Mark 1:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’"

NIV: "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ "

NASB: THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE Lord, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’?'

CSB: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

NLT: He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ '

KJV: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

NKJV: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

Mark 1:2 describes this short section as a quote from Isaiah the prophet. Although the first half was actually from Malachi, Mark 1:3 is cited directly from Isaiah 40:3. This particular statement, from Mark, is the best-known portion of his quotation and is the main argument tying John the Baptist to the messenger prophesied in the Old Testament. This is why Mark refers to this as a comment from Isaiah.

The root word translated "cry," boao, can mean a shout of joy or pain, a call for help, or just the words of a strong voice, all of which may apply here. Unlike Jesus, John voluntarily taught in the wilderness around the Jordan River, away from the established synagogues and the overly strict Jewish leaders.

The passage from Isaiah quoted here is a promise of comfort for God's people. Isaiah 40:2 says "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." It's a promise that Israel's relationship with God will be restored and their sins forgiven. Isaiah 40:3–4 goes on to say the "voice" in the wilderness will "make straight in the desert a highway for our God." This same prophetic passages promises that valleys and hills will be evened out so that God and His people can more easily be together.

John literally embodies Isaiah 40:1–4 in that he is the voice (a prophet), crying out (preaching), in the wilderness (the countryside of Judea), laying the groundwork for Jesus' coming ministry. This is the same wilderness where Jesus would be tempted for forty days in preparation for His own public ministry (Mark 1:12–13). John's message to the people to turn away from their sins is the spiritual truth behind the geographic metaphor. His call to repentance spiritually prepared the Jews for the coming Messiah. In the same way, by rejecting our sins and seeking God's forgiveness, we smooth the way for our hearts to receive God and the forgiveness we so desperately need.

Mark 1:1–13 rapidly introduces the ministry of Jesus, as introduced by John the Baptist. While other Gospels include many details, the Gospel of Mark briefly sets the stage for Jesus' baptism by John. In a few short verses, we are told that John preached a message of repentance, that Jesus came to be baptized, and that Jesus spent forty days being tempted in the wilderness. The narrative quickly moves on to describe Jesus' miraculous healings.

John the Baptist is introduced as a figure preparing the world for the arrival of the Messiah. John's baptism teaches people about their need for repentance. When Jesus arrives, and is baptized, it signals the coming of God's fulfillment and the need of people to recognize their Savior. Mark briefly notes Jesus' baptism, desert temptation, and the calling of the first four disciples. After this, Jesus begins teaching in the synagogue and performs miraculous healings which spread His fame around the region.

The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark sets the tone for the rest of the story. Mark's writing is concise, action-packed, and short on details. Within a few verses, Mark establishes the transition from the wilderness ministry of John the Baptist to the healing and preaching of Jesus Christ. This first chapter includes the calling of Jesus' earliest disciples, His early miracles, and His early teaching. This establishes the pattern shown throughout the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus mingles His teaching with miraculous signs.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.