The Person of John the Baptist

Mark 1:2–6; Luke 3:3–6

3 In those days aJohn the Baptist came preaching bin the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for cthe kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

d“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

e‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now fJohn himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was glocusts and hwild honey. 5 iThen Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 jand were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

The Preaching of John the Baptist

Mark 1:7–9; Luke 3:7–9, 16, 17

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, k“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from lthe wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, m‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. nTherefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 oI indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. pHe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 1and fire. 12 qHis winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will rburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”