MARK 1:1-8
The good *Message about Jesus begins when John the *Baptiser tells people to turn away from their *sins
v1-2 I want to tell you the good *Message about Jesus *Christ. He was the man who was also God. Many years before, the *prophet Isaiah had said that *Christ would come. Isaiah wrote down what God said to his *Son. And this is where the good *Message begins. God said: ‘Listen. I am sending someone ahead of you. He will get people ready for you to come. He will be like someone who is preparing the road ahead for an important official. v3 This person whom I send will be in the desert. He will call out to the people who go by. He will say to them: “Get ready for the *Lord to come. You must prepare the road ahead for a very important person. You must make the paths straight where he will walk. So, make yourselves ready for the *Lord to come.” ’
v4 The person whom Isaiah said would come was John. People called him John the *Baptiser. John went to live in a desert area. He was telling people that God would forgive their *sins. But first they needed to turn away from their *sin. Then John would *baptise them.
v5 A large number of people were going out to the place where John was. These people lived in Jerusalem city and elsewhere in Judea district. They were listening to John’s words. And they were confessing the wrong things that they had done. Then John was *baptising them in the River Jordan.
v6 John wore rough clothes that he made from camel’s hair. John also wore a leather belt, and he ate only *locusts and wild honey. v7 This is what he was telling the people: ‘Very soon a man will come who is very great; I am nobody compared to him. I do not even deserve to be his slave. v8 You said that you wanted to change your lives. So I *baptised you. And I only used water to *baptise you. But the person who is coming will put his *Holy Spirit deep inside you. The *Holy Spirit will really change your lives.’
MARK 1:9-13
The *Holy Spirit comes down on Jesus’ head, and *Satan tests Jesus
v9 At that time when John was talking to the people, Jesus came from Nazareth town. Nazareth is in Galilee district. Jesus went to the place where John was. Then John *baptised him in the River Jordan. v10 As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the *Holy Spirit. God had opened up the sky. And Jesus saw God’s *Spirit who was coming down on his head. God’s *Spirit came down as a *dove descends. v11 Then God spoke to Jesus from *heaven. This is what he said: ‘ I love you very much, my *Son. I am very pleased with you.’ v12 Immediately, God’s *Spirit sent Jesus into the desert. v13 He was in the desert for 40 days. During that time, *Satan tested him. There were wild animals there also. But *angels looked after him.
MARK 1:14-15
Jesus begins to tell people about God’s good *Message
v14 John had been angry with King *Herod Antipas because of the wrong things that he had done. So *Herod sent some soldiers to put John into prison. After that, Jesus went to Galilee district. He was telling people the good *Message that came from God. v15 ‘Now is the time when God will begin to rule people’s lives in a new way’, Jesus said. ‘So turn away from the wrong things that you do! And believe God’s good *Message!’
MARK 1:16-20
Jesus calls four men to travel with him
v16 One day, when Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two men, Simon and Simon’s younger brother, Andrew. These men caught and sold fish to earn their money. They were throwing their fishing nets into the lake. v17 Then Jesus said to them, ‘You know how to catch fish. Now I want you to come with me. I will teach you how to attract people. Then those people can learn about me.’ v18 Immediately, they left the work that they were doing with their nets. And they went with Jesus. v19 They went on a little further, and Jesus saw some other men. Two of the men were James and James’s younger brother, John. Zebedee was the name of their father. Both men were in a boat, and they were mending nets. v20 Jesus saw them, and he called them over to him. So James and John left their father. He stayed in the boat with the servants that he had hired. But his sons went away with Jesus.
MARK 1:21-28
Jesus forces an *evil spirit to come out of a man, and people are very surprised
v21 Later, Jesus and the *disciples arrived at Capernaum town. The next *Sabbath day, Jesus went into the *synagogue. He began to teach the people who had gathered there. v22 Those people were very surprised at the way that Jesus was teaching them. He taught them like someone who had God’s authority. He did not speak to them like the men who teach the *Jewish *laws.
v23 So there was Jesus teaching people in the *synagogue. Suddenly a man who had an *evil spirit in him came up to Jesus. This man shouted: v24 ‘Jesus, you are from Nazareth town. You and we have nothing in common. So do not stop us *evil spirits now! Do not destroy us yet! I know who you are. I know that you are very clean and special to God. I know that you have come from God!’ v25 Then Jesus told the *evil spirit: ‘Be quiet! And come out of the man!’ v26 The *evil spirit shook the man hard, and he screamed loudly. Then the *evil spirit came out and it left the man.
v27 All the people who were there were very surprised at this. They kept saying to each other: ‘This is wonderful! First he teaches us in a new way, with God’s authority. And now the *evil spirits obey him when he commands them!’ v28 People very soon went all over the whole Galilee district. They told everyone what Jesus had done.
MARK 1:29-31
Simon’s wife’s mother is sick and Jesus makes her better
v29 Jesus, Simon and Andrew, with James and John, then left the *synagogue. They went directly to Simon and Andrew’s house. v30 Someone quickly told Jesus that Simon’s wife’s mother was ill. Her body was very hot, and she was lying down. v31 He went to her. He took hold of her hand and he lifted her up. She was not hot any more. Then she was able to serve them a meal.
MARK 1:32-34
Jesus also causes many *evil spirits to come out of some people
v32 It was now evening, and the sun had gone down. Some people brought many other people who were sick to Jesus. They also brought some people who had *evil spirits in them. v33 Almost everyone who lived in the town had gathered at the doorway. v34 People were ill with various diseases, and Jesus made them better. He also caused many *evil spirits to come out of people. The *evil spirits knew that Jesus had come from God. That is why Jesus did not allow these spirits to speak about him.
MARK 1:35-39
Jesus travels on through the Galilee area
v35 Jesus got up very early the next morning. It was still dark. He left the house and he went out of Capernaum town. He went to a place where there was no one else. Then he prayed there. v36 Simon and his companions searched for him and they found him. Then they said to him: v37 ‘Many people in the town are looking for you! So come back with us and help them!’ v38 ‘No’, Jesus said, ‘let us go on to all the towns near here. I came into the world to tell God’s *Message to many people! That is why I want to speak there also.’ v39 So they went all through the Galilee district. And every *Sabbath day Jesus was teaching people in the *synagogues of the towns. He was also causing *evil spirits to come out of people.
MARK 1:40-45
Jesus cures a *leper
v40 One day, a *leper came to talk to Jesus. He kneeled down in front of Jesus and asked him eagerly: ‘If you really want to cure me, please would you do so now’, he said. ‘I know that you are able to do this!’ v41 Jesus felt sorry for the man with *leprosy. So he reached out his hand and touched him. Then Jesus said to him: ‘I really do want to cure you. So I will cure you right now!’ v42 Immediately, the man was better. He was no longer a *leper.
v43-44 Jesus spoke strictly to the man who had been a *leper. He told him what he must do next. The *Jewish *law gave certain rules. Jesus told the man to follow these rules. He sent the man away. He said to him, ‘Go to the priest in Jerusalem. Show the priest that God has made you well. And do not tell anyone else what has happened to you. *Moses gave this command to every person whom God has cured of *leprosy. You should go to the *Temple and take a present for God’, Jesus said. ‘Then all the local people will know that God has cured you.’ v45 The man with *leprosy went and the priest saw him. But then the man began to talk to many of the local people. He told them how Jesus had cured him. Because of that, Jesus was no longer able to enter any town publicly. The crowds would just get in his way if he did. Instead, he remained outside the towns in places where nobody lived. And people were still coming to him from all over that region.
MARK 2:1-12
Jesus cures a *paralysed man
v1 Some days later, Jesus and his *disciples returned to Capernaum town. People heard that Jesus was in a certain house. v2 Many people gathered there to see him. They filled the house, and there was no more space to stand in the house. Nor could the people stand round the doorway outside. Jesus told them God’s *Message. v3 Then some other people arrived at the house. They were bringing a *paralysed man to Jesus. Four men were carrying him on a mat. v4 But they were not able to take the man directly to Jesus because there were so many people round Jesus. So they went up on the flat roof. They removed part of the roof above the place where Jesus was. They made a big hole in the roof. Then they moved the *paralysed man down on the mat by *ropes. They moved him down right in front of Jesus.
v5 Jesus saw that those men believed him. They knew that Jesus could cure their friend. So Jesus said to the *paralysed man, ‘My friend, I forgive your *sins!’ v6 Some men who taught God’s *laws were sitting there. They were thinking to themselves: v7 ‘This man is wrong to talk like that! He is insulting God. No human person can forgive *sins! Only God can forgive *sins!’ v8 Jesus knew inside himself what they were thinking. So he said to them, ‘You think that it is wrong for me to v9 tell the *paralysed man, “I forgive your *sins.” But it would not be easier for me to say to him, “Get up and pick up your mat. Now, go home to your house.”
v10 All right, I will show you something. I want you to know this. I am the man whom God sent from *heaven. And God has given me authority to forgive *sins in this world.’ Then Jesus said to the *paralysed man: v11 ‘Get up! Pick up your mat! And now, go home to your house!’ v12 The man stood up immediately! He picked up the mat and he went away. Everybody there was watching him carefully. They all wondered greatly, and they praised God. This is what they said: ‘Only God could do this! We have never seen anything like this before!’
MARK 2:13-17
Jesus goes to a meal with Levi and with other people whom the *Jews called *sinners
v13 Jesus left Capernaum town again and he walked along by Lake Galilee. A large crowd followed him, and he taught them God’s *Message. v14 As he walked on further, he saw a man called Levi. Levi’s father’s name was Alpheus. Levi was sitting in his office. His job was to collect taxes for the *Roman government. Jesus said to him, ‘Come with me and become my *disciple!’ So Levi got up and went with Jesus.
v15 Later, Jesus was eating a meal in Levi’s house. There were many other people who were eating with Jesus and his *disciples. And there were also people who collected taxes for the *Roman government. The *Jews considered all of them to be *sinful people. Many such people were going everywhere with Jesus. v16 Men who taught the *Jewish laws were at the meal. They were also members of the *Pharisee party. Jesus was eating with those people who collected taxes. The *Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with those people. So the *Pharisees said to Jesus’ *disciples: ‘He should not eat with such disgusting people. We call them *sinners.’
v17 Jesus heard what the *Pharisees were saying. So he said this to the men who taught the *Jewish *laws: ‘People who are well do not look for a doctor. It is sick people who look for a doctor!’ And Jesus also said, ‘Some people think that they live in a good and right way. I am not telling such people that they must turn away from their *sins. I came to speak to people who have *sinned. And they know that they have *sinned. I am inviting those people to turn from their *sins.’
MARK 2:18-22
Old customs do not go well with the new way to live that Jesus is teaching
v18 Some people used to *fast often. They were showing that they were sorry for their *sins. They were *disciples of John the *Baptiser. And some people who belonged to the *Pharisee party did the same thing. So one day, some people came to Jesus and they asked him some questions: ‘John’s *disciples and the *Pharisees’ *disciples often *fast’, they said. ‘But your *disciples do not *fast. We think that they should *fast also. What do you say about that?’ v19 This was Jesus’ answer: ‘A man is marrying a woman. And he is still there with everyone at the wedding party. So his friends will certainly not *fast while he is still there’, he said. ‘All the time that the man is with them at the party, they will not *fast. They are happy together. v20 But some day, his enemies will take him away from them. Then his friends will *fast, because they will be very sad.’
v21 Jesus also said: ‘Someone has a hole in his old shirt. No one would sew a piece of new cloth on the old cloth. Perhaps that person does that, and then washes the shirt. But when the new piece of cloth gets wet, then it will get smaller. Then it will tear off more of the old cloth. As a result, there will be a larger hole in the old shirt!’ Jesus said. v22 He continued to speak: ‘In a similar way, no one puts new wine into old *wine skins. Perhaps someone does that. The wine then needs more space and it bursts the *wine-skins. As a result, they will spoil both the wine and the *wine skins! People must put new wine into new *wineskins!’[1]
MARK 2:23-28
What people should do on *Sabbath days
v23 One *Sabbath day, Jesus was walking with his *disciples. They were walking along a path through some wheat fields. And the *disciples were picking some wheat to eat as they walked. They were pressing the wheat in their hands, and eating the grain.[2] v24 Some *Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Look! Today is the *Sabbath day. Your *disciples should not be doing work like beating out the grain now. Our custom does not allow us to work today!’ v25 This was Jesus’ answer: ‘One day, our *ancestor, King David needed food. Both he and the men with him were very hungry. You all know what he did. You have read about that in the *Scriptures.
