The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as 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 wilderness,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.'"

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 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 comes the one more powerful than I, the straps 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.Just 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 wilderness,and he was in the wilderness 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 has come 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 send you out to fish for people."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 impure 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 impure 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 impure 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 immediately 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."

Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

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.

Mark 1

The Ministry of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the gospels of Jesus Christ,t the Son of God.ss

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,s
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,s

3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
makeshis paths straight.’”s
4 In the wildernesst John the baptizert began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.s5 Peoplet from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalems were going out to him, and he was baptizing themt in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.s7 He proclaimed,t “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthyts to bend down and untie the strapt of his sandals.

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

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 Nowt in those days Jesus came from Nazareths in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.t10 And just as Jesust was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavenst splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.s11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son;t in you I take great delight.”ts12 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.

13 He was in the wilderness forty days,s enduring temptations from Satan. Het was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.t

Preaching in Galilee and the Call of the Disciples

14 Now after John was imprisoned,t Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospels of God.t15 Het said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of Gods is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”16 As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).s17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.”ts18 They left their nets immediately and followed him.s19 Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in theirt boat mending nets.

20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus’ Authority

21 Thent they went to Capernaum.ss When the Sabbath came,t Jesust went into the synagogues and began to teach.22 The people theret were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority,s not like the experts in the law.t23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit,s and he cried out,t24 “Leave us alone,ts Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy Ones of God!”25 Butt Jesus rebuked him:t “Silence! Come out of him!”s26 After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.27 They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

28 Sot the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.

Healings at Simon’s House

29 Nowt as soon as they left the synagogue,s they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John.30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, sot they spoke to Jesust at once about her.31 He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to servet them.32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.33 The whole town gathered by the door.

34 Sot he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons.s Butt he would not permit the demons to speak,s because they knew him.s

Praying and Preaching

35 Thent Jesust got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.t36 Simon and his companions searched for him.37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”38 He replied,t “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”t

39 Sot he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagoguess and casting out demons.

Cleansing a Leper

40 Nowt a lepers came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “Ift you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said.41 Moved with compassion,s Jesust stretched out his hand and toucheds him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!”42 The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean.43 Immediately Jesust sent the mant away with a very strong warning.44 He told him,t “See that you do not say anything to anyone,s but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commandeds for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”t

45 But as the mant went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesust was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Stillt they kept comingt to him from everywhere.