Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Mark 1
The Beginning of the Good News
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
a voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
John in the Wilderness
John appeared in the wilderness, baptizing and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from all across Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “After me comes one stronger than I am. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Is Baptized and Tested
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, being tested by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
Jesus Begins to Proclaim
After John was handed over, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. He said, “The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and trust the good news.”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in their boat, mending the nets. Immediately he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers and went after him.
Authority in Capernaum
They went into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. The people were astonished at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. Just then, a man in their synagogue who had an unclean 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!” Jesus rebuked the spirit: “Be silent and come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed the man, cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him. Everyone was amazed, and they began asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” News about him spread at once throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Healing and Prayer
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, after the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick or oppressed by demons. The whole city gathered at the door. He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, went out to a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those with him went looking for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else, to the nearby towns, so that I may proclaim there too. This is why I came out.” So he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming in their synagogues and casting out demons.
A Man Is Made Clean
A man with a skin disease came to him, pleading with him and kneeling. He said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Moved with anger, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” Immediately the disease left him, and he was made clean. Jesus sternly warned him and sent him away at once. He said, “See that you say nothing to anyone. Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But the man went out and began proclaiming the matter freely and spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in deserted places. Yet people kept coming to him from everywhere.