Matthew 3
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around The Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You little snakes, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 You want salvation? Then produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t even think, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ because God is able to raise up children to Abra[ha]m from these stones. 10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 “Im gonna baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His broom is in hand, and he’s gonna sweep up his work shop. He will gather his harvest into the barn, but the rest is headed to the compost.”
13 Then Joshua+ came from Galilee to The Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have refused him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
15 But Joshua+ answering him, saying, “Just let it happen, it is to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed it.
16 Joshua+, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a pigeon, and landing on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, of whom I am quite proud.”
