Mark 1:1-31

John the Baptist Prepares the Way 1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One. the Son of God, Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.

2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” Mal. 3:1 —

3“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” Isaiah 40:3 4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

8I baptize you with Or in water, but he will baptize you with Or in the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus 9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

11And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

13and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted The Greek for tempted can also mean tested. by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News 14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples 16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

18At once they left their nets and followed him. 19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit 21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,

24“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many 29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.

31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.