Matthew 3:13-4:17

The Baptism of Jesus

 ¹³Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴But John kept objecting and said, "I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?"

    ¹⁵Jesus answered, "For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do." Then John agreed.

    ¹⁶So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. ¹⁷Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him."

   

Matthew 4

Jesus and the Devil

 ¹The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. ²After Jesus had gone without eating for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. ³Then the devil came to him and said, "If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread." ⁴Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say:

   `No one can live only on food.

   People need every word

   that God has spoken.' "

    ⁵Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. ⁶The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:

   `God will give his angels

   orders about you.

   They will catch you

   in their arms,

   and you won't hurt

   your feet on the stones.' "

    ⁷Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, `Don't try to test the Lord your God!' "

    ⁸Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. ⁹The devil said to him, "I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me."

    ¹⁰Jesus answered, "Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:

   `Worship the Lord your God

   and serve only him.' "

    ¹¹Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

   

Jesus Begins His Work

 ¹²When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. ¹³But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, ¹⁵"Listen, lands of Zebulun

   and Naphtali,

   lands along the road

   to the sea

   and east

   of the Jordan!

   Listen Galilee,

   land of the Gentiles!

    ¹⁶Although your people

   live in darkness,

   they will see

   a bright light.

   Although they live

   in the shadow of death,

   a light will shine

   on them."

    ¹⁷Then Jesus started preaching, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here