The Gospel of MarkSample

Mark opens with the Old Testament prophecy connected to the ministry of John the Baptist. Mark was connecting the dots that the person of Jesus was the long anticipated Messiah everyone had been waiting for.

John the Baptist carried the significant role of God’s messenger. It was through John’s message of repentance that he prepared the way of the Lord. Very practically, how John did this was through water baptism. Full immersion baptism, more than just a mere sprinkling, was a unifying act and declaration of need for God.

Enduring Word Commentary states “John’s main message wasn’t ’You’re a sinner, you need to repent.’ John’s main message was ‘The Messiah is coming!’ The call to repentance was the response to the news that the Messiah was coming.”