Mark 1

₁This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ₂It began as the prophet Isaiah had written:

₄So John appeared in the desert, baptizing and preaching. “Turn away from your sins and be baptized,” he told the people, “and God will forgive your sins.” ₅Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the River Jordan.

₆John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ₇He announced to the people, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. ₈I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

₉Not long afterwards Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ₁₀As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. ₁₁And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”

₁₂At once the Spirit made him go into the desert, ₁₃where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped him.

₁₄After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. ₁₅“The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”

₁₆As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net. ₁₇Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” ₁₈At once they left their nets and went with him.

₁₉He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready. ₂₀As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus.

₂₁Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. ₂₂The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.

₂₃Just then a man with an evil spirit in him came into the synagogue and screamed, ₂₄“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are — you are God's holy messenger!”

₂₅Jesus ordered the spirit, “Be quiet, and come out of the man!”

₂₆The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. ₂₇The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”

₂₈And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee.

₂₉Jesus and his disciples, including James and John, left the synagogue and went straight to the home of Simon and Andrew. ₃₀Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and as soon as Jesus arrived, he was told about her. ₃₁He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them.

₃₂After the sun had set and evening had come, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had demons. ₃₃All the people of the town gathered in front of the house. ₃₄Jesus healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases and drove out many demons. He would not let the demons say anything, because they knew who he was.

₃₅Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of the town to a lonely place, where he prayed. ₃₆But Simon and his companions went out searching for him, ₃₇and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

₃₈But Jesus answered, “We must go on to the other villages round here. I have to preach in them also, because that is why I came.”

₃₉So he travelled all over Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.

₄₀A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged him for help. “If you want to,” he said, “you can make me clean.”

₄₁Jesus was filled with pity, and stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” ₄₂At once the disease left the man, and he was clean. ₄₃Then Jesus spoke sternly to him and sent him away at once, ₄₄after saying to him, “Listen, don't tell anyone about this. But go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered.”

₄₅But the man went away and began to spread the news everywhere. Indeed, he talked so much that Jesus could not go into a town publicly. Instead, he stayed out in lonely places, and people came to him from everywhere.