The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-15

Kingdom of the Heavens is now close
at hand"
He it is who was spoken o. through
| the Prophet Isaiah when he said.s
In the Desert prepare We road
for the Lord: Make His high
way straight - elsa. xl. 81.
This man John wore a garment of
| leather; and he lived upon locusts and
wild honey.
Then large numbers of people went
out to him-people from Jerusalem
and from all Judaea, and from the
| whole OF the Jordan va1ley-and were
baptized by him in the Jordan, making
full confession of their sins.
But when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees coming for
baptism, he exclaimed,
He predicts Christ's Appearing
and Work
30 vipers' brood, who has warned
you to flee from the coming wrath
Therefore let your lives prove your
change of heart; and do not imagine
that you can say to yourselves, We
have Abraham as our forefather,' for
I tell you that God can raise up
descendants for Abraham from these
stones. And already the axe is lying
at the root of the trees, SO that every
tree which does not produce good fruit
will quickly be hewn down and thrown
INTO the IRE 1 lnQeSu am
you in water on a profession of
repentance; but He who is coming
after me is mightier than I: His
sandals am not worthy to carry for
a moment; He will baptize you in the
Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnow-
ing-shovel is in His hand, and He will
make a thorough clearance of His
threshing-floor, gathering His wheat
into the storehouse, but burning up
the chaff in unqueI-chable fire"
ChFist's double Baptism
Just at that time Jesus, coming
from Galilee to the Jordan, presents
Himself to John to be baptized by him.
John protested.
TT is l." he said, who have need
to be baptized by you. and do you
LET it be so on this OCCASION
Jesus replied; 'for so we ought to
fulfil every religious duty"
Then he consented; and Jesus was
baptized. and Immediately went up
from the water. At that moment the
heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him, while a voice
came from Heaven. saying,
This is My Son, the dearly loved,
in whom is Ny delight
Christ is tempted in the Desert
At that time Jesus was led up by
the Spirit into the Desert in order to
be tempted by the Devil. There He
tasted for forty days and nights; and
after that He suffered from hunger.
So the Tenpter came and said,
1T you are the Son of God,
command these stones to turn into
loaves."
ut is written" replied Jesus. ut
shall live. but on whatsoever God
shall appoint (Deut viii. 81.
Then the Devil took Him to the
Holy City and caused Him TO stand
on the roof of the Temple. and said,
IF YOU are Gods Son, throw
To His angels He will give orders
concerning thee,
And on their hands they shall bear
thee up,
Lest at any moment thou shouldst
strike thy foot against a stone g."
yPs. xci. II, 12).
again it is written" replied Jesus.
Thou shalt not put the Lord thy
God to the proof " (Deut vi. 16).
! Then the Devil took Him to the top
which he caused Him to see all the
Kingdoms of the world and their
splendour, and said to Him.
"Ah this will give you. if you will
kneel down and do me homage"
"Begone, Satanl'1Jesus replied; "for
II IS written, To the Lord thy God
thou shalt do homage, and to Him
falone shalt thou ireeder worship
(Deut. vi. 49,.
Thereupon the Devil left Him, and
angels at once came and ministered
/ to Him.
Christ goes into GaIiIee
Now when Jesus heard that John
was thrown into prison. He withdrew
into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth He
went and settled at Capernaum, g
| town by the Lake on the frontiers OF
Zebulun and Naphta1i, in order thai
these words. spoken through tho
Prophet Isaiah. might be fulfilled,
Zebulun's land and Naphtali's land
The road by the Lake; the country
beyond the Jordan;
Galilee of the Nationsi