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"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:13-17 ASV <p>Illustration of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. Three men watch from the shore. A beam of light descends upon Jesus.

Baptism of Jesus by John

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have…

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased." Mark 1:9-11 ASV <p>Illustration of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus stands, shin-deep in the river water, arms crossed on his chest and head bowed. John stands on the river bank with a staff in his left hand. With his right hand, he pours a bowl of water on Jesus head. A dove emerges from the parted clouds overhead.

The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John…

"And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 ASV <p>Illustration of Jesus kneeling next to John the Baptist. A ray of light, the spirit of God, descends from a dove onto Jesus' head. There is a cloud behind the dove. John the Baptist, dressed in animal skins and holding a staff with a banner that reads "Agnus", is standing next to Jesus.

The Spirit of God Descends on Jesus When He is Baptized by John the Baptist

"And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened…

"And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her. And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother." Mark 6:21-28 ASV <p>Illustration of John the Baptist about to be beheaded. The daughter of Herodias stands in the background with a platter.

Beheading of John the Baptist

"And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the…

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; and he sent and beheaded John in the prison." Matthew 14:8-10 ASV <p>Illustration of John the Baptist, having just been unshackled, kneeling in prayer while a soldier waits to behead him with an axe. . A shaft of light beams down on John. Salome can be seen just outside the archway with a platter in her hands.

John the Baptist Prays in Prison Just Before His Beheading

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.…

An engraving by J. Jackson, Sr. of Sir Joshua Reynolds' painting, <i>The Holy Family.</i> Many, Joseph, and Jesus look towards the infant John the Baptist dressed in camel skin. John holds a staff with a scroll. Although not visible, John's scroll is often represented as reading "Ecce Agnus Dei" in artwork. Reynolds' painting was completed around 1787. This engraving appears in a Bible published in 1853. The setting is a garden.

The Holy Family by Sir Joshua Reynolds

An engraving by J. Jackson, Sr. of Sir Joshua Reynolds' painting, The Holy Family. Many, Joseph, and…

"And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey." Matthew 3:1-4 ASV <p>Illustration of John the Baptist wearing a camel hair garnet and holding a cup. A cross can barely be seen in the shadow at the left side of the illustration.

John the Baptist

"And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, Repent ye;…

"And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:1-2 ASV <p>Illustration of John the Baptist, sitting on a rock under a tree, left hand raised and right hand holding a staff. He is preaching to the multitudes. Men, women, and children sit and stand around him. The Sadducees and Pharisees, identifiable by their robes, can be seen in the background (left).

John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness

"And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, Repent ye;…

"And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth." Luke 1:39-40 ASV <p>Illustration of Mary arriving at the home of her cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth kneels at Mary's feet. To the left, a man emerges from the home with arms open. To the right, a man waits outside the entrance to the courtyard.

The Visitation - Mary Arrives at Elizabeth's Home

"And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered…

"And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." Luke 1:11-13 ASV <p>Illustration of Zacharias, the priest, on his knees in front of an angel in the temple. Zacharias has an incense burner in his hand and smoke is rising from the altar. The angel's right arm is raised. A menorah sits behind Zacharias. The Table of Showbread is on the right. The curtain, or veil, that leads to the Holy of Holies is behind the altar. Zacharias doesn't believe the angel's message and so is struck blind.

Zacharias is Told by an Angel that His Wife Will Have a Son, John the Baptist

"And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense. And…

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." Luke 1:13 KJV

Zacharias Writing a Name for the Child

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall…