Mark 1:1-13

International Children’s Bible

John Prepares for Jesus

1 This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God,^{[a] 2} as the prophet Isaiah wrote:

⁴ John was baptizing people in the desert. He preached a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ All the people from Judea and Jerusalem were going out to John. They told about the sins they had done. Then they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ This is what John preached to the people: “There is one coming later who is greater than I. I am not good enough even to kneel down and 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

⁹ At 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 When Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open. The Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove. ¹¹ A voice came from heaven and said: “You are my Son and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”

¹² Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. ¹³ He was in the desert 40 days and was there with the wild animals. While he was in the desert, he was tempted by Satan. Then angels came and took care of Jesus.