Mark 1:2-45

21just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “2Behold, I am sending My messenger 3before You, Who will prepare Your way;34The voice of one calling 5out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 67preaching a baptism of repentance for the 8forgiveness 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 9a leather belt around his waist, and 10his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was 11preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. 8I baptized you 12with water; but He will baptize you 13with the Holy Spirit.”

914In those days Jesus 15came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 16opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11and a voice came from the heavens: “17You are My beloved Son; in You I 18am well pleased.”

1219And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by 20Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

1421Now after John was 22taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, 2324preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, “25The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; 26repent and 27believe in the gospel.”

1628As He was going along 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 have you become fishers of people.” 18Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19And going on a little farther, He saw 29James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, 30who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away 31to follow Him.

2132They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus 33entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22And 34they 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, “35What 36business do You have with us, Jesus 37of 38Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: 39the Holy One of God!” 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 27And they were all 40amazed, so 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 region of Galilee.

2941And immediately after they left 42the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with 43James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately spoke to 44Jesus about her. 31And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them.

32Now 45when evening came, 46after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were 47demon-possessed. 33And the whole 48city had gathered at the door. 34And He 49healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew 50who He was.

3551And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and 52prayed there for a time. 36Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also 53preach there; for this is why I came.” 3954And He went into their synagogues 55preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.

4056And a man with 57leprosy came to 58Jesus, imploring Him and 59kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44and He said to him, “60See that you say nothing to anyone; but 61go, show yourself to the priest and 62offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But he went out and began to 63proclaim it 64freely and to 65spread the news around, to such an extent that 66Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but 67stayed out in unpopulated areas; and 68they were coming to Him from everywhere.