Pondering the Saviour part 5 John the Baptist’s Perspective 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?”… (Matthew 3:13-14) Pondering the Saviour part 5 John the Baptist’s Perspective Matthew 3:1-17

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!... (Luke 1:41-42)

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins… (Mark 1:4) John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me… (John 1:15) John or Jesus?

“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”… (Matthew 3:14) John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist… (Matthew 3:4) Why John?

His food was locusts and wild honey… (Matthew 3:4b) “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?... (Matthew 3:7)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”… (Matthew 1:2)

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”… (Matthew 1:16) Why Jesus?

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life… (1 John 1:1) Epiphany