The Mission of John the Baptist
(Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1Now in those days comes John, the Immerser, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2saying, "Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near;

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

4And John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then were going forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round about the Jordan, 6and they were being immersed by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7But, seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, "Broods of vipers! who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! 8Produce, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance; 9and think not to say within yourselves, 'As a father we have Abraham;' for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, not bearing good fruit, is cut down, and cast into the fire.

11"I, indeed, immerse you in water unto repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear, He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire; 12Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor, and will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34)

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be immersed by him; 14but he was hindering Him, saying, "I have need to be immersed by Thee; and dost Thou come to me?" 15But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Suffer it now; for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Then He suffers Him. 16And, having been immersed, Jesus went up straightway from the water; and, behold, the heavens were opened; and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, coming upon Him; 17and, behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My Son, the beloved, in whom I delighted."