John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Parallel translations
- WEB John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
- BSB John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness 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 19:3–4And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
- Matt 3:6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
- John 3:23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
- Acts 13:24–25When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
- Luke 3:2–3Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
- Matt 3:1–2In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
- Luke 1:77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- Acts 22:16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
- Acts 10:37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
- Matt 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, 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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