Mark 1:2-45

21As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “2Behold, I send My messenger 3ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way;34The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness 56preaching a baptism of repentance for the 7forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore 8a leather belt around his waist, and 9his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was 10preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8I baptized you 11with water; but He will baptize you 12with the Holy Spirit.”

913In those days Jesus 14came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 15opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11and a voice came out of the heavens: “16You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

1217Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by 18Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

1419Now after John had been 20taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, 2122preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, “23The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God 24is at hand; 25repent and 26believe in the gospel.”

1627As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19Going on a little farther, He saw 28James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away 29to follow Him.

2130They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath 31He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 2232They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24saying, “33What 34business do we have with each other, Jesus 35of 36Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are--37the Holy One of God!” 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27They were all 38amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

2939And immediately after they came 40out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with 41James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to 42Jesus about her. 31And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she 43waited on them.

3244When evening came, 45after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were 46demon-possessed. 33And the whole 47city had gathered at the door. 34And He 48healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

3549In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and 50was praying there. 36Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may 51preach there also; for that is what I came for.” 3952And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, 53preaching and casting out the demons.

4054And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and 55falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44and He said to him, “56See that you say nothing to anyone; but 57go, show yourself to the priest and 58offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But he went out and began to 59proclaim it freely and to 60spread the news around, to such an extent that 61Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but 62stayed out in unpopulated areas; and 63they were coming to Him from everywhere.