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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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Mark 1
1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. 2Long 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)
4And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. 5All 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. 6John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. 7Here is what John was preaching. “After me, there is someone coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. 8I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted
9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. Jesus saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”
12At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert. 13He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn’t harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.
Jesus Preaches the Good News
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached the good news of God. 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”
Jesus Chooses His First Disciples
16One 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 and follow me,” Jesus said. “I will send you out to fish for people.” 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. 20Right 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
21Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching. That’s because he taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law. 23Just 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!” 26The evil spirit shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.
27All 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.” 28News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.
32That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons. 33All the people in town gathered at the door. 34Jesus 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
35It 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. 36Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. 37When they found him, they called out, “Everyone is looking for you!”
38Jesus 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.” 39So he traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man Who Had a Skin Disease
40A 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.”
41Jesus became angry. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” Jesus said. “Be ‘clean’!” 42Right away the disease left the man, and he was “clean.”
43Jesus 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.’ ” 45But 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.
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