Read Mark 1:1-8 with your family.

The first person we meet in the Gospel of Mark, is John the Baptist. He had a special job to do. He was called to get everyone ready to welcome Jesus.

At the time of John and Jesus, people were waiting for the Messiah to make life better for the Hebrew people, but they had no idea when that would happen. John told them it was coming soon, in their lifetimes.

That was very good news indeed for the Hebrew people. They wanted the Romans gone, and they believed the Messiah would do that for them.

They were all very excited while they waited for Jesus.