** John and Jesus **

It is written in Isaiah the prophet:

"I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare your way" --
"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.'"

And so John came,
baptizing in the desert region
and preaching a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins.
The whole Judean countryside
and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.
Confessing their sins,
they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist,
and he ate locusts and wild honey.
And this was his message:

"After me will come One more powerful than I,
the thongs of whose sandals
I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
I baptize you with water,
but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

(Mark 1:2-8)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
to be baptized by John.
But John tried to deter him, saying,
"I need to be baptized by You,
and do You come to me?"

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now;
it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
Then John consented.

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.
And a voice from heaven said,
"This is My Son, whom I love;
with Him I am well pleased."

(Matthew 13-17)