Mark 1:3-38

31The 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 23preaching a baptism of repentance for the 4forgiveness 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 5a leather belt around his waist, and 6his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was 7preaching, 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 8with water; but He will baptize you 9with the Holy Spirit.”

910In those days Jesus 11came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 12opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11and a voice came out of the heavens: “13You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

1214Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by 15Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

1416Now after John had been 17taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, 1819preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, “20The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God 21is at hand; 22repent and 23believe in the gospel.”

1624As 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 25James 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 26to follow Him.

2127They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath 28He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 2229They 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, “30What 31business do we have with each other, Jesus 32of 33Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are--34the 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 35amazed, 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.

2936And immediately after they came 37out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with 38James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to 39Jesus about her. 31And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she 40waited on them.

3241When evening came, 42after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were 43demon-possessed. 33And the whole 44city had gathered at the door. 34And He 45healed 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.

3546In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and 47was 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 48preach there also; for that is what I came for.”