Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8

“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”

John the Baptist and a woman standing in the river Jordan with a group of people watching in the foreground. Outtakes include John the Baptist helping a woman into the water, and various scenes from a distance and close up.

Before Jesus Christ began His public ministry, John the Baptist sought to prepare others to accept and follow the Savior. In this lesson you will consider how you have accepted and followed the Savior, how you can better accept and follow Him, and what you can do to prepare others to accept and follow Him.

Preparing for Jesus Christ

Imagine you were going on an important journey and there were obstacles on the path. What would you do? Would you turn around? Would you try to go over or around them? Would you try to remove the obstacles for those who come after you? Imagine that you discover that someone who came before you already removed many of the most difficult obstacles.

How would you feel about those who prepared the way for you?

Today you will study about John the Baptist, whose mission was to prepare people to accept and follow the Savior (see Luke 1:17).

Who has helped prepare the way for you to accept and follow the Savior in your life?
Who is currently preparing the way for the Savior to be in your life more?
What has helped you to accept and follow the Savior?

As you study this lesson, think about any obstacles that still stand in the way of you or others accepting and following Him, and what might help you or them to overcome these obstacles.

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark and the ministry of John the Baptist

Mark began his Gospel with the account of John the Baptist. Unlike Matthew or John, Mark was not an Apostle of Jesus Christ but a later convert. Mark may have written his Gospel under the Apostle Peter’s direction. In his Gospel, Mark wrote to a gentile audience and emphasized what the Savior did more than what He said.

Read Mark 1:1–8, looking for what John the Baptist did that helped prepare others to accept and follow Jesus Christ.

Scripture study tools.

Several study tools and methods can enhance your learning. To enhance your study of scripture accounts, try looking at the same account from different Gospel authors.

Reading about the same event in different Gospel accounts can often be helpful to your learning. Read Matthew 3:7–12, looking for additional details about John the Baptist’s ministry. In the Savior’s day, many covenant Israelites had become extremely prideful and turned away from the teachings of Jehovah. Some believed that being a descendant of Abraham alone was enough to save them (see Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 3:36 [in the Bible appendix] and Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 3:8 [in Luke 3:8, footnote d).

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil.

Accepting the Savior and helping others to accept Him

Complete one of the following activities. Think about how you can more fully accept and follow the Savior yourself and help prepare others to do the same.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

Who was Mark?

Mark (also called John Mark) was not among the original disciples of Jesus Christ, but he later converted and worked closely with many of the Savior’s Apostles. Peter referred to him as “Marcus my son” (1 Peter 5:13), suggesting the closeness of their relationship. Mark likely wrote his short Gospel to the Romans, other gentile nations, and new converts to Christianity. Mark also served with Paul for a time on Paul’s first missionary journey (see Acts 12:25).

What are some distinctive features of the Gospel of Mark?

Mark’s Gospel begins suddenly and dramatically and maintains a fast pace, recounting events in quick succession. Mark frequently used the words straightway and immediately, giving the effect of rapid pace and action. Among the important themes in Mark are the questions of who Jesus was and who understood His identity, as well as the disciple’s role as one who must “take up his cross, and follow [Jesus]” (Mark 8:34). In addition, Mark is the only Gospel that relates the parable of the seed growing by itself (see Mark 4:26–27), the healing of a deaf person in the Decapolis region (see Mark 7:31–37), and the gradual healing of a blind man at Bethsaida (see Mark 8:22–26).

Mark 1:8. What is baptism with the Holy Ghost?

John the Baptist declared that he would baptize with water but that Jesus would “baptize … with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:8). This baptism of the Holy Ghost and with fire refers to the result of being confirmed after baptism, then receiving the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost then cleanses and purifies us, similar to the cleansing and purifying effect of fire.

Matthew 3:7. Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees?

The Pharisees were members of a Jewish religious party who prided themselves on strict observance of Mosaic law. They tended to reduce religion to the observance of many ceremonial behaviors. The Sadducees were a wealthy Jewish class with significant religious and political influence. They did not believe in the doctrine of resurrection. Both groups had strayed from the original intent of God’s laws, and many of their members refused to accept the message of God’s prophet John the Baptist.

(Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2019, 19)

Matthew 3:12. What do the fan, floor, wheat, and chaff mean and symbolize?

The “fan” referred to in Matthew 3:12 is a winnowing fan that was used to toss wheat into the air. … Wheat kernels would fall back to the ground while the wind blew the lighter chaff away. The wheat was then gathered into a garner, or storehouse, and the chaff was burned with fire. John the Baptist taught that the Savior, who would come after him, would separate believers from nonbelievers in the same way that wheat was separated from chaff.

(New Testament Student Manual [2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)