To the Editor,

John the Baptist was one of those people related by blood to Jesus. Their parents had much in common. Their mothers were cousins. The same angel, Gabriel, told the parents of their coming sons. Both fathers had an especially hard time believing what Gabriel told them. John’s father, Zacharias, even had the ability to speak taken away until his son was born.

Gabriel told both couples what important things their sons would be doing for God, His kingdom, and the world.

John would be baptizing and telling all who would listen that somebody much better than he was coming soon.

John knew and accepted fully that he was to start a ministry out in the streets, the fields, anywhere he could reach. When Jesus’ time came to be a minister, John knew he had to step back and turn it all over to Jesus.

Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3 all tell of Jesus’ baptism by John. This marked the beginning of His ministry. As Jesus rose up out of the water, the heavens, the sky, opened up and down came the Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, looking like a dove. and landing on Jesus. A voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”

That must have been something to behold!

Mary C. Albertson

Albany, Kentucky