Mark 1:1–11

Preaching of John the Baptist

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

^2aAs it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“^bBehold, I send My messenger ¹ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way;

^3aThe voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight.’ ”

⁴John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness ^1apreaching a baptism of repentance for the ^bforgiveness of sins.

⁵And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

⁶John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore ^aa leather belt around his waist, and ¹his diet was locusts and wild honey.

⁷And he was ¹preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

⁸“I baptized you ¹with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

^9aIn those days Jesus ^bcame from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

¹⁰Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ¹opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

¹¹and a voice came out of the heavens: “^aYou are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”