Part II. Announcement And Introduction Of Our Lord’s Public Ministry.

TIME. _About one year._

§ 14. The Ministry of John the Baptist. _The Desert._ _The Jordan._

Matthew. Mark. CH. III. 1-12. CH. I. 1-8. In those days came John the The beginning of the gospel of Baptist, preaching in the Jesus Christ the Son of God: wilderness of Judea, 2 And saying, Repent ye; for As it is written in the the kingdom of heaven is at prophets,(102) Behold, I send hand. my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee; 3 For this is he that was 3 The voice of one crying in spoken of by the prophet the wilderness, Prepare ye the Esaias, saying, The voice of way of the Lord, make his one crying in the wilderness, paths straight. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his 4 John did baptize in the raiment of camel’s hair, and a wilderness, and preach the leathern girdle about his baptism of repentance, for the loins; and his meat was remission of sins. locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him 5 And there went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the land of Judea, and all the region round about they of Jerusalem, and were Jordan. all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And were baptized of him in 6 And John was clothed with Jordan, confessing their sins. camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 But when he saw many of the 7 And preached, saying, There Pharisees and Sadducees come cometh one mightier than I to his baptism, he said unto after me, the latchet of whose them, O generation of vipers, shoes I am not worthy to stoop who hath warned you to flee down and unloose. from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits 8 I indeed have baptized you meet for repentance: with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and _with_ fire: 12 Whose fan _is_ in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Luke. CH. III. 1-18. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,(103) the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,(104) The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to _our_ father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse _any_ falsely; and be content with your wages. 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto _them_ all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 17 Whose fan _is_ in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

§ 15. The Baptism of Jesus. _The Jordan._

Matthew. Mark. CH. III. 13-17. CH. I. 9-11. 13 Then cometh Jesus from 9 And it came to pass in those Galilee to Jordan unto John, days, that Jesus came from to be baptized of him. Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 14 But John forbade him, 10 And straightway coming up saying, I have need to be out of the water, he saw the baptized of thee, and comest heavens opened, and the Spirit thou to me? like a dove descending upon him. 15 And Jesus answering said 11 And there came a voice from unto him, Suffer _it to be so_ heaven _saying_, Thou art my now: for thus it becometh us beloved Son, in whom I am well to fulfil all righteousness. pleased. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, when up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luke. CH. III. 21-23. 21 Now, when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.

§ 16. The Temptation. _Desert of Judea_

Matthew. Mark. CH. IV. 1-11. CH. I. 12-13. Then was Jesus led up of the 12 And immediately the Spirit Spirit into the wilderness to driveth him into the be tempted of the devil. wilderness. 2 And when he had fasted forty 13 And he was there in the days and forty nights, he was wilderness forty days tempted afterward an hungered. of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written(105) Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God cast thyself down, for it is written(106) He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in _their_ hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again,(107) Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them: 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,(108) Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Luke. CH. IV. 1-13.(109) And Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in _their_ hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering, said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him, all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

§ 17. Preface to John’s Gospel.

John. CH. I. 1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name _was_ John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all _men_ through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but _was sent_ to bear witness of that light. 9 _That_ was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, _even_ to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me, is preferred before me; for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, _but_ grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared _him_.

§ 18. Testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus. _Bethany beyond Jordan_.

John. CH. I. 19-34. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.(110) 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said,(111) I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not. 27 He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw and bare record, that this is the Son of God.

§ 19. Jesus gains disciples. _The Jordan. Galilee_.

John. CH. I. 35-51. 35 Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John _speak_, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias; which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas; which is, by interpretation, a stone.(112) 43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael,(113) and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the(114) Son of man.

§ 20. The Marriage at Cana of Galilee.

John. CH. II. 1-12. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do _it_. 6 And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare _it_. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: _but_ thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples; and they continued there not many days.