The Wild Man in the River

SCRIPTURE: Shining Light Tells The Good Story 3:1-6 (Luke 3:1-6)
First Nations Version, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament

The People of Iron (Romans) had many new rulers and governors, and the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) had a new chief holy man for the sacred lodge.

It was now the fifteenth year of the rule of Son of the Great River (Tiberius Caesar). Under him was Spear of the Great Waters (Pontius Pilate), the governor ruling over the Land of Promise (Judea). The bad-hearted Chief Looks Brave (Herod) had been chosen by the People of Iron (Romans) to rule over the territory of Circle of Nations (Galilee). His brother Friend of Horses (Philip) ruled over the nearby territory of Guarded Mountains (Iturea) and Place of Stones (Trachonitis), and End of Sorrow (Lysanias) ruled the territory of the Ten Villages from its chief village Many Meadows (Abilene).
2 Walk Humbly (Annas) was still the chief holy man, along with Hollow in the Rock (Caiaphas), who would soon replace him.

It was during this time that Creator’s message came down from above like a burden basket* and rested on Gift of Goodwill (John), the son of Creator Will Remember (Zechariah), while he was praying in the desert wilderness.

3 Gift of Goodwill (John) began to walk the territory around the river Flowing Down (Jordan). His message was for all to return to Creator’s right ways of thinking and come to the river to perform the purification ceremony to be released from their bad hearts and broken ways.
4 The prophet Creator Will Help Us (Isaiah) told about him long ago, “He will be a voice howling in the desert, ‘Clear the pathways! Make a straight path for the coming of the Honored One! 5 The valleys will be filled in. The mountains and hills will be brought down low. The crooked places will be made straight and the rough road smooth. 6 Then all people will clearly see the good road that sets them free.’”

*A burden basket is used among Southwestern tribes in a coming-of-age ceremony, symbolizing the transition from the old generation to the new.

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