Mark 1:1-13

Easy-to-Read Version

John Prepares the Way for Jesus^(A)

1 The Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,^[a] begins ² with what the prophet Isaiah said would happen. He wrote:

⁴ So John the Baptizer came and was baptizing people in the desert area. He told them to be baptized to show that they wanted to change their lives, and then their sins would be forgiven. ⁵ All the people from Judea, including everyone from Jerusalem, came out to John. They confessed the bad things they had done, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

⁶ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ This is what John told the people: “There is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who stoops down to untie his sandals. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Baptized by John^(D)

⁹ About that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place where John was. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the sky torn open. The Spirit came down on him like a dove. ¹¹ A voice came from heaven and said, “You are my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with you.”

Jesus Goes Away to Be Tempted^(E)

¹² Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. ¹³ He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Then angels came and helped him.