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John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the
Messiah , 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way” —
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare
the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of
sins. 5 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. 6 John wore clothing
made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,
and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his
message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the
thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and
untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and
was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 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. 11 And a voice
came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I
am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,
13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by
Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended
him.
Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into
Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has
come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 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.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you
out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and
followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son
of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their
nets. 20 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 Evil Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came,
Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The
people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them
as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an
evil spirit cried out, 24 “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!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of
him with a shriek.
27 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 evil spirits and they obey him.” 28
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of
Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with
James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s
mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately
told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand
and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait
on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to
Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town
gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had
various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he
would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary
place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to
look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed:
“Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the
nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I
have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching
in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his
knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and
touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42
Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go,
show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that
Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading
the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town
openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people
still came to him from everywhere. |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