v26 It was during the time when Abiathar was high priest. David arrived at the house of God and he entered it. He asked for some bread. And the high priest gave him some loaves of bread. Those loaves were bread that the priests had offered to God that day. And only priests were allowed to eat that bread by *Jewish *law! But David ate some of the bread. And he also gave some of it to the men who were with him. But God did not consider that to be wrong!’ v27 Jesus also said this to the *Pharisees: ‘God established the *Sabbath day to help people! He did not create people just to serve the law of the *Sabbath day!’ he said. ‘So think about this: I am the man who came from *heaven. v28 Therefore, I can decide what my people can do on the *Sabbath day!’
MARK 3:1-6
Jesus cures a man on the *Sabbath day, and so *Jewish leaders plan to kill Jesus
v1 On another *Sabbath day, Jesus entered the *synagogue again. There was a man there whose hand had become of no use. v2 Some men of the *Pharisee party were watching Jesus carefully. They wanted to see whether he would cure the man on the *Sabbath day. They wanted to accuse Jesus of not obeying the *Jewish *law, because he did this work on the *Sabbath day. v3 Jesus said to the man whose hand had become of no use, ‘Stand up in front of everyone!’ So the man stood up.
v4 Then Jesus asked the *Pharisees, ‘Does the *law that God gave *Moses permit people to do good things on the *Sabbath day? Or does the *law permit people to do evil things? Does the *law permit us to cure a person on the *Sabbath day? Or does the *law command us to let a person die?’ But they did not reply. v5 He looked at them angrily. But he was also very sorry because they did not want to listen to him. So Jesus said to the man, ‘Reach out your hand!’ When the man reached out his hand, his hand became well again!
v6 Then the *Pharisees decided to kill Jesus. They left the *synagogue. And immediately, they went to meet with some *Jews who supported King *Herod Antipas. Herod ruled Galilee district. Together they planned how they could kill Jesus.
MARK 3:7-12
Crowds come to hear Jesus because he has already cured many people
v7 Jesus and his *disciples left that town. They went to an area further along Lake Galilee. But a large crowd of people followed him. These people came from Galilee district and v8 from Jerusalem city. They came from other towns of Judea district and from Idumea district. They came from the region on the east side of the Jordan River. And they came from the region round the cities called Tyre and Sidon. This large crowd of people had heard about what Jesus was doing. Because of this they came to him. v9-10 Jesus had cured many people. But still there were many other people there with various illnesses. They were pushing forward to touch him. They wanted to touch him so that they would be cured. So Jesus told his *disciples to get a small boat ready for him. Then he could get into the boat. He could then teach the people who were standing on the shore from the boat. And the crowd would not press against him when they pushed forward. v11 There were also people who had *evil spirits in them. The *evil spirits saw Jesus and they recognised him. The people with the *evil spirits fell onto the ground. They fell in front of Jesus. And they shouted at Jesus, ‘You are the *Son of God.’ v12 Jesus commanded the *evil spirits strictly not to tell anyone who he was.
MARK 3:13-19
Jesus appoints the 12 *apostles
v13 Jesus went with many other people up into the hills. He chose from them the 12 men whom he wanted. When they came together, v14 he appointed them as *apostles. He wanted them to be with him. And later he wanted to send them out to tell the good news. v15 He gave them power to force *evil spirits out of people. v16 These were the 12 men whom he appointed: Simon (he gave him a new name, Peter) and his younger brother Andrew. v17 He also appointed James the son of Zebedee and John the younger brother of James. To both of these he added a new name, ‘Men who are like thunder’[3]. v18 Then there were Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, another James, who was the son of Alpheus, and Thaddaeus. Also there was another Simon. He was a member of the *Zealot party. v19 And there was Judas from Karioth town. He later helped Jesus’ enemies to arrest Jesus.
