Mark 1

John the Baptizer

1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you; He'll make the road smooth for you. Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!

4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

7-8 As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out."

9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

God's Kingdom Is Here

12-13 At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.

14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message."

16-18 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

19-20 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

Confident Teaching

21-22 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

23-24 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!"

25-26 Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

27-28 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

29-31 Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew's house, accompanied by James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.

32-34 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word.

The Leper

35-37 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you."

38-39 Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I've come." He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."

41-45 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: "Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people." But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.

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.