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The Messiah’s Herald

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

See, I am sending my messenger(F) ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.[c][d](G)
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:(H)
Prepare the way for the Lord;(I)
make his paths straight![e](J)

John came baptising[f](K) in the wilderness(L) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance(M) for the forgiveness(N) of sins.(O) The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem(P) were going out to him, and they were baptised by him in the River Jordan,(Q) confessing(R) their sins.(S) John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt round his waist and ate locusts(T) and wild honey.(U)

He proclaimed, ‘One who is more powerful(V) than I am is coming after me.(W) I am not worthy(X) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.(Y) I baptise you with[g] water,(Z) but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’(AA)

The Baptism of Jesus

In(AB) those days Jesus came from Nazareth(AC) in Galilee(AD) and was baptised in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens(AE) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice(AF) came from heaven:(AG) ‘You are my beloved(AH) Son;(AI) with you I am well-pleased.’(AJ)

The Temptation of Jesus

12 Immediately(AK) the Spirit(AL) drove(AM) him into the wilderness.(AN) 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted(AO) by Satan.(AP) He was with the wild animals,(AQ) and the angels(AR) were serving him.

Ministry in Galilee

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

The First Disciples

16 As(BE) he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee,(BF) he saw Simon(BG) and Andrew,(BH) Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea(BI) – for they were fishermen. 17 ‘Follow me,’(BJ) Jesus told them, ‘and I will make you fish for[j](BK) people.’(BL) 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed(BM) him.(BN) 19 Going on a little further, he saw James(BO) the son of Zebedee(BP) and his brother John(BQ) in a boat putting their nets in order. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.(BR)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

21 They(BS) went into Capernaum,(BT) and straight away he entered the synagogue(BU) on the Sabbath(BV) and began to teach.(BW) 22 They were astonished(BX) at his teaching(BY) because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

23 Just then a man with an unclean(BZ) spirit(CA) was in their synagogue.(CB) He cried out, 24 ‘What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?(CC) Have you come to destroy(CD) us? I know who you are – the Holy(CE) One of God! ’(CF)

25 Jesus rebuked(CG) him saying, ‘Be silent,(CH) and come out of him! ’ 26 And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27 They were all amazed,(CJ) and so they began to ask(CK) each other, “What is this? A new teaching(CL) with authority![k](CM) He commands even the unclean(CN) spirits,(CO) and they obey him.’ 28 At once the news about him 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,[l] and she began to serve(CZ) them.(DA)

32 When(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were ill(DC) and demon-possessed.(DD) 33 The whole town was assembled at the door, 34 and he healed(DE) many who were ill with various diseases(DF) and drove out(DG) many demons.(DH) And 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 there he was praying.(DL) 36 Simon(DM) and his companions searched for him, 37 and when they found him they said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’

38 And he said to them, ‘Let’s go on to the neighbouring villages so that I may preach(DN) there too. This is why I have come.’

A Man Cleansed

39 He went into all of Galilee,(DO) preaching in their synagogues(DP) and driving out demons. 40 Then(DQ) a man with leprosy[m](DR) came to him and, on his knees,[n](DS) begged him, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’(DT) 41 Moved with compassion,[o](DU) Jesus reached out his hand and touched(DV) him. ‘I am willing,’ he told him. ‘Be made clean.’ 42 Immediately the leprosy(DW) left him, and he was made clean. 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 commanded for your cleansing,(ED) as a testimony(EE) to them.’[p] 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 came to him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Some mss omit the Son of God
  2. 1:2 Other mss read in the prophets
  3. 1:2 Other mss add before you
  4. 1:2 Mal 3:1
  5. 1:3 Is 40:3
  6. 1:4 Or John the Baptist came
  7. 1:8 Or in
  8. 1:14 Other mss add of the kingdom
  9. 1:14 Or gospel
  10. 1:17 Or you to become fishers of
  11. 1:27 Other mss read ‘What is this? What is this new teaching? For with authority
  12. 1:31 Other mss add at once
  13. 1:40 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases, also in v. 42; see Lv 13–14
  14. 1:40 Other mss omit on his knees
  15. 1:41 Other mss Moved with indignation
  16. 1:44 Or against them

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote,

“I will send my messenger ahead of you.
    He will prepare your way.” (Malachi 3:1)
“A messenger is calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make straight paths for him.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)

And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. Here is what John was preaching. “After me, there is someone coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10 Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. Jesus saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11 A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”

12 At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert. 13 He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn’t harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.

Jesus Preaches the Good News

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”

Jesus Chooses His First Disciples

16 One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. 17 “Come and follow me,” Jesus said. “I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. 20 Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit

21 Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching. That’s because he taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!”

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus firmly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.

27 All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.” 28 News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many People

29 Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.

32 That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons. 33 All the people in town gathered at the door. 34 Jesus healed many of them. They had all kinds of sicknesses. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.

Jesus Prays in a Quiet Place

35 It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed. 36 Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. 37 When they found him, they called out, “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let’s go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.

Jesus Heals a Man Who Had a Skin Disease

40 A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, “If you are willing to make me ‘clean,’ you can do it.”

41 Jesus became angry. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” Jesus said. “Be ‘clean’!” 42 Right away the disease left the man, and he was “clean.”

43 Jesus sent him away at once. He gave the man a strong warning. 44 “Don’t tell this to anyone,” he said. “Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are ‘clean.’ ” 45 But the man went out and started talking right away. He spread the news to everyone. So Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. He stayed outside in lonely places. But people still came to him from everywhere.