Question 1

Who is John the Baptist in this passage and what was his role?

Accepted Answer

John the Baptist is introduced as the messenger God promised long before, the “voice of one crying in the wilderness.” His role is to prepare the way for Jesus. He does this by preaching in the wilderness, calling people to repent of their sins, and baptizing them in the Jordan River as a sign of turning back to God. John makes it clear that he is not the Savior. Instead, he points ahead to someone far greater than himself, Jesus, who will bring the Holy Spirit to his people.

Question 2

What does "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" mean?

Accepted Answer

This line marks the start of the good news about Jesus. “Gospel” means good news, and here it is centered on Jesus as the promised Savior and the Son of God. The focus is not on his birth story but on the start of his public work, beginning with the ministry of John. By calling Jesus the Son of God, the passage shows that he is more than a teacher or prophet. He is the one through whom God brings forgiveness, the kingdom of God, and new life.

Question 3

Why does Mark quote "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" and "prepare ye the way of the Lord"?

Accepted Answer

These words show that John’s work was not a random new movement but the fulfillment of God’s long-standing promise. God had said a messenger would come before the Lord, calling people to prepare the way. “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” means clearing away what blocks God’s rule in our lives, especially sin and hardness of heart. By preaching in the wilderness, John pictures how dry and lost people are without God, and calls them to be ready for the Lord’s coming in Jesus.

Question 4

What is the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins"?

Accepted Answer

John’s baptism was a washing in water that went together with a message: turn from your sins and come back to God. People who were baptized by John were openly admitting they were sinners and needed forgiveness. The baptism itself did not earn forgiveness, but it showed a heart that was turning from sin and looking for mercy. It prepared people to receive the full forgiveness that would come through faith in Jesus, whom John was announcing as the one to follow.

Question 5

Why were people confessing their sins when they were baptized in the Jordan?

Accepted Answer

As people came to John in the wilderness, they did not pretend to be fine. They confessed their sins, speaking honestly about their wrongs before God. This matched John’s message of repentance. Confession showed they agreed with God’s verdict about their lives and were not hiding. It was part of preparing the way for the Lord in their hearts. Their going down into the river and being baptized was an outward sign of this inner turning and their desire for God’s cleansing and forgiveness.

Question 6

What is the meaning of John’s simple clothing and diet in the wilderness?

Accepted Answer

John wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt and ate locusts and wild honey. This simple, rough way of life showed that he was a prophet who did not live for comfort or wealth. His manner of living pictured repentance and turning away from excess and pride. It also showed that his message was not about earthly status but about calling people back to God. His lifestyle supported his words, pointing away from himself and toward the Lord who was coming after him.

Question 7

Why does John say he is not worthy to unloose the latchet of Jesus’ shoes?

Accepted Answer

In that culture, untying someone’s sandals was a low task for the humblest servant. John says he is not worthy even to do that for Jesus. This shows how highly he views Jesus. Even though many people respected John, he sees himself as very small compared to the one coming after him. His words teach us that Jesus is far above every human messenger. They also model true humility, where even a faithful servant does not try to share the Lord’s glory but gladly gives all honor to him.

Question 8

What is the difference between John baptizing with water and Jesus baptizing with the Holy Ghost?

Accepted Answer

John’s baptism used water on the outside of a person, as a sign of repentance and desire for cleansing. He says that the one coming after him, Jesus, will baptize with the Holy Spirit. That means Jesus will do an inner work that water cannot do. He gives the Spirit of God to change hearts, bring new life, and guide his people. John’s ministry prepares people to see their need, but Jesus brings the power to truly renew them from within through the Holy Spirit.

Question 9

How does this passage show the link between the old promises and Jesus’ coming?

Accepted Answer

The passage ties the old promises to Jesus by showing that what the prophets said is now happening. God had promised to send a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord and had spoken of a voice crying in the wilderness. John appears exactly in this role, preaching in the desert and calling people to prepare for someone greater. By starting the story this way, the passage shows that Jesus’ arrival is not a break from God’s earlier work but the long-awaited fulfillment of his plan to save.

Question 10

How can a believer today respond to John’s message to prepare the way of the Lord?

Accepted Answer

A believer today responds to John’s message by taking sin seriously and turning from it, just as people did when they confessed their sins and were baptized. Preparing the way of the Lord in your life means letting God straighten what is crooked in your thoughts, desires, and actions. It also means looking to Jesus, not yourself, for forgiveness and change. As John pointed everyone to the one mightier than he, we are called to trust Jesus, welcome his rule, and depend on the Holy Spirit he gives.

Mark 1:1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

The Mission of John the Baptist

Preaching of John the Baptist

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Mark 1:1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

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The Mission of John the Baptist

Preaching of John the Baptist

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