The Harmonized Gospel of JESUS CHRIST Part 2

 Chapter 2

 

There was a man sent from GOD whose name was John this man came to bear witness of the Light that all through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests, the word of GOD came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness and he went into all the region around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all humanity shall see the salvation of GOD.’”

 

John himself was clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey. He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him for the remission of sin, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ for I say to you that GOD is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones and even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” So the people asked him saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered them, “He who has two tunics let him give to him who has none and he who has food let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him saying, “What shall we do?” He said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or falsely accuse and be content with your wages.”

 

As the people were in expectation and all reasoned in their hearts about John whether he was the CHRIST or not John said, “I indeed baptize you with water yet One mightier than I is coming whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” The Pharisees sent and asked him saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the CHRIST or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water but there is One among you whom you do not know. It is He who coming after me is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing. With many other exhortations he preached to the people.

 

Then JESUS came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John bore witness of Him and cried out saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me for He was before me.’” John tried to prevent JESUS saying, “I need to be baptized by You and are You coming to me?” JESUS answered him, “Permit it to be so for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John baptized Him; when JESUS was coming up from the water the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of GOD descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. Suddenly a voice came from Heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Then JESUS being filled with the Holy Spirit left the Jordan and the Holy Spirit sent Him out into the wilderness where He was tempted for forty days by the devil. In those days He ate nothing and when they had ended He was hungry, the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of GOD command this stone to become bread.” JESUS answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of GOD.’” Then the devil brought Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If You are the Son of GOD throw Yourself down from here for it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” JESUS answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your GOD.’” Then the devil taking Him up on a high mountain showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You and their glory; for this has been delivered to me and I give it to whomever I wish; so if You will worship before me all will be Yours.” JESUS told him, “Get behind Me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your GOD and Him only you shall serve.’” When the devil had ended every temptation he departed from Him until an opportune time. Then angels came and ministered to JESUS, He returned in the power of the Spirit and news of Him went through the entire region. Then He taught in their synagogues being glorified by all.

 

JESUS Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age; being as was supposed the son of Joseph; and from the fullness of the only Begotten we have all received grace upon grace; for the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through JESUS CHRIST. No one has seen GOD at any time the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father has declared Him as GOD.