# Day 220

# The Work of John the Baptist

Luke 3:1–14

John, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, lived in the wilderness. Zechariah’s son was also Israel’s last prophet. When he was thirty, God sent him to the Jewish people. He told them to turn from sin and be forgiven. John baptized those who turned from sin in the Jordan River.

Earlier the prophet Isaiah spoke of John the Baptist:

His voice is crying in the wilderness.

He will go ahead of the Lord to make the paths straight for him.

Then everyone will see God’s salvation.

John the Baptist wore rough clothes woven from camel’s hair and a leather belt. He ate dried grasshoppers and wild honey from the trees. John’s words were different, too. He said: “Turn from sin and do right. The kingdom of heaven is nearby. Its king will soon be here.”

Pharisees were men of Israel who made a show of being good. John told them, “You’re the children of snakes. Who told you to escape from God’s anger against you?”

Questions: What did John the Baptist tell the people? What did he do when they turned from sin?