Day 55 – Baptism and Temptation

₁₃At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. ₁₄But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”

₁₅But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.

₁₆As 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 alighting on him. ₁₇Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”

₁Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. ₂After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. ₃Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread.”

₄But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’ ”

₅Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, ₆and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says:

₇Jesus answered, “But the scripture also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

₈Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. ₉“All this I will give you,” the Devil said, “if you kneel down and worship me.”

₁₀Then Jesus answered, “Go away, Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’ ”

₁₁Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him.

₁₂When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee. ₁₃He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. ₁₄This was done to make what the prophet Isaiah had said come true:

₁₇From that time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”