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John the Baptist prepares the way

John preached in the wilderness, calling the people to repent and bear fruit worthy of repentance. He baptized in the Jordan and announced that the One coming after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:16).

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📖 Matthew 3:1–3

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

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Connections

Quotation

The voice preparing the way

Each Gospel connects John the Baptist with Isaiah's voice in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord.

Isaiah 40:3–5

A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:2-3, and Luke 3:4-6 quote Isaiah in introducing John's ministry, while John 1:23 records John applying Isaiah's words to himself.

Read Isaiah 40:3–5 (BSB) →
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Sources: Scripture — Matthew 3:1-12 · Luke 3:1-18
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