Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:4

"John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins." — Mark 1:4 (ASV)

Since Mark wants to highlight the saving facts of Jesus and their theological meaning for the Roman church, he does not include a nativity narrative. He immediately begins with the ministry of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah. This is precisely where Peter begins in his proclamation of the gospel in Ac 10:37.

John appeared suddenly, “baptizing in the desert region,” the arid regions west of the Dead Sea. This general area was the abode of the Qumran sect. Though John likely came in contact with these people, it does not appear as if they exerted much influence on him, at least not as regards his baptismal practices or his great emphasis on ethical conduct and eschatological judgment.

John preached baptism as an indication that repentance either had already occurred or accompanied it. The end result is the forgiveness of sins. God’s direct response to true repentance is forgiveness.