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.
