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It is written in the prophet Isaiah:[a]

“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
    he will prepare your way.
The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”

Hence, John the Baptist appeared in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from the entire Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him, and as they confessed their sins they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John was clothed in a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food consisted of locusts and wild honey. And this was the message he proclaimed: “One who is far more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy even to stoop down and loosen the straps of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 The prophet Isaiah: the quotation that follows is a combination of Malachi (3:1) and Isaiah (40:3). See note on Mt 27:9.
  2. Mark 1:8 Baptize you with the Holy Spirit: see note on Mt 3:11.