Mark 1

The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it's written in Isaiah the prophet: “I'll send my messenger on ahead of you, who'll 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 came, baptising in the wilderness and 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 baptised by him in the Jordan River.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

And this was his message. “After me comes the one more powerful than I am, and I'm not fit to bend down and undo the straps of his sandals.

I baptise you with water, but he'll baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.

And straight away, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven torn open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love. With you I'm well pleased.”

And straight away 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 looked after him.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, announcing the good news of God.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Turn around, 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 water, because they were fishermen.

“Come with me,” Jesus said, “and I'll make you fishers of people.”

And straight away they left their nets and followed him.

A bit further on he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, mending their nets.

And straight away he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went after him.

They went to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and started teaching.

And the people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not like the teachers of the law.

Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean 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,” Jesus said sharply. “Come out of him.”

And the unclean spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

And they were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What's this? A new teaching — and with authority. He even gives orders to unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

And 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 told Jesus about her straight away.

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, people brought to Jesus everyone who was ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town gathered at the door,

and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he wouldn't 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 the others went looking for him,

and when they found him they said, “Everyone's looking for you.”

And Jesus said, “Let's go somewhere else — to the nearby villages — so I can preach there too. That's why I've come.”

So he travelled all over Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you're willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus was moved with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean.”

And straight away 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 and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

But he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet people still came to him from everywhere.