The Kingdom Is Coming Now

1 The beginning of the Good News of Yeshua ha-Mashiach, Ben-Elohim. ² As Isaiah the prophet has written,

⁴ John appeared, immersing in the wilderness, proclaiming an immersion involving repentance for the removal of sins. ⁵ All the Judean countryside was going out to him, and all the Jerusalemites. As they confessed their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.

⁶ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ “After me comes One who is mightier than I am,” he proclaimed. “I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals! ⁸ I immersed you with water, but He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”^[c]

The Spirit Rests on Yeshua

⁹ In those days, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galilee and was immersed by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ripping open and the Ruach as a dove coming down upon Him. ¹¹ And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!”^[d]

¹² That instant, the Ruach drives Him into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by satan. And He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were taking care of Him.

Fishermen Follow Him

¹⁴ Now after John was put in jail, Yeshua came into the Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. ¹⁵ “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!”

¹⁶ Passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Yeshua said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

¹⁹ Going a little farther, He saw Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands and followed Him.

Demons Flee at His Command

²¹ And they went into Capernaum. Right away, on Shabbat, He entered the synagogue and began to teach. ²² And they were astounded at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority^[e] and not as the Torah scholars.

²³ Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have we to do with You, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are! You’re the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ Yeshua rebuked him, saying, “Quiet! Come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, after throwing the man into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

²⁷ They were all so amazed that they asked among themselves, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” ²⁸ And immediately news about Him spread throughout the region surrounding Galilee.

The Hurting Become Whole

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with Jacob and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. Right away, they told Yeshua about her. ³¹ He came and raised her up by taking her hand. The fever left her, and she began to take care of them.

³² When evening came, at sunset, the people brought to Him all the sick and those who were afflicted by demons. ³³ The whole town gathered together at the door. ³⁴ He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

³⁵ Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying. ³⁶ Then Simon and those with him hunted for Yeshua. ³⁷ And when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everybody’s looking for You.”

³⁸ He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also—this is what I came for.” ³⁹ And He went throughout all the Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and driving out demons.

⁴⁰ A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” ⁴² Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed.

⁴³ Yeshua sent him away at once, sternly warning him. ⁴⁴ He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the kohen.^[f] Then, for your cleansing, offer what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ But he went out and began to proclaim and spread the word, so much that Yeshua could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay out in wilderness areas. Still, they kept on coming to Him from everywhere.