Mark 1:1–8

THE MESSIAH’S HERALD

1 The beginninga of the gospelb of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.A,c 2 As it is written in Isaiahd the prophet:B,e

See, I am sending my messengerf ahead of you;

he will prepare your way.C,D,g

3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:h

Prepare the way for the Lord;i

make his paths straight!E,j

4 John came baptizingF,k in the wildernessl and proclaiming a baptism of repentancem for the forgivenessn of sins.o 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalemp were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordanq River, confessingr their sins.s 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locustst and wild honey.u

7 He proclaimed, “One who is more powerfulv than I am is coming after me.w I am not worthyx to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.y 8 I baptize you withG water,z but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”aa