Mark 1
1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.#1:1 Some manuscripts do not include the Son of God. It began 2just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.#1:2 Mal 3:1.
3He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’#1:3 Isa 40:3 (Greek version).”
4This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
7John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8I baptize you with#1:8 Or in; also in 1:8b. water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
9One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him#1:10 Or toward him, or into him. like a dove. 11And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.#1:14 Some manuscripts read the Good News of the Kingdom of God. 15“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
The First Disciples
16One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon#1:16 Simon is called “Peter” in 3:16 and thereafter. and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit
21Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil#1:23 Greek unclean; also in 1:26, 27. spirit cried out, 24“Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
32That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” 39So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
40A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
41Moved with compassion,#1:41 Some manuscripts read Moved with anger. Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44“Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.#1:44 See Lev 14:2-32. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
45But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.
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Mark 1: NLT
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Mark 1
1
John Prepares the Way for Jesus
(Mt. 3:1–12; Lk. 3:1–9, 15–17; Jn. 1:19–28)
1The Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,#1:1 the Son of God Some Greek copies do not have these words. begins 2with what the prophet Isaiah said would happen. He wrote:
“Listen! I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare the way for you.” Malachi 3:1
3“There is someone shouting in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.’” Isaiah 40:3
4So John the Baptizer came and was baptizing people in the desert area. He told them to be baptized to show that they wanted to change their lives, and then their sins would be forgiven. 5All the people from Judea, including everyone from Jerusalem, came out to John. They confessed the bad things they had done, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
7This is what John told the people: “There is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who stoops down to untie his sandals. 8I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Is Baptized by John
(Mt. 3:13–17; Lk. 3:21–22)
9About that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place where John was. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the sky torn open. The Spirit came down on him like a dove. 11A voice came from heaven and said, “You are my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with you.”
Jesus Goes Away to Be Tempted
(Mt. 4:1–11; Lk. 4:1–13)
12Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. 13He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Then angels came and helped him.
Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee
(Mt. 4:12–17; Lk. 4:14–15)
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee and told people the Good News from God. 15He said, “The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is very near.#1:15 is very near Or “is coming soon” or “has come.” Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!”
Jesus Chooses Some Followers
(Mt. 4:18–22; Lk. 5:1–11)
16Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee. He saw Simon#1:16 Simon Simon’s other name was Peter. Also in verses 29, 30, 36. and his brother Andrew. These two men were fishermen, and they were throwing a net into the lake to catch fish. 17Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.” 18So they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.
19Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat, preparing their nets to catch fish. 20Their father Zebedee and the men who worked for him were in the boat with the brothers. When Jesus saw the brothers, he told them to come. They left their father and followed Jesus.
Jesus Frees a Man From an Evil Spirit
(Lk. 4:31–37)
21Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught the people. 22They were amazed at his teaching. He did not teach like their teachers of the law. He taught like someone with authority. 23While Jesus was in the synagogue, a man was there who had an evil spirit inside him. The man shouted, 24“Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God’s Holy One!”
25Jesus, his voice full of warning, said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26The evil spirit made the man shake. Then the spirit made a loud noise and came out of him.
27The people were amazed. They asked each other, “What is happening here? This man is teaching something new, and he teaches with authority! He even commands evil spirits, and they obey him.” 28So the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the area of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
(Mt. 8:14–17; Lk. 4:38–41)
29Jesus and the followers left the synagogue. They all went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was very sick. She was in bed and had a fever. The people there told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her bed. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. The fever left her, and she was healed. Then she began serving them.
32That night, after the sun went down, the people brought to Jesus many who were sick. They also brought those who had demons inside them. 33Everyone in the town gathered at the door of that house. 34Jesus healed many of those who had different kinds of sicknesses. He also forced many demons out of people. But he would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.#1:34 who he was Meaning that the demons knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus Goes to Other Towns
(Lk. 4:42–44)
35The next morning Jesus woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. 36Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. 37They found him and said, “Everyone is looking for you!”
38Jesus answered, “We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here, and I can tell God’s message to those people too. That is why I came.” 39So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues, and he forced demons out of people.
Jesus Heals a Sick Man
(Mt. 8:1–4; Lk. 5:12–16)
40A man who had leprosy came to Jesus. The man bowed on his knees and begged him, “You have the power to heal me if you want.”
41These last words made Jesus angry.#1:41 These … angry Most Greek copies have “Moved with pity ….” But it is hard to explain why some good Greek copies and Latin versions have “Filled with anger …,” so many scholars now consider it to be the original reading. But he touched him and said, “I want to heal you. Be healed!” 42Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
43Jesus told the man to go, but he gave him a strong warning: 44“Don’t tell anyone about what I did for you. But go and let the priest look at you.#1:44 let the priest look at you The Law of Moses said a priest must decide when a person with leprosy was well. And offer a gift to God because you have been healed. Offer the gift that Moses commanded.#1:44 Moses commanded See Lev. 14:1-32. This will show everyone that you are healed.” 45The man left there and told everyone he saw that Jesus had healed him. So the news about Jesus spread. And that is why he could not enter a town if people saw him. He stayed in places where people did not live. But people came from all the towns to the places where he was.
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