26 THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him all they of Jerusalem, and all the country of Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism he said therefore unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree, therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. And the multitudes asked him, saying, What, then, must we do? And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food let him do likewise. And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Master, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages. And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit HIS AGE AND LINEAGE. 27 and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. With many other exhortations therefore preached he the gospel unto the people. 17. The Baptism of Jesus. Matt. 3: 13-17. Mark 1: 9-11. Luke 3: 21,22. JOW it came to pass in those days, when Now all the people were baptized, that Jesus also came from Nazareth of Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water, praying: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending in a bodily form as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 18. His Age and Lineage. Luke 3: 23-38. A ND Jesus himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of 26 THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him all they of Jerusalem, and all the country of Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism he said therefore unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree, therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. And the multitudes asked him, saying, What, then, must we do? And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food let him do likewise. And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Master, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages. And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit JOHN'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING JESUS. 29 the glory of them in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All these things will I give thee, and to thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt fall down and worship me, it shall all be thine. Then Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season; and behold, angels came, and ministered unto him. 20. John's Testimony Concerning Jesus. John 1: 19-34. A ND this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. And they had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. Jesus the Lamb of God. On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! This 30 THE FIRST DISCIPLES. is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is [become] before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing with water. And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. 21. The First Disciples. John 1: 35-51. A GAIN on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples: and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where abidest thou? He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour. One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ). He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter). On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, |