Mark 1:1–11

The Messiah’s Herald

1The beginning ^aof the gospel ^bof Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ^c2As it is written in Isaiah ^dthe prophet: ^ef

Look, I am sending My messenger ^gahead of You,

who will prepare Your way. ^h

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

Prepare the way for the Lord; ^j

make His paths straight! ^kl

⁴John came baptizing ^mnin the wilderness ^oand preaching a baptism of repentance ^pqfor the forgiveness ^rof sins. ^s5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem ^twere flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan ^uRiver as they confessed ^vtheir sins. ^w6John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts ^xand wild honey. ^y7He was preaching: “Someone more powerful ^zthan I will come after me. ^aI am not worthy ^bto stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. ^c8I have baptized you with ^dwater, ^ebut He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ^f

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹In ^gthose days Jesus came from Nazareth ^hin Galilee ⁱand was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens ^jbeing torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice ^kcame from heaven: ^l

You are My beloved ^mSon; ⁿ

I take delight ^oin You! ^p