Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 This is where the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, really starts.

2 Just like it was written: “I am sending My messenger ahead of You. He is going to get everything ready.

3 A voice out in the wilderness saying, ‘Clear the way for the Lord. Straighten the path for Him.’”

4 So John showed up out in the wilderness baptizing people, telling them straight, turn from your sins so you can be forgiven.

5 People from all over, Jerusalem, Judea, everywhere, came out to him. They were confessing everything, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan.

6 John was not dressed fancy either, camel hair clothes, leather belt. Man was living off locusts and wild honey.

7 And he kept it real, saying, “Someone coming after me is way bigger than me. I am not even worthy to bend down and untie His sandals.

8 I baptized you with water, but He is about to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

9 Around that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and got baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 The moment He came up out the water, heaven split open, and the Spirit came down on Him like a dove.

11 Then a voice came from heaven: “You are My Son. I love You. I am fully pleased with You.”

The Temptation of Jesus

12 Right after that, the Spirit drove Him out into the wilderness.

13 He stayed out there forty days, getting tested by Satan. Wild animals all around Him, but angels were there taking care of Him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 After John got locked up, Jesus stepped into Galilee preaching God’s message.

15 He was saying, “Time is up. The kingdom of God is here now. Turn from your sin and believe this.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 Walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew throwing nets, they were fishermen.

17 Jesus said, “Follow Me. I will show you how to reach people instead of fish.”

18 No hesitation, they dropped the nets and followed Him.

19 Moving on, He saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat fixing nets.

20 He called them, and just like that, they left their father and the business behind and followed Him.

Jesus Teaches with Authority

21 They went into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus stepped into the synagogue and started teaching.

22 People were stunned, because He was not talking like the scribes, He spoke with real authority.

23 Right then, a man with an unclean spirit started shouting,

24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are You here to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God.”

25 Jesus shut it down quick: “Be quiet. Come out of him.”

26 The spirit shook the man hard and came out screaming.

27 Everybody froze like, “What just happened?” They were saying, “This teaching is different. He has got authority, even demons listen to Him.”

28 And just like that, word spread everywhere about Him.

Jesus Heals Many

29 Soon as they left, they went to Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.

30 Simon’s mother-in-law was laid up with a fever. They told Jesus right away.

31 He walked in, grabbed her hand, lifted her up, and just like that, the fever left. She got up and started moving, serving them.

32 That night after sunset, people started bringing everybody, sick, tormented, all of that.

33 The whole city was outside that door.

34 Jesus healed a lot of people dealing with all kinds of sickness and drove out demons. But He would not let the demons talk, because they knew exactly who He was.

Jesus Prays and Preaches

35 Early, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped away to a quiet place to pray.

36 Simon and the others went looking for Him.

37 When they found Him, they said, “Everybody is looking for You.”

38 He said, “We moving on. Other towns need to hear this too, that is why I came.”

39 So He kept moving through Galilee, preaching in synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came to Him, fell on his knees, and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Jesus felt that, reached out, touched him, and said, “I am. Be clean.”

42 Instantly, the disease left him. He was clean.

43 Jesus told him straight and sent him off,

44 saying, “Do not go telling everybody. Go show yourself to the priest and bring what Moses commanded. Let that speak for you.”

45 But the man went out and told everybody anyway, spreading it everywhere. Because of that, Jesus could not move openly in the cities anymore. He stayed out in quiet places, but people still found Him from everywhere.