Study Desk

King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, "He is John the Baptizer. He must have risen from death, and that is why he can do these miracles."

The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask King Herod to give me?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."

So right then the girl went back in to the king. She said to him, "Please give me the head of John the Baptizer. Bring it to me now on a plate."

They answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And others say you are one of the prophets."

Jesus said, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup that I must drink from? Can you be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through?"

The sons answered, "Yes, we can!" Jesus said to the sons, "It is true that you will drink from the cup that I drink from. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through.

Tell me: When John baptized people, did his authority come from God or was it only from other people? Answer me."

These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' then he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe John?'

But we can't say that John's baptism was from someone else." (These leaders were afraid of the people, because the people believed that John was a prophet.)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. But those who do not believe will be judged guilty.

So he went through the whole area around the Jordan River and told the people God's message. He told them to be baptized to show that they wanted to change their lives, and then their sins would be forgiven.

Crowds of people came to be baptized by John. But he said to them, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run from God's judgment that is coming?

Even the tax collectors came to John. They wanted to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

John's answer to this was, "I baptize you in water, but there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who unties his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus came and was baptized too. And while he was praying, the sky opened,

So the men came to Jesus. They said, "John the Baptizer sent us to you with this question: ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for someone else?'"

(When the people heard this, they all agreed that God's teaching was good. Even the tax collectors agreed. These were the people who were baptized by John.

But the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)

John the Baptizer came and did not eat the usual food or drink wine. And you say, ‘He has a demon inside him.'

Herod the ruler heard about all these things that were happening. He was confused because some people said, "John the Baptizer has risen from death."