This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote,

   "I will send my messenger ahead of you.

      He will prepare your way." —(Malachi 3:1)

 "A messenger is calling out in the desert,

   'Prepare the way for the Lord.

      Make straight paths for him.' " —(Isaiah 40:3)

 And so John came. He baptized people in the desert. He also preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made out of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey.

 Here is what John was preaching. "After me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. I'm not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals.  I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John 1

Jesus Is the Lamb of God

 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That's because he existed before I was born.' I did not know him. But God wants to make it clear to Israel who this person is. That's the reason I came baptizing with water."

 Then John told them, "I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus. I would not have known him. But the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and remain on someone. He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen it happen. I give witness that this is the Son of God."

Matthew 3

Jesus Is Baptized

 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He wanted to be baptized by John.  But John tried to stop him. He told Jesus, "I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?"

 Jesus replied, "Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God's holy plan." Then John agreed.

 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove.

 A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him."