The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight..."

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather girdle around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

He proclaimed,
"The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me: I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

Narrator cites Isaiah

Narrator summarizes Baptist's baptizing activity

Narrator reports Baptist's speech

Narrator tells story of dove and reports words of voice

Voice testifies

 Prologue:
Narrator
identifies characters

Baptist quotes Isaiah

Priests report baptizing activity

Baptist responds

Narrator sets time

Baptist
reports story of dove and
words of voice

Baptist testifies

Narrator: In the beginning was the Word
Narrator: This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,

Priest: Who are you? John: I am not the Messiah.
Priests:What then? Are you Elijah?
John: I am not. Priests: Are you the prophet?
John: No
Priests: Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
John: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.
Priests: Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?
John: "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know,the who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.

(The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared)

John: Here is the Lamb of God ... This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because was before me."... I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'
and I myself have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.