03:01 .. now in those days John the Baptist came .. preaching in the wilderness of Judea .. saying . . . 03:02 .. repent .. for the kingdom of heaven is at hand 03:03 .. for this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said . . . the voice of one crying in the wilderness .. ......... make ready the way of the Lord .. make his paths straight 03:04 .. now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist .. and his food was locusts and wild honey 03:05 .. then Jerusalem was going out to him .. and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan 03:06 .. and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River .. as they confessed their sins
03:07 .. but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism .. he said to them . . . ......... you brood of vipers .. who warned you to flee from the wrath to come 03:08 .. therefore .. bear fruit in keeping with repentance 03:09 .. and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves . . . we have Abraham for our father .. ......... for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham 03:10 .. the axe is already laid at the root of the trees .. therefore . . . every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire 03:11 .. as for me .. I baptize you with water for repentance .. but he who is coming after me is mightier than I .. and I am not fit to remove his sandals .. ......... he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire 03:12 .. his winnowing fork is in his hand .. and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor .. and he will gather his wheat into the barn .. ......... but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire
03:13 .. then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John .. to be baptized by him 03:14 .. but John tried to prevent him .. saying . . . I have need to be baptized by you .. and do you come to me 03:15 .. but Jesus answering said to him .. permit it at this time .. for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness .. then he permitted him 03:16 .. after being baptized .. Jesus came up immediately from the water .. and behold .. the heavens were opened .. ......... and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on him 03:17 .. and behold .. a voice out of the heavens said . . . this is my beloved son .. in whom I am well-pleased
To follow Jesus in the waters of baptism is to publicly acknowledge our separation from sin .. determination to bring forth fruit unto God .. and consecration to his service . . . . when John announced v 2 the “kingdom of the heavens at hand” .. he announced that the Christian dispensation was the next thing to come .. he presented Jesus not as King who would at that time set up his earthly throne .. but as “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world” (the true prophetic order) .. by Israel’s rejection of him as such they have been nationally set aside until the “fullness of the Gentiles be come in” .. after which Jesus as King will return to earth in glory to rule .. Matt 24:29 & 25:46 .. Luke 19:12-19 .. Acts 15:14-17