As we see in Matthew chapter 3, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judaea, preaching to the people. He tells them to repent because the kingdom of heaven is near. This moment fulfills a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, who said there would be a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord.
John wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt and ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem, Judaea, and the Jordan region came to him. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came, he called them a generation of vipers and warned them to truly repent.
John also said that someone greater than him was coming—someone who would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. This person was Jesus. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John. At first, John didn’t want to do it, feeling unworthy. But Jesus insisted, saying it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness.
After Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened. The Spirit of God came down like a dove and rested on Him. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This moment showed that Jesus was chosen and loved by God.
