A beginning

Our story starts near Bethlehem, and it starts a long time ago. That little town, resplendent as it was, is only the start. From there we shall travel to many other places, and visit many other people.

But the first steps are into the desert which begins in the countryside nearby. This is where we'll find a man called John.

John is what they call a 'locust eater'. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that he eats insects for breakfast - it might mean that people reckon that his breadbasket isn't full, if you know what I mean. In other words they think he's a bit potty.

You see, John believes that a saviour is coming - a saviour who will save his people from poverty, from corruption, from deceit, from the Romans and from all that; a saviour who will make them rich, comfortable and happy; peaceful and close to God.

"Make the road straight. Make the desert blossom!" John cries out, his garments ironically hanging off him like leaves on a withered tree. His beard is a tangle of rich red and brown threads. "Flatten the hills and fill in the valleys, so that the Lord can get to us more easily. Be ready, his people, be ready!"

Honey is his thing, too. Honey from the bees. You can see why he might dream of blossoming hillsides with rivers running through them.

A paradise to come.

Section 2

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Section 3

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Section 4

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Section 5

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Section 6

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