Mark 1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote,
"I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way." (Malachi 3:1)
3 "A messenger is calling out in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make straight paths for him.' " (Isaiah 40:3)
4 And so John came. He baptized people in the desert. He also preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.5 All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River.6 John wore clothes made out of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 Here is what John was preaching. "After me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. I'm not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals.8 I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.10 Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove.11 A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."
12 At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert.13 He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn't harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.
Jesus Chooses the First Disciples
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God's good news.15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!"
16 One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen.17 "Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people."
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets.20 Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.
Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
21 Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach.22 The people were amazed at his teaching. He taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law.
23 Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said,24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"
25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus firmly. "Come out of him!"
26 The evil spirit shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.
27 All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him."28 News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29 Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.30 Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed. She had a fever. They told Jesus about her.31 So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.
32 That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons.33 All the people in town gathered at the door.34 Jesus healed many of them. They had all kinds of sicknesses. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.
Jesus Prays in a Quiet Place
35 It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.36 Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus.37 When they found him, they called out, "Everyone is looking for you!"
38 Jesus replied, "Let's go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come."39 So he traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man Who Had a Skin Disease
40 A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, "If you are willing to make me 'clean,' you can do it."
41 Jesus was filled with deep concern. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing to do it," he said. "Be 'clean'!"42 Right away the disease left him. He was healed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once. He gave the man a strong warning.44 "Don't tell this to anyone," he said. "Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are 'clean.' "
45 But the man went out and started talking right away. He spread the news to everyone. So Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. He stayed outside in lonely places. But people still came 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.