Baptism & Early Ministry

John grew up a different way. He lived out in the wild, empty places. Rocks and dust and burning sun. No town. No neighbors. Just open sky. He ate what the land gave him and he waited. Waited for the day God would tell him, "Now. Go."

That day came. John walked out of the wilderness and his voice hit the hills like a storm. "Turn your hearts back to God! The Kingdom of Heaven is close!" People heard him and came running. Whole towns emptied out. Crowds from Jerusalem poured down to the Jordan River just to hear this wild man...

John pushed people under the water of the Jordan River and brought them back up, dripping wet. They called out their sins for everyone to hear. John wore rough clothes made from camel hair and ate bugs and wild honey. He kept saying it, over and over: "Someone stronger than me is coming! I am not...

Lk 1:80