The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the
Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare
your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight
paths for him.’”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean
countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their
sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with
a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this
was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of
whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:1-8 NIV