Mark 1:3-38

31The voice of one calling 2out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 34preaching a baptism of repentance for the 5forgiveness 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 6a leather belt around his waist, and 7his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was 8preaching, 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 9with water; but He will baptize you 10with the Holy Spirit.”

911In those days Jesus 12came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 13opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11and a voice came from the heavens: “14You are My beloved Son; in You I 15am well pleased.”

1216And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by 17Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

1418Now after John was 19taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, 2021preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, “22The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; 23repent and 24believe in the gospel.”

1625As 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 26James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, 27who 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 28to follow Him.

2129They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus 30entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22And 31they 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, “32What 33business do You have with us, Jesus 34of 35Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: 36the 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 37amazed, 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.

2938And immediately after they left 39the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with 40James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately spoke to 41Jesus 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 42when evening came, 43after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were 44demon-possessed. 33And the whole 45city had gathered at the door. 34And He 46healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew 47who He was.

3548And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and 49prayed 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 50preach there; for this is why I came.”