Study Desk

but his mother said, "No! He will be named John."

Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.

Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John," and everyone was surprised.

"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.

He said that he would do this through his holy prophets who lived long ago:

He said he would give mercy to our ancestors and that he would remember his holy promise.

"Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.

Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:

After the feast days were over, they started home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers.

When Jesus' parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you."

Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened.

John answered everyone, "I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out."

But John spoke against Herod, the governor, because of his sin with Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and because of the many other evil things Herod did.

When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph's son. Joseph was the son of Heli.

It is written in the Scriptures: ‘He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you.' Psalm 91:11

"The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. Isaiah 61:1 God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly Isaiah 58:6

and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." Isaiah 61:2