Mark 1:1–11

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:1–18

¹This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

²The prophet Isaiah wrote, 

“I am sending my messenger ahead of you 

to prepare the way for you.” 

³“A voice cries out in the desert: 

‘Prepare the way for the Lord! 

Make his paths straight!’ ” 

⁴John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance^afor the forgiveness of sins. ⁵All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 

⁶John was dressed in clothes made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 

⁷He announced, “The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. ⁸I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

John Baptizes Jesus—Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–22

⁹At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. ¹⁰As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove. ¹¹A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”