The Messiah’s Herald
1 The beginningof the gospelof Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiahthe prophet:
Look, I am sending My messengerahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.
3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make His paths straight!
4 John came baptizingin the wildernessand preaching a baptism of repentancefor the forgivenessof sins.
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalemwere flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the JordanRiver as they confessedtheir sins.
6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locustsand wild honey.
7 He was preaching: “Someone more powerfulthan I will come after me.I am not worthyto stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.
8 I have baptized you withwater,but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 Inthose days Jesus came from Nazarethin Galileeand was baptized in the Jordan by John.
10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavensbeing torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove.
11 And a voicecame from heaven:
You are My belovedSon;
I take delightin You!
The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediatelythe SpiritdroveHim into the wilderness.
13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being temptedby Satan.He was with the wild animals,and the angelsbegan to serve Him.
Ministry in Galilee
14 AfterJohn was arrested,Jesus went to Galilee,preachingthe good newsof God:
15 “The timeis fulfilled, and the kingdom of Godhas comenear.Repentand believein the good news! ”
The First Disciples
16 AsHe was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,He saw Simonand Andrew,Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,since they were fishermen.
17 “Follow Me,”Jesus told them,“and I will make you fish for,people! ”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followedHim.
19 Going on a little farther, He saw Jamesthe son of Zebedeeand his brother John.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.
Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
21 Thenthey went into Capernaum,and right away He entered the synagogueon the Sabbathand began to teach.
22 They were astonishedat His teachingbecause, unlike the scribes,He was teaching them as one having authority.
23 Just then a man with an uncleanspiritwas in their synagogue.He cried out,
24 “What do You have to do with us,Jesus — Nazarene?Have You come to destroyus? I know who You are — the HolyOne of God! ”
25 But Jesus rebukedhim and said,“Be quiet,and come out of him! ”
26 And the unclean spirit convulsed him,shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 Then they were all amazed,so they began to arguewith one another, saying, “What is this? A new teachingwith authority!He commands even the uncleanspirits,and they obey Him.”
28 News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Healings at Capernaum
29 Assoon as they left the synagogue,they went into Simonand Andrew’shousewith Jamesand John.
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.The feverleft her,and she began to servethem.
32 Whenevening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sickand those who were demon-possessed.
33 The whole town was assembled at the door,
34 and He healedmany who were sick with various diseasesand drove outmany demons.But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Preaching in Galilee
35 Veryearly in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.And He was prayingthere.
36 Simonand 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 preachthere too. This is why I have come.”
39 So He went into all of Galilee,preaching in their synagoguesand driving out demons.
A Man Cleansed
40 Thena man with a serious skin diseasecame to Him and, on his knees,begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion,Jesus reached out His hand and touchedhim.“I am willing,”He told him.“Be made clean.”
42 Immediately the diseaseleft him, and he was healed.
43 Then He sternly warnedhim and sent him awayat once,
44 telling him,“See that you say nothing to anyone;but go and showyourself to the priest,and offerwhat Moses prescribed for your cleansing,as a testimonyto them.”
45 Yet he went out and began to proclaimit widely and to spread the news,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.
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/1-cdf2af4c93b99ea06050cd2eaec93fd0.mp3?version_id=72—