*Mark 1:1-13
The Gospel of Mark opens by identifying Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and recounts John the Baptist’s ministry and baptism of Jesus.
- Introduction of Mark’s Gospel:
- The passage introduces the Gospel of Mark, presenting it as the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- The Ministry of John the Baptist:
- Mark describes the ministry of John the Baptist, who appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- People from all over Judea and Jerusalem went out to him, confessing their sins and being baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- John’s Prediction of Jesus:
- John the Baptist declares that one more powerful than himself is coming, whose sandals he is not worthy to untie.
- He predicts that this coming one will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
- The Baptism of Jesus:
- Jesus comes from Nazareth of Galilee to be baptized by John in the Jordan River.
- As Jesus emerges from the water, He sees the heavens torn open, and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
- A voice from heaven proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.”
- Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness:
- Immediately after His baptism, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness, where He is tempted by Satan for forty days.
- He is with the wild animals, and angels attend to Him.
1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
1:12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.