Mark had a simple understanding of John the Baptist as the forerunner to the Messiah:
- Mr 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
- Mr 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
- Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
- Mr 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.
- Mr 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;
- Mr 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.
- Mr 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
- Mr 1:9 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
- Mr 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
- Mr 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.