24-01
John the Prophet [24-01]
John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, grew up and became a prophet. He lived in the wilderness, ate wild honey and locusts, and wore clothes made from camel hair.
约翰长大后，成了一个先知。他住在旷野，吃野蜜和昆虫，穿骆驼毛的衣服。
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- wilderness - That is, "the desert" or, "a remote, desert-like place." There were few people living out in this area.
- wild honey - This honey was the natural product of bees in the wilderness; it was not cultivated by people. If that is what people would understand by the word "honey," you may not need to call it "wild."
- locusts - These were large, hopping insects with wings, like very large grasshoppers. Some people who live in the desert eat them.
- camel hair - A camel is an animal that has very rough hair. People could make clothing out of it. This could be translated as "rough animal hair."
- clothes made from camel hair - That is, "coarse clothes made of camel hair." These clothes would not quickly wear out in the wilderness as other clothes would.
24-02
A Call to Repent [24-02]
Many people came out to the wilderness to listen to John. He preached to them, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near!”
许多人来听约翰讲道。他教训他们，说，“悔改吧，神的天国已经近了！”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- wilderness - See how you translated this word in [[:zh:obs:notes:frames:24-01|[24-01]]].
- Repent - It might be better to say, "Repent from your sins."
- the kingdom of God is near - That is, "the kingdom of God is ready to appear" or, "the kingdom of God will arrive soon." This refers to God's ruling over people. This can also be translated as, "God's reign is about to begin" or, "God will soon rule over us as king."
24-03
A Baptism of Repentance [24-03]
When people heard John's message, many of them repented from their sins, and John baptized them. Many religious leaders also came to be baptized by John, but they did not repent or confess their sins.
有一些人悔改，当他们听了约翰的道后就受洗了，但是仍有很多宗教领袖来受洗时既不悔改，也不承认自己的罪。
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- repented from their sins - This could also be translated as, "repented concerning their sins" or, "changed their minds about their sins" or, "turned away from their sins."
- did not repent - That is, "did not turn away from their sins."
- confess their sins - To confess is to acknowledge that something is true. These leaders did not want to acknowledge that they had sinned. This may be translated as, "confess that they had sinned."
24-04
Preparing the Way [24-04]
John said to the religious leaders, “You poisonous snakes! Repent and change your behavior. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” John fulfilled what the prophets said, “See, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.”
约翰对这些宗教领袖们说，“你们这毒蛇的种类！当悔改，改变你们的行为。不结好果子的树都要被砍下来，丢进火里。”这正应了先知以赛亚所说的，“看啊，在你之前，我预备了信使，好预备你的路。”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- You poisonous snakes - This could be translated as, "You are like lying poisonous snakes!" John was calling them poisonous snakes because they were dangerous and deceptive.
- Every tree that does not bear good fruit - John is not really talking about trees. This is an expression that compares good fruit to good actions and attitudes that come from God.
- will be cut down and thrown into the fire - This means, "will be judged and punished by God."
- John fulfilled - That is, "John was doing" what the prophet said God's messenger would do.
- See - This could be translated as "Look and see" or, "Pay attention!"
- my messenger - That is, "I, Yahweh, will send my messenger." In some languages it would be more natural to use an indirect quote for this sentence, such as: "what the prophet Isaiah predicted when he said that God would send his messenger."
- ahead of you - In this phrase, the word "you" refers to the Messiah.
- prepare your way - God's messenger will prepare the people to listen to the Messiah.
24-05
Not the Messiah [24-05]
Some Jews asked John if he was the Messiah. John replied, “I am not the Messiah, but there is someone coming after me. He is so great that I am not even worthy to untie his sandals.”
有些犹太人问约翰他是否是弥赛亚。约翰说，“我不是弥赛亚，但那在我之后将来的，比我更大。我连给他系鞋带也不配。”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- He is so great - This could be translated as, "He is so important."
- not even worthy to untie his sandals - In other words, "compared to him, I am not important enough to do even the most menial task for him." Untying sandals was a very low job, something a slave would do.
24-06
Jesus Is the Lamb of God [24-06]
The next day, Jesus came to be baptized by John. When John saw him, he said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world.”
第二天，耶稣来要约翰为他施洗。约翰看到他后说，“看啊！神的羔羊，带走这世界罪的。！”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- There is - For some languages this would be, "Here is" or, "That man is."
- Lamb of God - This could also be translated as, "the Lamb from God" or, "the sacrifice Lamb that God has provided." Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin that God promised to provide. He fulfills the image that was presented by the sacrifice of lambs in the Old Testament.
- will take away - The sacrifice of Jesus causes God to look at our sin as if it never existed.
- sin of the world - That is, "the sin of the people in the world."
24-07
John Baptized Jesus [24-07]
John said to Jesus, “I am not worthy to baptize you. You should baptize me instead.” But Jesus said, “You should baptize me, because it is the right thing to do.” So John baptized him, even though Jesus had never sinned.
约翰对耶稣说，“我不配为你施洗。你应该为我施洗。”耶稣说，“你当为我施洗，因为这样做是对的。”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- I am not worthy to baptize you - This could be translated as, "I am not good enough to baptize you" or, "I am sinful, so I should not baptize you."
- it is the right thing to do - This might also be translated as, "it is the proper thing to do" or, "this is what God wants me to do."
24-08
You Are My Beloved Son [24-08]
When Jesus came up out of the water after being baptized, the Spirit of God appeared in the form of a dove and came down and rested on him. At the same time, God's voice spoke from heaven, saying, “You are my Son whom I love, and I am very pleased with you.”
当耶稣送水里出来的时候，神的灵像鸽子般落在他身上。与此同时，天上有声音说，“你是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。”
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- my Son whom I love - Make sure the translation of this does not sound like there was another son. It may be necessary to say, "You are my Son. I love you very much and am very pleased with you."
24-09
Jesus Is the Son of God [24-09]
God had told John, “The Holy Spirit will come down and rest on someone you baptize. That person is the Son of God.” There is only one God. But when John baptized Jesus, he heard God the Father speak, he saw God the Son, who is Jesus, and he saw God the Holy Spirit.
神曾告诉约翰，“圣灵将降在你所施洗的某个人身上，他就是神的儿子。”神只有一位，但神是三个位份，父，儿子耶稣，和圣灵。
Important Terms:
Translation Notes:
- God had told John - That is, "Before this, God had told John" or, "Before Jesus came to be baptized, God had told John."
- A Bible story from - These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.