John Prepares the Way^(A)

3 Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, ² “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” ³ Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said,

⁴ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. ⁶ As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? ⁸ Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. ⁹ Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire. ¹¹ I baptize you with water so that you will change the way you think and act. But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing^[a] shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor.^[b] He will gather his wheat into a barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out.”

John Prepares the Way^(A)

1 This is the beginning of the Good News about Yeshua Christ, the Son of God.

² The prophet Isaiah wrote,

⁴ John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance^[a] for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

⁶ John was dressed in clothes made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ He announced, “The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John Prepares the Way^(A)

¹⁹ This was John’s answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ John didn’t refuse to answer. He told them clearly, “I’m not the Messiah.”

²¹ They asked him, “Well, are you Elijah?”

John answered, “No, I’m not.”

Then they asked, “Are you the prophet?”

John replied, “No.”

²² So they asked him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³ John said, “I’m a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴ Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked John, “Why do you baptize if you’re not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?”

²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water. Someone you don’t know is standing among you. ²⁷ He’s the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap.”

²⁸ This happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.