MARK 3:20-30
Jesus forces *evil spirits out by God’s own power
v20 Jesus returned with his *disciples to Capernaum. They went to the house where he was staying there. Again a crowd gathered where he was. So many people were crowding round him, that he and his *disciples had no time even to eat. v21 His relatives heard about this, so they went to take him home. People were saying that he was mad.
v22 Some men who taught the *Jewish *laws were also there. They had come down from Jerusalem city. They had heard that Jesus was forcing *evil spirits out of people. So they were telling people, ‘*Satan controls that Jesus! *Satan is the *evil spirits’ boss. He helps Jesus to force *evil spirits out of people!’ v23 Jesus called everybody to gather round him. And he used simple stories to talk to them. ‘Your idea that *Satan would force out his own *evil spirits is stupid!’ he said. v24 ‘People who live in the same country do not fight each other. If they fought each other they would stop being a single nation. v25 Also, people who live in the same house do not fight each other. If they do, they will certainly not stay together as a family. v26 In a similar way, if *Satan and his *evil spirits are fighting each other, *Satan’s power could come to an end’, Jesus said. v27 ‘Suppose that someone who owns a house with many possessions in it. And someone wants to break in and steal this man’s property. But the man is very strong. So first the thief must tie up this man. Then he can steal everything that the man owns.’[4]
v28 Jesus also said, ‘Think about this carefully! People may *sin in many ways and they may speak evil words about God. And God can forgive them for that. v29 But perhaps someone will speak evil words about what the *Holy Spirit does. Then God will never forgive them. God will always say that that person is guilty of *sin.’
v30 The people were saying, ‘An *evil spirit is controlling him!’ That is why Jesus told them these stories.
MARK 3:31-35
Those who obey God are very close to Jesus. They are as close as his nearest relatives are.
v31 Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside the house where Jesus was. And they sent someone inside to call him. v32 A crowd was sitting round Jesus. One of them said to him, ‘Sir, your mother, your brothers and your sisters are here. They are outside and they are looking for you!’ v33 Jesus replied to them, ‘Listen to what I have to say about my mother, my brothers and my sisters!’ v34 The *disciples were sitting round him in a circle. So he looked at them and said, ‘Look at these men here! I love them as much as I love my mother, my brothers and my sisters. v35 Anyone who always does what God wants is like my brother, my sister, or my mother! I love such people as much as I love my family.’
MARK 4:1-25
People listen to God’s *Message in different ways: Some people do what God says. Other people completely forget what he says.
v1 Again Jesus was teaching people by the side of Lake Galilee. A very large crowd had gathered round him. There was a boat on the lake. Because the crowd was large he got into this boat. Then he sat in it so that he could teach the crowd better. The crowd was standing on the shore at the water’s edge. v2 Jesus taught them many things by stories. This is one of the stories that he used:
v3 ‘Think about what this story means: A farmer went to his field to sow grain. v4 As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path. And they remained there on top of the path. Then some birds came and they ate those seeds.
v5 Some other seeds fell on rocky ground. There was not much soil over the rocks. The sun warmed the soil quickly where it was shallow. And very soon the seeds began to grow. v6 But when the sun rose higher, it became very hot. Then the young plants dried up and they died. They did not have deep roots’, Jesus said. v7 ‘The farmer continued to sow. Some more of his seeds fell on ground where there were many thorny weeds[5]. The seeds started to grow. The thorny weeds also grew up and they crowded round the farmer’s plants. So, those plants produced no grain.
v8 The rest of the farmer’s seeds fell into good soil. Those seeds began to grow well, and they produced plenty of grain. Some heads of grain produced 30 grains. Some heads produced 60 grains and some produced a hundred grains.’ v9 Then Jesus said, ‘If you want to understand this story, you should think carefully about it.’
