The Messiah’s Herald

The beginning(A) of the gospel(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.(C) As it is written in Isaiah(D) the prophet:[a](E)

Look, I am sending My messenger(F) ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.[b]
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:(G)
Prepare the way for the Lord;(H)
make His paths straight!(I)[c]

John came baptizing[d](J) in the wilderness(K) and preaching a baptism of repentance[e](L) for the forgiveness(M) of sins.(N) The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem(O) were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan(P) River as they confessed(Q) their sins.(R) John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts(S) and wild honey.(T) He was preaching: “Someone more powerful(U) than I will come after me.(V) I am not worthy(W) to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.(X) I have baptized you with[f] water,(Y) but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”(Z)

The Baptism of Jesus

In(AA) those days Jesus came from Nazareth(AB) in Galilee(AC) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens(AD) being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. 11 And a voice(AE) came from heaven:(AF)

You are My beloved(AG) Son;(AH)
I take delight(AI) in You![g]

The Temptation of Jesus

12 Immediately(AJ) the Spirit(AK) drove(AL) Him into the wilderness.(AM) 13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted(AN) by Satan.(AO) He was with the wild animals,(AP) and the angels(AQ) began to serve Him.

Ministry in Galilee

14 After(AR) John was arrested,(AS) Jesus went to Galilee,(AT) preaching(AU) the good news[h][i](AV) of God:[j](AW) 15 “The time(AX) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God(AY) has come(AZ) near.(BA) Repent(BB) and believe(BC) in the good news!”

The First Disciples

16 As(BD) He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,(BE) He saw Simon(BF) and Andrew,(BG) Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,(BH) since they were fishermen.

17 “Follow Me,”(BI) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for[k](BJ) people!”(BK) 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed(BL) Him.(BM) 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James(BN) the son of Zebedee(BO) and his brother John.(BP) They were in their boat mending their nets. 20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.(BQ)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

21 Then(BR) they went into Capernaum,(BS) and right away He entered the synagogue(BT) on the Sabbath(BU) and began to teach.(BV) 22 They were astonished(BW) at His teaching(BX) because, unlike the scribes,(BY) He was teaching them as one having authority.

23 Just then a man with an unclean(BZ) spirit(CA) was in their synagogue.(CB) He cried out,[l] 24 “What do You have to do with us,[m] Jesus—Nazarene?(CC) Have You come to destroy(CD) us? I know who You are—the Holy(CE) One of God!”(CF)

25 But Jesus rebuked(CG) him and said, “Be quiet,[n](CH) and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit convulsed him,(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27 Then they were all amazed,(CJ) so they began to argue(CK) with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching(CL) with authority![o](CM) He commands even the unclean(CN) spirits,(CO) and they obey Him.” 28 News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.(CP)

Healings at Capernaum

29 As(CQ) soon as they left the synagogue,(CR) they went into Simon(CS) and Andrew’s(CT) house(CU) with James(CV) and John.(CW) 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.(CX) The fever(CY) left her,[p] and she began to serve(CZ) them.(DA)

32 When(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick(DC) and those who were demon-possessed.(DD) 33 The whole town was assembled at the door, 34 and He healed(DE) many who were sick with various diseases(DF) and drove out(DG) many demons.(DH) But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.(DI)

Preaching in Galilee

35 Very(DJ) early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.(DK) And He was praying(DL) there. 36 Simon(DM) and his companions went searching for Him. 37 They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”

38 And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach(DN) there too. This is why I have come.” 39 So He went into all of Galilee,(DO) preaching in their synagogues(DP) and driving out demons.

A Man Cleansed

40 Then(DQ) a man with a serious skin disease(DR) came to Him and, on his knees,[q](DS) begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”(DT)

41 Moved with compassion,(DU) Jesus reached out His hand and touched(DV) him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the disease(DW) left him, and he was healed.[r] 43 Then He sternly warned(DX) him and sent him away(DY) at once, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;(DZ) but go and show(EA) yourself to the priest,(EB) and offer(EC) what Moses prescribed for your cleansing,(ED) as a testimony(EE) to them.” 45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim(EF) it widely and to spread the news,(EG) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 Other mss read in the prophets
  2. Mark 1:2 Other mss add before You
  3. Mark 1:3 Is 40:3; Mal 3:1
  4. Mark 1:4 Or John the Baptist came, or John the Baptizer came
  5. Mark 1:4 Or a baptism based on repentance
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in
  7. Mark 1:11 Or In You I am well pleased
  8. Mark 1:14 Other mss add of the kingdom
  9. Mark 1:14 Or gospel
  10. Mark 1:14 Either from God or about God
  11. Mark 1:17 Lit you to become fishers of
  12. Mark 1:23 Other mss add to the beginning of v. 24: “Leave us alone.
  13. Mark 1:24 Lit What to us and to You
  14. Mark 1:25 Or Be muzzled
  15. Mark 1:27 Other mss read What is this? What is this new teaching? For with authority
  16. Mark 1:31 Other mss add at once
  17. Mark 1:40 Other mss omit on his knees
  18. Mark 1:42 Lit made clean

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b](B) as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[c](C)
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[d](D)

And so John the Baptist(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance(F) for the forgiveness of sins.(G) The 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. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,(H) and he ate locusts(I) and wild honey. And 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.(J) I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”(K)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus(L)(M)

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth(N) in Galilee and was baptized by John(O) in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.(P) 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(Q) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(R)

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days,(S) being tempted[g] by Satan.(T) He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News(U)

14 After John(V) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,(W) proclaiming the good news of God.(X) 15 “The time has come,”(Y) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe(Z) the good news!”(AA)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As 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.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.(AB)

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without 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(AC)

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.(AD) 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.(AE) 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,(AF) Jesus of Nazareth?(AG) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(AH)

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”(AI) 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.(AJ)

27 The people were all so amazed(AK) 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.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region(AL) of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many(AM)(AN)

29 As soon as they left the synagogue,(AO) they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.(AP) The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.(AQ) 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.(AR) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.(AS)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place(AT)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.(AU) 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”(AV) 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues(AW) and driving out demons.(AX)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy(AY)

40 A man with leprosy[h] came to him and begged him on his knees,(AZ) “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant.[i] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.(BA) But go, show yourself to the priest(BB) and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,(BC) as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.(BD) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.(BE)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One.
  2. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
  3. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
  4. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  5. Mark 1:8 Or in
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in
  7. Mark 1:13 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  8. Mark 1:40 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  9. Mark 1:41 Many manuscripts Jesus was filled with compassion