THE GOSPEL OF MARK FOR READERS ***
Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.
www.PracticeGodsPresence.com The Gospel of Mark ______________________________________________________________________
1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger who shall prepare the way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. After confessing their sins many from the land of Judaea and from Jerusalem were baptized by him in the river of Jordan.
John was clothed with camel's hair and wore animal hides around his loins and he ate locusts and wild honey. He preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I have baptized you with water but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the river of Jordan. Immediately, upon His coming up out of the water, John saw the heavens open and the Spirit, like a dove, descend upon Him. And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
The spirit drove Him into the wilderness. There, among wild beasts, He was tempted by Satan for forty days. Then the angels ministered to Him. Now, after that, John was put in prison and Jesus came into Galilee. He began preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.
He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Come ye after me and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
When He had gone on a little farther, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in a boat mending their nets. Jesus called them. They immediately left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants and went after Him.
They went into Capernaum. On the sabbath day He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His doctrine for He taught them as one with authority and not as the scribes. And in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit. He cried out and said, Let us alone. What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him and said, Hold thy peace and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
The people were amazed, so much so that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? What new doctrine is this? He even commands with authority the unclean spirits and they obey Him. Immediately His fame spread throughout the region around Galilee.
After they left the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew. Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and presently they told Jesus about her. He came and took her by the hand. Then He lifted her up and, immediately, the fever left her. And she, then, ministered to them.
That evening around sunset, many people were brought to Him who were diseased and some who were possessed with devils. And all the city gathered together at the door. Jesus healed many that were sick of divers diseases. He cast out many devils and did not allow the devils to speak because they knew Him.
The next morning, rising before dawn, He went to a solitary place to pray. Simon and those who were with him followed. When they found Him, they said, All men seek for thee. And Jesus said to them, Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
