Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:7

"And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose." — Mark 1:7 (ASV)

In Mark’s account John’s message is brief, focusing on the coming of the Mighty One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. So great is this Mighty One that John does not consider himself worthy even to untie his sandals for him. He contrasts his baptism with that of the Coming One: his baptism is water baptism, while that of the Coming One is Holy Spirit baptism. Again John emphasizes the superiority of the ministry of the Coming One to his own ministry. John’s prophecy was fulfilled in a dramatic way at Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:5).