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Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote,

“I will send my messenger ahead of you.
    He will prepare your way.” (Malachi 3:1)
“A messenger is calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make straight paths for him.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)

And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. Here is what John was preaching. “After me, there is someone coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10 Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. Jesus saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11 A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”

12 At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert. 13 He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn’t harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.

Jesus Preaches the Good News

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”

Jesus Chooses His First Disciples

16 One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. 17 “Come and follow me,” Jesus said. “I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. 20 Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.

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as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[a](A)
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[b](B)

And so John the Baptist(C) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance(D) for the forgiveness of sins.(E) 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. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,(F) and he ate locusts(G) and wild honey. And 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.(H) I baptize you with[c] water, but he will baptize you with[d] the Holy Spirit.”(I)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus(J)(K)

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth(L) in Galilee and was baptized by John(M) in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.(N) 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(O) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(P)

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days,(Q) being tempted[e] by Satan.(R) He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News(S)

14 After John(T) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,(U) proclaiming the good news of God.(V) 15 “The time has come,”(W) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe(X) the good news!”(Y)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.(Z)

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
  2. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  3. Mark 1:8 Or in
  4. Mark 1:8 Or in
  5. Mark 1:13 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.