In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Matthew 3:1-3)
Again and again this gospel states how the Jesus Story fulfills the prophecies recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. For example John’s preaching in the Judean wilderness fulfills the prophecy written in the Bible’s book of Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 3, and the gospel text pointedly says so.
The Bible’s book of Matthew also seems to be saying something more, namely that in Jesus God’s purposes for the Hebrew people are completed. Note these parallels:
- As the Hebrews pass through the waters of the Red Sea, so Jesus passes through the waters of baptism.
- As the Hebrews wander in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years, so Jesus fasts in the Judean wilderness for 40 days.
- As the Hebrews come into their own 12 tribal territories, so Jesus draws followers from all of the same regions while calling out his 12 disciples.
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