Chronological gospels, Harmony of the gospels part 3

Today's passages are from all four gospels and talk about John the Baptist.

(Luke 3:1-3 NIV) In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene-- {2} during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. {3} He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

(Matthew 3:1-2 NIV) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea {2} and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

(Mark 1:2-3 NIV) It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- {3} "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

(Luke 3:5-6 NIV) Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. {6} And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

(Mark 1:4-6 NIV) And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. {5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. {6} John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

(Matthew 3:7-10 NIV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. {9} And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {10} The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

(John 1:15-31 NIV) John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" {16} From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. {17} For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. {18} No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. {19} Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. {20} He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." {21} They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." {22} Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" {23} John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" {24} Now some Pharisees who had been sent {25} questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" {26} "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. {27} He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." {28} This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. {29} The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! {30} This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' {31} I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

(Matthew 3:13-17 NIV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. {14} But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" {15} Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. {16} As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. {17} And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

(John 1:32-34 NIV) Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. {33} I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' {34} I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

(Luke 3:23-38 NIV) Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, {24} the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, {25} the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, {26} the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, {27} the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, {28} the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, {29} the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, {30} the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, {31} the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, {32} the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, {33} the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, {34} the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, {35} the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, {36} the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, {37} the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, {38} the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Note: Luke is giving Jesus' genealogy through his mother Mary. Mary and Joseph were descended from different sons of David--Nathan and Solomon.

(Matthew 1:1-17 NIV) A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: {2} Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, {3} Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, {4} Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, {5} Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, {6} and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, {7} Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, {8} Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, {9} Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, {10} Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, {11} and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. {12} After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, {13} Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, {14} Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, {15} Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, {16} and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. {17} Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

Notes: Not ever ancestor is listed. Matthew lists fourteen in each of three groups. One genealogy is for Mary. The other is for Joseph.