Mark 1:1-8

Introductory Picture Discussion
Have you ever hiked a trail or driven on a road you wished were straighter? What happened?
In what ways may a trail or road be prepared for travelers?
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​Mark 1:1-8

神的儿子，耶稣基督福音的起头。正如先知以赛亚书上记着说“看哪，我要差遣我的使者在你的前面预备道路。在旷野有人声喊着说：‘预备主的道，修直他的路。’”

照这话，约翰来了，在旷野施洗，传悔改的洗礼，使罪得赦。犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里，承认他们的罪，在约旦河里受他的洗。约翰穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫，野蜜。他传到说：“有一位在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是弯腰给他解鞋带也是不配的。我是用水给你们施洗，她却要用圣灵给你们施洗。”

My Translation of the Chinese
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the beginning of the Gospel. As the prophet Isaiah said: "Look, I dispatch my messenger before your face to prepare the way. In the wilderness is a voice crying: 'Prepare the Lord's way, straighten his path.'"

When this word appeared, John had come, in the wilderness baptizing and spreading a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.'",All the people of Judah and Jerusalem came out to where John was, confessing their sins, in the Jordan receiving his baptism. John wore camel hair clothing, a leather belt, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He preached saying: "There is one who comes after me, greater than I. I am unworthy to stoop down and untie his shoelaces. I baptize you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Introductory Discussion Questions
What kinds of people send out messengers?
Have you known someone who predicted the future? Were they correct? Why or why not?
Have you ever seen or heard of a street being prepared for someone's coming? Describe what happened. 
What is baptism?
Have you ever felt unworthy to do something? What happened?

Antonym Matching
beginning                                                                crooked
prepare                                                                   stand
straight                                                                     ending
after                                                                          tie
unworthy                                                                 oasis
stoop                                                                       destroy
untie                                                                        before
wilderness                                                              worthy

Synonym Matching
Gospel                                                                      saying
God                                                                           getting 
wilderness                                                                way
crying                                                                        lean over
path                                                                           good news
receiving                                                                  desert
stoop                                                                        Jesus Christ
dispatch                                                                   send

Listening Blank Fill
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the beginning _______ the Gospel. As the prophet Isaiah said: "Look, I ______________ my messenger before your face to prepare the _____________. In the wilderness is a voice crying: 'Prepare ____________ Lord's way, straighten his path.'"

When this word ________________, John had come, in the wilderness baptizing and ______________ a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of _____________.'",All the people of Judah and Jerusalem came ____________ to where John was, confessing their sins, in __________ Jordan receiving his baptism. John wore camel hair ______________, a leather belt, and he ate locusts and __________ honey. He preached saying: "There is one who comes _____________ me, greater than I. I am unworthy to stoop ___________ and untie his shoelaces. I baptize you with ______________; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A 
Was Isaiah's prophecy true? Why?
Why do you think Mark begins his Gospel with an old prophecy?
Have you ever eaten locusts or grasshoppers? Describe the experience. 
B 
Why do you think people came out to hear John?
What do you think was the purpose of baptism?
How did John prepare the way for Jesus' coming? 

Exercise Answers
Antonym matching: beginning-->ending, prepare-->destroy, straight-->crooked, after-->before, unworthy-->worthy, stoop-->stand, untie-->tie, wilderness-->oasis. 
Synonym Matching: Gospel-->good news, God-->Jesus Christ, wilderness-->desert, crying-->saying, path-->way, receiving-->getting, stoop-->lean down, dispatch-->send. 
Listening Blank Fill: of, dispatch, way, the, appeared, spreading, sins, out, the, clothing, wild, after, down, water.