In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying,

This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the road for the Lord,
Make His highways straight (level, direct)!’”

[People from] Jerusalem and all over Judea and the region around the Jordan River all went out [to the desert] to [hear] him,

Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind [which is commonplace]?

"What did you go out into the desert to behold?" he asked; "A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment dwell in kings' palaces!

Why did you go out [to the desert]? To see a prophet? Yes, I should say [he was], and much more than a prophet.

But when an evil spirit has been driven out of a person, it roams through desert regions trying to find rest but cannot find it.

yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation].

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?

know, that your habitation shall be soon turned into a desert.

At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another.

Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all desert me tonight, for the Scriptures say, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Peter replied to Him, “Though they all fall away because of You [and doubt and disown You], I will never fall away!”