Part V. The Beginning of the Baptist's Ministry

Probably six months and in A.D. 25. In the Wilderness of Judea and beside the Jordan, §§ 20-23

§ 20. The Time of the Beginning

Mark 1:1 Luke 3:1-2

1 The beginning of the
gospel of Jesus Christ,
the Son God. 1 Now in the fifteenth ayear of the
reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judea, and Herod
being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa
and Trachonitis, and Lysaniasb
tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the
highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came unto John the
son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Some ancient authorities omit the son of God.

a See note 6 at end of Harmony.

b See note 6. Luke follows the custom of ancient historians in dating events by the names of the rulers. As the son of a priest John was probably thirty years old when he came forth.

§ 21. The Message and the Messenger

Mark 1:2-6 Matt. 3:1-6 Luke 3:3-6

2 Even as it is written
in Isaiah the prophet,
Behold, I send my
messenger before
thy face [see
Mal. 3:1],
Who shall prepare
thy way;
3 The voice of one
crying in the
wilderness [see
Isa. 40:3],
Make ye ready the
way of the Lord,
Make his paths
straight;
4 John came, who
baptized in the
wilderness and
preached the baptism
of repentance unto
remission of sins. 5 And
there went out unto
him all the country
of Judea, and all
they of Jerusalem;
and they were
baptized of him in the
river Jordan,
confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed
with camel's hair,
and had a leathern
girdle about his loins,
and did eat locusts
and wild honey. 1 And in those days
cometh John the
Baptist, preaching in
the wilderness of
Judea, saying,a
2 Repent ye; for the
kingdom of heaven is
at hand. 3 For this is
he that was spoken of
by Isaiah the prophet,
saying,
The voice of one
crying in the
wilderness,
Make ye ready the
way of the Lord,
Make his paths
straight.
4 Now John himself
had his raiment of
camel's hair, and a
leathern girdle about
his loins; and his
food was locusts and
wild honey. 5 Then
went out unto him
Jerusalem, and all
Judea, and all the
region round about
Jordan; 6 and they
were baptized of him
in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins. 3 And he came into
all the region round
about Jordan, preach-
ing the baptism of
repentance unto re-
mission of sins; 4 as it
is written in the book
of the words of Isaiah
the prophet,
The voice of one
crying in the
wilderness,
Make ye ready the
way of the Lord,
Make his paths
straight.
5 Every valley shall
be filled,
And every moun-
tain and hill shall
be brought low;
And the crooked
shall become
straight,
And the rough
ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall
see the salvation
of God [see Isa.
40:4-5].

Some ancient authorities read in the prophets.

Or, through.

a See Mark 1:15 (= Matt. 4:17); Matt. 10:7; Acts 2:38.

§ 22. A SPECIMENa of John's Preaching

Matt. 3:7-10 Luke 3:7-14

7 But when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees coming
to his baptism, he said unto them,
Ye offspring of vipers, who warned
you to flee from the wrath to
come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit
worthy of repentance: 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 even now
is the axe laid unto the root of the
trees: every tree therefore that
bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. 7 He said therefore to the multitudes
that went out to be baptized
of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who
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
even now is the axe also laid unto
the root of the trees: every tree
therefore that bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire. 10 And the multitudes
asked him, saying, What then must
we do? 11 And he answered and
said unto them, He that hath two
coats, let him impart to him that
hath none; and he that hath food,
let him do likewise. 12 And there
came also publicans to be
baptized, and they said unto him,
Master, what must we do? 13 And
he said unto them, Extort no more
than that which is appointed
you. 14 And soldiers also asked
him, saying, And we, what must
we do? And he said unto them,
Do violence to no man, neither
exact anything wrongfully; and be
content with your wages.

Or, your repentance.

That is, collectors or renters of Roman taxes.

Or, Teacher.

Gr. soldiers on service.

Or, accuse any one.

a Here we see Matthew and Luke preserving a non-Markan section, as so frequently hereafter, an example of the so-called Logia (Discourses).

§ 23. The Forerunner's Picture of the Messiah Before Seeing Him

Mark 1:7-8 Matt. 3:11-12 Luke 3:15-18

7 And he preached,
saying, There cometh
after me he that
is mightier than I,
the latchet of whose
shoes I am not
worthy to stoop
down and unloose.
8 I baptized you with
water; but he shall
baptize you with the
Holy Ghost. 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 throughly
cleanse his threshing-
floor; and he will
gather his wheat into
the garner, but the
chaff he will burn up
with unquenchable
fire. 15 And as the people
were in expectation,
and all men
reasoned in their
hearts concerning
John, whether haply
he were the Christ;
16 John answered,
saying unto them all, I
indeed baptize you
with water; but there
cometh he that is
mightier than I, 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,
throughly to cleanse
his threshing-floor,
and to gather the
wheat into his garner;
but the chaff he will
burn up with
unquenchable fire.
18 With many other
exhortations therefore
preached he good
tidings unto the people.a

Or, in.

Gr. sufficient.

Or, Holy Spirit.

Or, the gospel.

a One can easily put together all that we are told of John the Baptist in John 1:6-15 and in Sections , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . See also Acts 1:5, 22; 10:37; 13:24; 18:25; 19:1-7. For a full discussion of the Baptist see my John the Loyal. These months of John's ministry prepared the way for the Messiah.