The herald of the one to come,

Came preaching inner peace;

“Turn from your sins and be baptised,

And God will give release.”

This Baptist wore a leather belt

And clothes of camel’s hair;

Wild honey, locusts were his food;

He breathed the desert air.

“The one expected”, John declares,

“Is one who is unique;

“Much greater than I am, is he:

“Compared with him I’m weak.

“Not worthy to untie his shoes”;

John takes the lowest place,

And with him we can see in Christ

The wonder of God’s grace.

When John baptised him, Jesus saw

The heavens from above

Were op’ning and then coming down

God’s spirit like a dove.

Now Jesus stands before us all,

We see a man who’s free;

We ponder on his deeds of love

Lived out so wondrously.

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George Stuart. Used by permission

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