Matt 3 John the Baptist Prepares the Way.

John the Baptist is known as the Forerunner who was preaching before Jesus arrived on the scene. Remember he was a cousin of Jesus born to Zechariah and Elizabeth just before the Saviours was born to Mary. He came from Ein Kerem on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Mary visited Elizabeth during her pregnancy.                                                                                                    

Of his almost miraculous conception and birth, we have a circumstantial account in the Gospel of Luke, chap. 1. For his fidelity in reproving Herod for his incest with his brother Philip’s wife, he was cast into prison, no doubt at the suggestion of Herodias, the profligate woman in question. He was at last beheaded at her instigation, and his head given as a present to Salome, her daughter, who, by her elegant dancing, had highly gratified Herod, the paramour of her incestuous mother. His ministry was short; for he appears to have been put to death in the 27th or 28th year of the Christian era.

Ein Kerem today

Mat 3:1  About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.

Mat 3:2  "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."

John the Baptist

He baptized those who repented at his preaching in the River Jordan.

Baptistēs bap-tis-tace' From G907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ’s forerunner: - Baptist.

baptizeG907  βαπτίζω baptizō Thayer Definition:

1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)

2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe 3) to overwhelm

Came - preaching - Κηρυσσων, proclaiming, as a herald, a matter of great and solemn importance to men; the subject not his own, nor of himself, but from that God from whom alone he had received his commission. Barnes

His Message: "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."

Repent G3340

μετανοέω metanoeō Thayer Definition:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

Part of Speech: verb

Please READ : The Key to Change - Real Repentance  at:

http://www.covenanteyes.com/2008/06/18/repenting-of-porn-addiction-part-1/