Mar 1:4 | TNotes | STEP | 1:4 John ’s mission as the Lord’s messenger was to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming (see Luke 1:76-77 ) by instructing them to confess their sins , turn to God for forgiveness, and be baptized . Those who did this were prepared to receive Jesus’ message (see Luke 7:29-30 ). • That John was in the wilderness , probably the desert area around the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea, shows that he was the “voice” of whom Isaiah had spoken (Mark 1:3 ). • be baptized: The exact origin of John’s baptism is unclear. The Qumran community had an initiatory “baptism” which was repeated regularly, but John’s baptism was once for all. Jewish proselyte baptism has also been seen as a possible source, but it is more likely that such baptisms were not practiced until after John’s ministry.

bLuke 1:76-77►

cLuke 7:29-30►

dMark 1:3►

‏ Mark 1:4

1:4 ^a John’s mission as the Lord’s messenger was to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming (see Luke 1:76-77 ^b) by instructing them to confess their sins, turn to God for forgiveness, and be baptized. Those who did this were prepared to receive Jesus’ message (see Luke 7:29-30 ^c).

• That John was in the wilderness, probably the desert area around the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea, shows that he was the “voice” of whom Isaiah had spoken (Mark 1:3 ^d).

• be baptized: The exact origin of John’s baptism is unclear. The Qumran community had an initiatory “baptism” which was repeated regularly, but John’s baptism was once for all. Jewish proselyte baptism has also been seen as a possible source, but it is more likely that such baptisms were not practiced until after John’s ministry.