John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Parallel translations
- WEB John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
- KJV John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
- NKJV John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
- NASB John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- NLT This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John appears preaching a baptism of repentance, calling people to turn from sin to receive forgiveness. He prepares hearts for the Messiah.
Overview
John's baptism was a public, outward sign of inward repentance, marking a decisive break from sin. It pointed forward to the forgiveness that Jesus would secure through His death. By locating this in the wilderness, Mark evokes Israel's exodus and renewal, signaling a fresh act of God to redeem His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 19:3–4“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
- Matt 3:6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- John 3:23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
- Acts 13:24–25Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
- Luke 3:2–3during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
- Matt 3:1–2In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
- Luke 1:77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
- Acts 22:16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
- Acts 10:37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:
- Matt 3:11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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