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John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
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And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
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The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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Jesus Announces the Good News
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
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When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
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Jesus Heals Many
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
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Jesus Questioned About Fasting
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
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James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),
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He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.
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John the Baptist Beheaded
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
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But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
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For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.
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For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
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So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,
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because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
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She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
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At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
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So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
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On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
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They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
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The Transfiguration
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
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Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
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The Request of James and John
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
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When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.