Mark 1- 1
- The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [1]
- 2
- It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" [2] --
- 3
- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" [3]
- 4
- And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- 5
- 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.
- 6
- John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
- 7
- 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.
- 8
- I baptize you with [4] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
- 9
- At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
- 10
- As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
- 11
- And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
- 12
- At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,
- 13
- and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
- 14
- After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
- 15
- "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
- 16
- 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.
- 17
- "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
- 18
- At once they left their nets and followed him.
- 19
- When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
- 20
- Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
- 21
- They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
- 22
- The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
- 23
- Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil [5] spirit cried out,
- 24
- "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!"
- 25
- "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
- 26
- The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
- 27
- 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."
- 28
- News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
- 29
- As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
- 30
- Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.
- 31
- So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
- 32
- That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
- 33
- The whole town gathered at the door,
- 34
- 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.
- 35
- 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.
- 36
- Simon and his companions went to look for him,
- 37
- and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
- 38
- Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
- 39
- So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- 40
- A man with leprosy [6] came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
- 41
- Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
- 42
- Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
- 43
- Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
- 44
- "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."
- 45
- 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.
- [1] Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
- [2] Mal. 3:1
- [3] Isaiah 40:3
- [8] Or in
- [23] Greek unclean; also in verses 26 and 27
- [40] The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin--not necessarily leprosy.