[1:1] This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[1:2] It began as the prophet Isaiah had written: “God said, ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’
[1:3] Someone is shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!’”
[1:4] So John appeared in the desert, baptizing and preaching. “Turn away from your sins and be baptized,” he told the people, “and God will forgive your sins.”
[1:5] Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
[1:6] John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
[1:7] He announced to the people, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals.
[1:8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”