, and many people who lived near the Jordan River often went to listen to John. BSB BSB: People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
6 UST Many of these people agreed that they had sinned. Then, John baptized them in the Jordan River. BSB BSB: Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 UST In fact, many men from the Pharisee sect and from the Sadducee sect went to John so that he would baptize them. When he saw them, he declared to them,“You people are sneaky and dangerous like poisonous snakes! You think that if I baptize you, God will spare you when he punishes sinners.{ But I did not say that!} 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 UST You need to do the things that show that you have truly rejected your previous sinful way of living! BSB BSB: Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
9 UST Do not think to yourselves,‘{ Certainly God will not punish us, because} we are descendants of Abraham!’{ That does not impress God.} Let me assure you, God could turn these stones 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 UST You are like fruit trees that do not produce good fruit. God is like a man who is positioning the head of his axe at the base of those trees, ready to chop them down and throw them into the fire. God is ready to punish you like that if you continue sinning. 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 UST I use water to baptize you so that you stop doing what is wrong. However, soon you will see someone else who is more powerful than I am. It is not appropriate for me to be even his servant. He will give you the Holy Spirit and make you pure. 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 UST { The Messiah is ready to do that, just like} a farmer who has his winnowing fork ready to use. A farmer separates all the good grain from the useless chaff. He stores the grain safely in his barn, but he burns the chaff until it is all gone.{ Much like that farmer, the Messiah will preserve the people who obey God, and he will punish the people who disobey God.}” 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 UST After{ John began preaching and baptizing people}, Jesus traveled from the region of Galilee to where John was near the Jordan River. He wanted John to baptize him. BSB BSB: At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
14 UST However, John did not want to baptize him. He said to Jesus,“You should not want me to baptize you. Actually, I need you to baptize me!” BSB BSB: But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15 UST Jesus answered him,“Please{ baptize me} at this time. When you do, you and I will be acting appropriately by doing what God requires.” After{ Jesus said that,} 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 UST Then God spoke from heaven! He declared,“This man is my Son, the one whom I love dearly. What he does pleases me.” BSB BSB: And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”