Johns baptism was "The baptism of repentance". (Verse 11)
Johns mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. (Verse 11)

Matthew 3:1-12 KJV
(1)  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
(2)  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(3)  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
(4)  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
(5)  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
(6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
(7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
(8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
(9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
(10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(11)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
(12)  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

John 1:29-34 KJV
(29)  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
(30)  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
(31)  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
(32)  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
(33)  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
(34)  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

  • John baptized the people and as he did they confessed their sins during baptism. (Verse 6 and 11)
  • He also told them that Jesus was coming so he helped prepare the way for Jesus to come on the scene.
  • He had no idea who Jesus was but God told him to look for the one on "whom the spirit descends and never lifts" this would be the clue to the person that God was telling him about. The Lord Jesus himself.

Mark 1:1-4 KJV
(1)  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
(2)  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(3)  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
(4)  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

  •  The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Acts 13:24-25 KJV
(24)  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(25)  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

  • Again, the baptism of repentance.

Acts 19:3-4 KJV
(3)  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(4)  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

  • The baptism of repentance was to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord Jesus.
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