When the messengersof Johnhad left,He beganto speakto the crowdsaboutJohn,"Whatdid you goout into the wildernessto see?A reedshakenby the wind?
"Uncontrolledas water,you shall not havepreeminence,Becauseyou wentup to your father'sbed;Thenyou defiled[it]-- he wentup to my couch.
And the childcontinued to growand to become strongin spirit,and he livedin the desertsuntilthe dayof his public appearanceto Israel.
in the high priesthoodof Annasand Caiaphas,the wordof Godcameto John,the sonof Zacharias,in the wilderness.
"Blessedis he whodoes not takeoffense at Me."
"But whatdid you goout to see?A mandressedin softclothing?Thosewho are splendidlyclothedand livein luxuryare [found] in royal palaces!
He said,"I am A VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,'MAKE STRAIGHTTHE WAYOF THE LORD,'as Isaiahthe prophetsaid."
As a result,we are no longerto be children,tossed here and there by wavesand carried aboutby everywindof doctrine,by the trickeryof men,by craftinessin deceitfulscheming;
Theseare springswithout waterand mistsdrivenby a storm,for whomthe blackdarknesshas been reserved.
You therefore,beloved,knowing this beforehand,be on your guardsothat you are not carried awayby the errorof unprincipled menand fallfrom your ownsteadfastness,
