Mark 1:4

4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 1:4 Or proclaimingpreaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4 1:4 Considered the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist was the son of Zecharias (Zechariah) the priest and his wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were related (Luke 1:36), and Mary may have been with Elizabeth at the time John was born (Luke 1:56). John the Baptist is not to be confused with John the Apostle who, along with his brother James, was among the twelve disciples of Jesus.John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [that is, requiring a change of one’s old way of thinking, turning away from sin and seeking God and His righteousness].

4And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.