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John Prepares for Jesus(A)

This is the beginning of the ·Good News [Gospel] ·about [of] Jesus Christ, the Son of God,[a] as the prophet Isaiah wrote:

[Look; T Behold,] I ·will send [am sending] my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way [Mal. 3:1].”
“This is a voice of one
    who ·calls out [shouts; cries out] in the ·desert [wilderness]:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make ·the road straight [a clear path] for him [Is. 40:3].’”

John [C the Baptist] was baptizing people in the ·desert [wilderness] and preaching a baptism of ·changed hearts and lives [turning from sin; repentance] for the ·forgiveness [remission] of sins. All the people from Judea and Jerusalem were going out to him. They confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist [C reminiscent of the prophet Elijah; 2 Kin. 1:8], and ate locusts and wild honey [C signifies living off the land]. This is what John preached to the people: “There is one coming after me who is ·greater [mightier; more powerful] than I; I am not ·good enough [fit; qualified] even to kneel down and untie [L the thong/strap of] his sandals [C a task of a servant or slave]. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:1 the Son of God Some Greek copies do not have this phrase.

Preaching of John the Baptist

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (A)the Son of God,

(B)just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

(C)Behold, I am sending My messenger [a]before You,
Who will prepare Your way;
(D)The voice of one calling [b]out in the wilderness,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, [c](E)preaching a baptism of repentance for the (F)forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore (G)a leather belt around his waist, and [d]his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was [e]preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. I baptized you [f]with water; but He will baptize you [g]with the Holy Spirit.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 Lit before your face
  2. Mark 1:3 Or out, Prepare in the wilderness the way
  3. Mark 1:4 Or proclaiming
  4. Mark 1:6 Lit was eating
  5. Mark 1:7 Or proclaiming
  6. Mark 1:8 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  7. Mark 1:8 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by