Event 2 – John’s First Public Appearance

Matthew 3:1-6, Mark 1:1-6, Luke 3:1-6, John 1:6-8

     ^K The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

     ^L In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar — when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ^M In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of ^L As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ^M “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” ^L “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’“

     ^K And so John came, ^J sent from God: ^L He went into all the country around the Jordan, ^K baptizing in the desert region and ^L preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ^J He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ^K John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ^M People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ^K And so John came, ^J sent from God; ^L He went into all the country around the Jordan, K baptizing in the desert region and L preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ^J He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ^K John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ^M People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.