Mark 1:1–11

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1:2–8pp—Mt 3:1–11; Lk 3:2–16

1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,^a the Son of God,^{ba 2}as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”^cb—

³“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”^dc

⁴And so John the Baptist^d appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^e for the forgiveness of sins.^{f 5}The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^g and he ate locusts^h and wild honey. ⁷And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{i 8}I baptize you with^e water, but he will baptize you with^f the Holy Spirit.”^j

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

1:9–11pp—Mt 3:13–17; Lk 3:21,22 1:12,13pp—Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13

⁹At that time Jesus came from Nazareth^k in Galilee and was baptized by John^l in the Jordan. ¹⁰Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.^{m 11}And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,ⁿ whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^o