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Who is the Old Testament prophet being referenced by Mark's community, way later? And in your own words,  what does God trust this person to do for us?  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].

The Old Testament is referencing the prophet Isaiah. God trusts Isaiah to tell the people of Jerusalem that their time for punishment is over and to be expecting the Messiah.

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2.  Listen!   Listen!   How can I help you to hear?

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2.  Listen!   Listen!   How can I help you to hear?

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A. From where (geographically) does John come? What does this geography symbolize? Does this geography tell us something about John's ability to hear God? Explain.
B. What is John's message?
C. What do you think about the people whom John serves? Why do they need John's help? What are they having a hard time with? And why is John a help?

A. John is from the desert. The desert symbolizes a dry and lonely place and solitude. This geography could be telling us that we need to make time to be alone to focus on or discover God's message to us.
B. John's message is that we need to be baptized for the repentance of sins.
C. The people whom John the baptist serves are willing participants in engaging in their faith. They need John's help to prepare them for Jesus Christ. John the baptist is helping the people become baptized in the Christian faith.

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A. Reflecting on John the Baptist and thinking forward,  can you see some of these qualities in any modern person?   Whose choices and actions render him/her/them "outside of the box"--and captures our attention?
B. Choose someone that matters to you--that inspires you.  That helps you see in new ways.
C. Describe this person's qualities.

A. Malala Yousafzai is an activist for girls rights to education. We see John the Baptist's qualities of being someone who prepares and someone passionate about the message he's spreading in her. Malala started the fight for girls education in the third world countries, and inspired so many other

B. Our parents are very inspirational. They are always there to support us when we are discouraged and are able to persevere through any challenges they face and they teach us to do the same.

C. Our parents are patient, strong, resilient and motivated.

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Read Mark 1. 1-8.

A.   Describe how John Baptizes.
B.   What does John tell his people about future Baptisms?     What will be different about those?

A. John baptizes the people of Jerusalem and the Judean countryside in the Jordan river. He pours water over them and says that while he is baptizing them with water, the Lord with baptize us with the Holy Spirit.

B. John tells the people that in the future they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not water.

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A. Does Mary understand the angel's message right away?
B.  How do you know? What does she say that gives you a clue?
C.  What does Mary's experience with Gabriel and this message tell us about us and hearing God/listening to God?

A.  When Mary first hears God's plan for her through Gabriel, she is hesitant since she was a virgin.
B. It says in the text that she was troubled with the news. While she is uncertain she asks Gabriel, how could it be that she was to be pregnant while being a virgin.
C. Mary's experience with Gabriel and the message it gives us about hearing/listening to God tells us to not to be afraid of God and to confront him directly when you are feeling unsure about anything.

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A. What do John's people need, best you can tell?
B. How does John compare to Jesus?
C. What does John tell his people about what Jesus can give them?

A. John's people need forgiveness for their sins and the opportunity to repent.
B. John is a leader and guides the people towards a life with God.
C. John promises the people that Jesus can baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

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A.  Describe Jesus' baptism.
Jesus went to the Jordan River from Galilee and was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist. After he went into the water, Jesus saw the Holy Spirit come down in the form of a dove. God then said from heaven to Jesus, "You are my beloved son with you I am well pleased".

C.  How is The Trinity imaged in this baptism?
The Trinity is God Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is there because he is being baptized, God is there when he says to Jesus he is pleased with him, and the Holy Spirit is there when it comes down in the form of a dove.

D.  "You are my beloved, in You I am well pleased! How does Gxd's  message to Jesus speak to any human's baptism? What is Gxd telling us about us? About Gxd's creation?
God's message relates to all human baptisms because Baptism is when Christians are welcomed into the Church and wash away their sin. God is telling us that Baptism is what he wants people to experience so they can live closer with him. About creation he is saying that a life with the Church is what God intends for every person to experience.

E.  What is Jesus' way of baptizing, that is with us now?
With what are we baptized?
Jesus' way of baptizing is with water as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. Christians are baptized with water that has been blessed by a priest. This water signifies the Holy Spirit.