Mark 1

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:1–18

1 This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 The prophet Isaiah wrote,“I am sending my messenger ahead of youto prepare the way for you.”3 “A voice cries out in the desert:‘Prepare the way for the Lord!Make his paths straight!’ ”4 John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentancet for the forgiveness of sins.

5 All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 John was dressed in clothes made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.7 He announced, “The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps.

8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John Baptizes Jesus—Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–22

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.10 As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove.

11 A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”

Satan Tempts Jesus—Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13

12 At once the Spirit brought him into the desert,

13 where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

Calling of the First Disciples—Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11

14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God.

15 He said, “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.”
16 As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.17 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.”

18 They immediately left their nets and followed him.
19 As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets to go fishing.

20 He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.

Jesus Forces an Evil Spirit out of a Man—Luke 4:31–37

21 Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of worship, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

22 The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority.
23 At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted,

24 “What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!”

26 The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.
27 Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, “What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.”28 The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Cures Simon’s Mother–in–Law and Many Others—Matthew 8:14–18; Luke 4:38–41

29 After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them.30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her.

31 Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them.
32 In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons.33 The whole city had gathered at his door.

34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was.

Spreading the Good News in Galilee—Matthew 4:23–25; Luke 4:42–44

35 In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.36 Simon and his friends searched for him.

37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 Jesus said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread the Good News in them also. This is why I have come.”39 So he went to spread the Good News in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people.

Jesus Cures a Man With a Skin Disease—Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–14

40 Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “If you’re willing, you can make me clean.”t41 Jesus felt sorry for him, reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!”42 Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.43 Jesus sent him away at once and warned him,

44 “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”
45 When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.

Mark 1

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way.3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.5 And there went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.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.8 I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:11 And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.13 And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; And he was with the wild beasts; And the angels ministered unto him.14 Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.18 And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.19 And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.21 And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.22 And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.23 And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24 saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.26 And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.28 And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her:31 and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons.33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.34 And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;37 and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.38 And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.39 And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.40 And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.41 And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.42 And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.43 And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out,44 and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.