Reading for December 11th

Read Mark 1.1-8 (Mt 3.1-12; Lk 3.1-18; Jn 1.6-8, 19-28) John the Baptist.
In verse 1 Good news (Gk., "Euangellion") is the literal meaning of "gospel";
Mark is the only canonical Gospel to have this self-designation.
Son of God appears rarely; Son of Man is Jesus' self-designation.
In verse 2a see Mal 3.1.
In verse 3 Isa 40.3 advised the Babylonian exiles to build a road to Jerusalem;
Mark adapts the statement to locate John in the wilderness.
In verse 4 the wilderness is a traditional place of renewal.
See sidebars on "Gospels" (p. 7) and "John the Baptist" (p. 50).
Comments or Questions...