-
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
-
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
-
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
-
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, and he ate locusts 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.
-
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
-
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
-
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.
-
And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
-
and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
-
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
-
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
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.
-
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
-
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
-
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
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
-
The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
-
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,
-
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
-
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
-
The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
-
The people were all so amazed 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.”
-
Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.
-
So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
