3 He went all over the area around the Jordan River and preached to the people. He preached a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of their sins.
4 As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:“This is a voice of a manwho calls out in the desert:‘Prepare the way for the Lord.Make the road straight for him.
5 Every valley should be filled in.Every mountain and hill should be made flat.Roads with turns should be made straight,and rough roads should be made smooth.
6 And all people will know about the salvation of God!’” Isaiah 40:3-5
7 Crowds of people came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s anger that is coming?
8 You must do the things that will show that you really have changed your hearts. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks here.
9 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”