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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea.
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1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
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2 His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."
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2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
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3 John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy: Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!
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3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
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4 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey.
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4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
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5 People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action.
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5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
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6 There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.
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6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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7 When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference?
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7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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8 It's your life that must change, not your skin!
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8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
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9 And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen.
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9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
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10 What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
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10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
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11 "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama - compared to him I'm a mere stagehand - will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.
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11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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12 He's going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned."
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12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
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13 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him.
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13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
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14 John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!"
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14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
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15 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it.
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15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
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16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit - it looked like a dove - descending and landing on him.
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16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
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17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
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17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
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| Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
