The Beginning:
John appears in the wilderness of Judea preaching a message of repentance, announcing that the kingdom of heaven is near. His prophetic role is linked to Isaiah’s promise of a “voice” preparing the Lord’s way. People from Jerusalem and the surrounding regions come to hear him and to be baptized in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
The Middle:
John’s lifestyle and message recall Israel’s prophetic tradition, and he challenges reliance on ancestry from Abraham as sufficient before God. He warns religious leaders that outward status cannot replace genuine repentance, calling for “fruit” that matches a changed life. John describes his baptism as with water, but proclaims that one coming after him is greater and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. When questioned about his identity, John denies being the Messiah and identifies himself as a witness sent to point beyond himself.
The End:
John openly directs attention to Jesus, identifying him as the one who surpasses him and as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He testifies that God’s Spirit descended on Jesus, confirming him as the Son of God and the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John’s ministry thus culminates in preparing the people and publicly bearing witness to Jesus’ arrival.
John’s ministry highlights God’s covenant faithfulness: the prophetic promise of preparation and renewal reaches its fulfillment as Jesus’ public mission begins. Repentance and baptism signal the need for inner transformation, not merely religious identity or external observance. John functions as a divinely appointed witness, emphasizing that salvation and cleansing ultimately come through the one he announces—Jesus, who brings the Spirit and bears sin. The narrative presents God as both holy (calling for repentance) and merciful (providing a redemptive way forward through the Messiah).
Ritual washing was familiar within Second Temple Judaism (e.g., purification practices), but John’s baptism was distinctive in its public, once-for-repentance character and its urgent end-times proclamation. The Jordan River region—symbolically associated with Israel’s earlier entry into the land—forms a fitting backdrop for a renewed call to covenant faithfulness and readiness for God’s coming reign.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Matthew 3:2
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Where did people go to be baptized by John while confessing their sins?
2. How did John describe the baptism that the one coming after him would bring?