施洗者约翰传道（可1·1-8；路3·1-18；约1·19-28）　
　　那时，施洗者约翰来到犹太的旷野传道。他说∶“悔改吧，因为天国快实现了！”约翰就是先知以赛亚所说的那个人；他说∶
　　在旷野有人呼喊∶
　　为主准备他的道路，
　　修直他要走的路径！
　　约翰穿着骆驼毛的衣服，腰间系着皮带；吃的是蝗虫和野蜜。群众从耶路撒冷、犹太全境，和约旦河一带来到他跟前。他们承认自己的罪，约翰就在约旦河为他们施洗。
　　约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来要求受洗，就对他们说∶“你们这些毒蛇！上帝的审判快要到了，你们以为能够逃避吗？要用行为证明你们已经悔改。不要自以为亚伯拉罕是你们的祖宗就可以逃避审判。我告诉你们，上帝能够拿这些石头为亚伯拉罕造出子孙来！斧头已经搁在树根上了，凡不结好果子的树都要砍掉，丢在火里。我用水给你们施洗，表示你们已经悔改；但是，在我以后来的那一位要用圣灵和火给你们施洗。他比我伟大多了，我就是替他提鞋子也不配。他手里拿着簸箕，要扬净谷物，把麦子收进仓库；至于糠秕，他要用永不熄灭的火烧掉！”
　　耶稣受洗（可1·9-11；路3·21-22）　
　　那时候，耶稣从加利利往约旦河去见约翰，要请他施洗。约翰想要改变他的主意，就说∶“我应当受你的洗礼，你反而来找我！”
　　可是耶稣回答他∶“现在就这样做吧，因为这样做是实行上帝的要求。”于是约翰答应了。
　　耶稣一受了洗，从水里出来，天为他开了；他看见上帝的灵好像鸽子降下来，落在他身上。接着，从天上有声音说∶“这是我亲爱的儿子，我喜爱他。”

　　The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)　
　　At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judea and started preaching. "Turn away from your sins," he said, "because the Kingdom of heaven is near!" [注解]　John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said, [注解]　
　　"Someone is shouting in the desert, [注解]　
　　'Prepare a road for the Lord; [注解]　
　　make a straight path for him to travel!'"[注解]　
　　John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [注解]　People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.
　　When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, "You snakes-who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? [注解]　Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! [注解]　The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. [注解]　I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out."[注解]　
　　The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1.9-11; Luke 3.21, 22)　
　　At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. But John tried to make him change his mind. "I ought to be baptized by you," John said, "and yet you have come to me!"
　　But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires." So John agreed.
　　As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him. Then a voice said from heaven, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased."[注解]