Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. read more.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.


This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. read more.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.


Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed. Her sin has been paid for and she has received double for all her sins from Jehovah's hand. A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for Jehovah. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. read more.
Every valley will be raised up! Every mountain and hill made low. The rough ground will become level and the rugged places a plain.

This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)


Paul said: John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.

This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)

In answer he said: Elijah truly has to come and put all things right.

The prophet Isaiah wrote: I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of Jehovah (YHWH), make his paths straight. (Isaiah 40:3) John the Baptist was in the desert (wilderness) telling people to repent (turn away from sin) and be baptized for forgiveness of sins. read more.
People from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River. John was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt about his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. He told the people: The man who comes after me is greater than I am. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie his shoes. I baptized (immersed) you with water, but he will baptize (Greek: baptizo: immerse, submerge) you with Holy Spirit.

He will be great in the eyes of God. He will not drink wine or strong drink and he will be full of Holy Spirit from the time of his birth. Great numbers of the children of Israel will return to Jehovah their God because of him. (1 Samuel 7:3) He will go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness. This will make ready a people whose hearts have been directed to Jehovah (YHWH). (Malachi 3:1)

Your child will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go in advance of Jehovah God to make his ways ready. (Malachi 3:1) To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins. A rising of light will visit us from on high because of the tender mercy of our God. read more.
The light will shine on them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet into the way of peace.

He came to tell (witness) (testify) about the light and help people have faith. Not being the light he came to give a witness of it.


They said to him: Who are you? We need to know so we can tell the ones who sent us. He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Isaiah the prophet said: 'Make straight the way of Jehovah (YHWH).' (Isaiah 40:3) They were sent from the Pharisees. read more.
They said to him: Why do you baptize if you are not the Christ, not Elijah, and not the prophet? John answered: I baptize in water. There is one in your midst whom you do not know. I am not worthy to fasten his shoes. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I did not know him. I came baptizing in water so that everyone in Israel will come to know him. John said: I saw the spirit descending as a dove out of heaven upon him. I did not know he was the one. God sent me to baptize in water and said: 'You will see one upon whom the spirit descends. The same is he who baptizes in Holy Spirit.' read more.
I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.

There is another who testifies about me. I know that his evidence about me is true. You sent people to John the Baptist and he has witnessed about the truth. The testimony I receive is not from man. However I say these things that you may be saved. read more.
He was the lamp that burns and shines. You were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.

Before Jesus came John preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John accomplished his purpose he asked: Who do you think I am? I am not that one. One comes after me whose shoes I am not worthy to untie.


Behold, I send my messenger! He will prepare the way before me. Seek Jehovah! He will suddenly come to his Temple along with the messenger of the covenant. He is one you desire, behold, he comes, said Jehovah of Hosts.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed. Her sin has been paid for and she has received double for all her sins from Jehovah's hand. A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for Jehovah. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. read more.
Every valley will be raised up! Every mountain and hill made low. The rough ground will become level and the rugged places a plain.

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. Isaiah spoke of John when he said: He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.' (Isaiah 40:3)

When these men left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. What did you go into the wilderness to find? Did you look for a reed shaken by the wind? What did you expect to see, a man clothed in fancy clothes? Those who wear fancy clothes are in king's houses. Did you go to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet! read more.
This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.' I tell you, there is none, born of women, greater then John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The prophet Isaiah wrote: I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of Jehovah (YHWH), make his paths straight. (Isaiah 40:3)

This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. read more.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)

He answered John's disciples: Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight! The lame walk and lepers are cleansed. The deaf hear! The dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who is not offended by me. After John's disciples departed he told the crowd about John: What did you go into the wilderness to find? Was it a reed shaken with the wind? read more.
What did you go to see, a man clothed in fancy clothes? Only kings dress in fancy clothes. What did you go out to see, a prophet? Yes I tell you and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before you. He will prepare a way before you. I say to you, of those who are born of women there is none greater than John. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

John gave his witness even as Jewish authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They asked him: Who are you? He said: I am not the Christ. They asked him: Are you Elijah? He said: I am not. Are you the prophet? He answered: No. read more.
They said to him: Who are you? We need to know so we can tell the ones who sent us. He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Isaiah the prophet said: 'Make straight the way of Jehovah (YHWH).' (Isaiah 40:3)



This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)

Jehovah has made his salvation known. He has uncovered his righteousness for the nations to see.

Jehovah says: Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

Remember the former things, the things of long ago. I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' I summon a bird of prey from the east. I summon a man to fulfill my purpose from a far off land. What I have said I will bring about. What I have determined (purposed) I will do. read more.
Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. I bring near my righteousness. It is not far away. My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

Jehovah will surely comfort Zion. He will look with compassion on all her ruins. He will make her deserts like Eden and her wastelands like the garden of Jehovah. Joy and gladness will be found in her along with thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation. The law will go out from me. My justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness is near. My salvation is on the way and my arm (power) will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm (power). read more.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens. Look at the earth below. The heavens will vanish like smoke and the earth will wear out like a garment. Its inhabitants die like flies (gnats). But my salvation will last forever! My righteousness will never fail. Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts. Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. The moth will eat them up like a garment. The worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever! My salvation will last through all generations.


This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)

The glory of Jehovah will be revealed and together all mankind will see it. For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken!

People make themselves holy and prepare themselves for their garden rituals. They go into the garden and devour pork, disgusting things, and mice. They will come to an end at the same time, declares Jehovah. Because of their actions and their thoughts, I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They will come and see my glory.