Mark 1:1–11

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, ^athe Son of God.¹

^2bAs it is written in Isaiah the prophet,²

^c“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

^3dthe voice of one crying in the wilderness:

^e‘Prepare³ the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’ ”

^4fJohn appeared, baptizing in ^gthe wilderness and proclaiming ^ha baptism of ⁱrepentance ^jfor the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^kconfessing their sins. ⁶Now John was ^lclothed with camel’s hair and ^lwore a leather belt around his waist and ate ^mlocusts and ⁿwild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, ^o“After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ^8pI have baptized you with water, but ^qhe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

^9rIn those days Jesus ^scame from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And when he came up out of the water, immediately he ^tsaw ^uthe heavens being torn open ^vand the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And ^wa voice came from heaven, ^x“You are my beloved Son;⁴ with you I am well pleased.”