New Testament Stories

 John the Baptist preaches

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in the Jordan.  Mark 1:9

                              John was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah the priest. He was born to them when they were old, and he was a cousin of Jesus.

     When John grew up he went to live in the wild desert country. When he camped near the Jordan river, people came in huge crowds to hear his words because they knew he was a man of God.

     "Repent! Turn away from wrong doing," John told them. "Stop being wicked and be good, because God's kingdom is near!"

     When they heard John speaking, they remembered that Isaiah the prophet had said  a hundred years before that there would be   " A voice  calling out in the wilderness, Make a straight road for the Lord."

     John wore rough clothes made from camel's hair and a leather belt. All he ate were locust's and wild honey. When the people from Jerusalem and all of Judah came out to hear him, they told the truth about their sins and asked to be forgiven. Then John Baptized them in the Jordan river.

     Now many of the temple teachers and fine people from Jerusalem also came to be baptized. They were called Pharisees and Sadducees, and many of them were rich and proud and selfish.

     "You nest of snakes!" John shouted at the Pharisees and Sadducees. Who said that you could get away from the punishment to come?" Change your minds about doing evil and live a pure and clean life, doing good to others." It isn't enough to just be in the family of Abraham. If God wanted to He could make children of Abraham out of these rocks!"

     John told the people that he baptized them with water, but someone else was coming soon. "He is much greater than I am," said John. "I am not good enough even to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."  
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