Mark 1:1-8

International Standard Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus^(A)

1 This is^[a] the beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah,^[b] the Son of God.^{[c] 2} As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

⁴ John was baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism about repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ People from^[g] the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, being baptized by him while they confessed their sins. ⁶ Now John was dressed in camel’s hair with^[h] a leather belt around his waist. He ate grasshoppers^[i] and wild honey. ⁷ He kept proclaiming, “The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. ⁸ I baptized you with^[j] water, but it is he who will baptize you with^[k] the Holy Spirit.”