Mark
1
- The beginning of the gospel about Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.
- It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I
will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"
--
- "a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
- And so John came, baptizing in the desert
region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- The whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized
by him in the Jordan River.
- John wore clothing made of camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
- And this was his message: "After me
will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not
worthy to stoop down and untie.
- I baptize you with water, but he will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit."
- At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
- As Jesus was coming up out of the water,
he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
- And a voice came from heaven: "You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
- At once the Spirit sent him out into the
desert,
- and he was in the desert forty days, being
tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
- After John was put in prison, Jesus went
into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
- "The time has come," he said.
"The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
- As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they
were fishermen.
- "Come, follow me," Jesus said,
"and I will make you fishers of men."
- At once they left their nets and followed
him.
- When he had gone a little farther, he saw
James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
- Without delay he called them, and they
left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
- They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath
came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
- The people were amazed at his teaching,
because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of
the law.
- Just then a man in their synagogue who
was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
- "What do you want with us, Jesus of
Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One
of God!"
- "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly.
"Come out of him!"
- The evil spirit shook the man violently
and came out of him with a shriek.
- The people were all so amazed that they
asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority!
He even gives orders to evil spirits and they
obey him."
- News about him spread quickly over the
whole region of Galilee.
- As soon as they left the synagogue, they
went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
- Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a
fever, and they told Jesus about her.
- So he went to her, took her hand and helped
her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
- That evening after sunset the people brought
to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
- The whole town gathered at the door,
- and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.
He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because
they knew who he was.
- Very early in the morning, while it was
still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place,
where he prayed.
- Simon and his companions went to look for
him,
- and when they found him, they exclaimed:
"Everyone is looking for you!"
- Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere
else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I
have come."
- So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching
in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- A man with leprosy came to him and begged
him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
- Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out
his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be
clean!"
- Immediately the leprosy left him and he
was cured.
- Jesus sent him away at once with a strong
warning:
- "See that you don't tell this to anyone.
But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses
commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."
- Instead he went out and began to talk freely,
spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly
but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from
everywhere.
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