The Beginning of The Gospel

Mark 1:1-8

Key verse 1:1

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

Verses 1-3

1. What is the book of Mark about? (1)
2. What do the titles given to Jesus here say about him?
3. How did the gospel of Jesus begin? (2a)
4. Why did God use prophecy and the fulfillment of prophecy?
5. Why was John the Baptist sent by God? (2b-3)

Verses 4-5

1. How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus? (4)
2. What can we learn from him here?
3. How did people respond to what he was doing? (5)
4. What can we learn about them, and about repentance?

Verses 6-8

1. What was John’s lifestyle like? (6)
2. What did he say about Jesus and about himself? (7)
3. Why did he preach in this way?
4. How was his baptism different from Jesus’ baptism? (8)
5. Why is this significant?

Mark 1:1-8

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”