The Mission of John the Baptist
John appears in the wilderness as Isaiah’s voice, calling Israel to repentance and baptism and pointing beyond himself to one stronger who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
T1his is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 3“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7And he proclaimed: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. ”
Jesus comes from Nazareth, is baptized by John, and is marked by the opened heavens, the descending Spirit, and the Father’s voice of delight.
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”