Mark 1:1–11

The Forerunner of the Servant

Matt. 3:1–11; Luke 3:3–16; John 1:19–34

1The ^abeginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, ^bthe Son of God. ²As it is written in ¹the Prophets:

^c“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.”

³“The ^dvoice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

^4eJohn came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance ²for the remission of sins. ^5fThen all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

⁶Now John was ^gclothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, ^h“There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. ⁸ⁱI indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you ^jwith the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of the Servant

Matt. 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–23

^9kIt came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ^10lAnd immediately, coming up ³from the water, He saw the heavens ⁴parting and the Spirit ^mdescending upon Him like a dove. ¹¹Then a voice came from heaven, ⁿ“You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”