The Kingdom Is Coming Now
1 The beginning of the Good News of Yeshua ha-Mashiach, Ben-Elohim. 2 As Isaiah the prophet has written,
“Behold, I send My messenger before You,
who will prepare Your way.[a]
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of Adonai,
and make His paths straight.’”[b]
4 John appeared, immersing in the wilderness, proclaiming an immersion involving repentance for the removal of sins. 5 All the Judean countryside was going out to him, and all the Jerusalemites. As they confessed their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 “After me comes One who is mightier than I am,” he proclaimed. “I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals! 8 I immersed you with water, but He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”[c]
The Spirit Rests on Yeshua
9 In those days, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galilee and was immersed by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ripping open and the Ruach as a dove coming down upon Him. 11 And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!”[d]
12 That instant, the Ruach drives Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by satan. And He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were taking care of Him.
Fishermen Follow Him
14 Now after John was put in jail, Yeshua came into the Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. 15 “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!”
16 Passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Yeshua said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
19 Going a little farther, He saw Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands and followed Him.
Demons Flee at His Command
21 And they went into Capernaum. Right away, on Shabbat, He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were astounded at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority[e] and not as the Torah scholars.
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have we to do with You, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are! You’re the Holy One of God!”
25 Yeshua rebuked him, saying, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, after throwing the man into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
27 They were all so amazed that they asked among themselves, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And immediately news about Him spread throughout the region surrounding Galilee.
The Hurting Become Whole
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with Jacob and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. Right away, they told Yeshua about her. 31 He came and raised her up by taking her hand. The fever left her, and she began to take care of them.
32 When evening came, at sunset, the people brought to Him all the sick and those who were afflicted by demons. 33 The whole town gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
35 Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying. 36 Then Simon and those with him hunted for Yeshua. 37 And when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everybody’s looking for You.”
38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also—this is what I came for.” 39 And He went throughout all the Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40 A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” 42 Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed.
43 Yeshua sent him away at once, sternly warning him. 44 He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the kohen.[f] Then, for your cleansing, offer what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim and spread the word, so much that Yeshua could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay out in wilderness areas. Still, they kept on coming to Him from everywhere.
Footnotes
- Mark 1:2 cf. Ex. 23:20, Mal. 3:1.
- Mark 1:3 Isa. 40:3.
- Mark 1:8 cf. Joel 2:28f; Ezek. 36:26; Zech. 12:10.
- Mark 1:11 cf. Ps. 2:7, 12; Prov. 30:4; Isa. 9:5(6).
- Mark 1:22 cf. Isa. 53:12.
- Mark 1:44 cf. Lev. 13:6, 13, 17, 23; 14:39.