368-369 : The Baptism Of Jesus By John : YEAR 0027
NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
And he came into all the country about Jordan,
preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
as it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet,
saying:"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
'Prepare ye the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.
Every valley slall be filled,and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
And the crooked shall be made straight,and the rough shall be made smooth.
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "
John wore clothing made of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his waist.
And his food was locusts and wild honey.
The people of Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan,
went out to him, and were baptized by him, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them:
"O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Do, therefore, deeds that show repentance, and do not just say within yourselves,
''We have Abraham for our forefather.'
For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.
Therefore, every tree which brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire."
What shall we do then?" the people asked him. And he answered:
"He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none, and he who has meat,
let him give to those that are without."
Then came also tax-collectors to be baptized and said to him, "Master, what shall we do?"
And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are instructed to."
Soldiers came to him asking, "And what shall we do?"
And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone with force, nor accuse any falsely. And be content with your wages."
People were expectant and wondered in their hearts whether he was the Christ or not.
John therefore answered, saying to all of them:"I indeed baptize you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming whose shoes I am not worthy to undo.
He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
His fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean His floor after the harvest,
and will gather his wheat into the grainary. But he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan in order to be baptized by John.
But John stopped him saying,"I have need to be baptized by you,and do you come to me?"
And Jesus answering said to him,"Let it be so now, for by us must all righteousness be fulfilled."
So John consented. And Jesus, when he was baptized, arose directly from the water.
And, lo, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove,
and alighting upon him.
And behold a voice from heaven said:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
