Parent and Family Background
In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets. John the Baptist, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, was the last great prophet before Jesus. John announced the coming of Jesus and encouraged people to prepare the way for the Lord.
John invited people to repent their sins and be baptized. John’s baptism was a sign that the people had repented and had chosen to prepare for the coming of God’s Promised One, the Messiah.
The Jordan, the chief river in Palestine, lies east of Jerusalem. It flows from north to south through the center of Palestine. It is about 200 miles long. It begins in Syria, and flows through the Sea of Galilee to the north end of the Dead Sea.
John the Baptist
Mark 1:1-11
The prophet Isaiah wrote about John:
“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The people of Judea and Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River to see him. As the people acknowledged their sins, John baptized them in the river.
John wore camels’ hair clothing with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the straps on his sandals. I have baptized you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
One day, Jesus came to John at the Jordan River to be baptized. When Jesus came up out of the water he saw the heavens open up. From the heavens, the Spirit, like a dove, descended upon him. Then he heard a voice from the heavens saying, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”
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