NgokukaMarku 1:1-15

Ukuqala kwevangeli likaJesu Kristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Njengokulotshwe kumprofethi u-Isaya ukuthi: “Bheka, ngiyasithuma isithunywa sami phambi kwakho esiyakulungisa indlela yakho,” – “izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde,’ ” kwavela uJohane ebhapathiza ehlane, eshumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono. Kwaphumela kuye izwe lonke laseJudiya nabo bonke abaseJerusalema, babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani, bevuma izono zabo. UJohane wayembethe eyoboya bekamela, enoqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe, edla izinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle. Washumayela wathi: “Emva kwami kuyeza onamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuba ngikhothame ngithukulule umchilo wezicathulo zakhe. Mina nginibhapathize ngamanzi, kepha yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele.” Kwathi ngaleyo mihla kwafika uJesu evela eNazaretha laseGalile, wabhapathizwa nguJohane eJordani. Wanele ukukhuphuka emanzini, wabona izulu livuleka, noMoya ehlela phezu kwakhe njengejuba. Kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo; ngithokozile ngawe.” Masinyane uMoya wayesemqhubela ehlane. Wayekhona ehlane izinsuku ezingamashumi amane elingwa nguSathane; wayendawonye nezilwane; izingelosi zamkhonza. Emva kokuboshwa kukaJohane uJesu wafika eGalile eshumayela ivangeli likaNkulunkulu, wathi: “Isikhathi sigcwalisekile, umbuso kaNkulunkulu ususondele; phendukani, nikholwe yivangeli.”