v10 Later, the *disciples asked Jesus about the *parables. Only the 12 *disciples and a few other people were there with Jesus. v11 ‘The new *Message tells us how God wants to rule people’s lives’, Jesus said. ‘People have not understood this *Message before. But I am explaining all this to you now. However, I also tell this *Message to other people. But I have to use stories to tell those people. v12 So, what a certain *prophet has written is true: “They see the same things that I see. But they do not know the meaning of these things. They hear what I say. But they do not understand what I mean. So they do not turn away from their *sin, and God cannot forgive them.” ’ v13 Jesus also said to them, ‘You do not seem to understand what this story means. So you will not be able to understand any other stories that I tell you. However, I will explain this story to you:
v14 The grain is like God’s *Message, and the farmer sows it. Therefore the farmer is like a person who speaks God’s *Message in public. v15 Some people hear God’s *Message. And they are like the seed that falls on the hard path. Those people do hear the *Message. But *Satan comes at once and he takes it away. This is like the birds that picked up seed from the path. *Satan causes the people to forget what they have heard. v16 Other people hear God’s *Message and at first they are very happy to receive it. But those people are like the rocky ground. The soil there was not very deep, and the plants did not have deep roots. v17 In the same way, those people do not believe God’s *Message deeply. They believe it for only a short time. Soon other people cause such people to suffer. And people make them suffer because they believe God’s *Message. So those people stop believing.
v18-19 Other people hear God’s *Message. But they really want to be rich, and to own lots of things. So they think only about what belongs to this world. They are like the ground that contained roots of thorny weeds[5]. And so they forget God’s *Message. They do not do the things that please God. v20 But other people are like the good soil. They hear God’s *Message and they accept it completely. They do the things that please God. They are like the good heads of grain that produced 30, 60 or 100 grains.’
v21 Jesus also told them another story. ‘People do not light an oil lamp and then put it under a bowl. Nor do they put the lamp under a bed in a house’, Jesus said. ‘Instead, they light the lamp. Then they put it in a place where it gives light to the whole house. v22 In the same way, there are some parts of God’s *Message that people do not know. At this time, these things are like hidden secrets to them. But God wants people to understand all of his *Message. v23 If you want to understand God’s *Message, you should think carefully about it.’
v24 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Think carefully about what I say. God will help you to understand it. God will do to you as you do to other people. And maybe God will have to act in a more severe way towards you. v25 God will help anyone who thinks carefully about my words. Such people will be able to understand even more. But it will be different for a person who does not think at all about my words. Such people will forget even what they already know.’
MARK 4:26-34
The farmer who planted seed, and the smallest seed of all
v26 Jesus also said, ‘God changes people who let him rule their lives. I will tell you a story about how this can happen. A farmer planted seed in a field. v27 Then he slept each night and he got up each day as usual. He did not need to worry about the seeds. During that time the seeds began to grow. The farmer did not understand how they grew. The soil by itself caused the plants to grow and to produce grain. v28 First the stems came up. Then heads appeared on the stems. Then the heads of grain became bigger. v29 As soon as the grain was ripe, it was time to harvest the grain. So the farmer sent people to harvest it.’
v30 Jesus also told this story. ‘There will be many more people whom God rules in this new way. Their number will continue to grow’, he said. ‘It is like this: v31 You know how a grain of mustard seed grows. This seed is the smallest of all the seeds in the world. v32 But after someone plants it, it grows huge. It becomes the largest of the garden plants. Big branches grow on it so that birds are able to nest in its shade.’
v33 Whenever Jesus talked to the people about God, he told many such stories as pictures. If the people were able to understand the pictures a little, he would tell them more. v34 He only spoke to them in the form of stories. But later, when they were alone, he spoke to his own *disciples. Then he explained all the stories to them.
MARK 4:35-41
Jesus orders a great storm to be calm
v35 It was sunset that same day. Jesus spoke to his *disciples, ‘Let us take the boat. Let us cross over to the other side of the lake’, he said. v36 So they left the crowd and they got into the boat. Jesus was already in the boat. Then they left the shore. Other people went with them in other boats. v37 But a strong wind started, and the waves started to come into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full of water! v38 Jesus was in the back part of the boat. He was sleeping, with his head on a cushion. So the *disciples woke him up and they said to him, ‘Teacher! Are you not at all worried that we will drown?’ v39 So Jesus got up and he ordered the wind to stop. Then he spoke to the lake, ‘Be quiet! Be still!’ The wind stopped blowing and the lake became very calm. v40 Then Jesus said to the *disciples, ‘You did not need to be afraid like that! Do you not yet believe that I can protect you?’ v41 They were even more afraid. They said to each other, ‘This man is really astonishing! Even the wind and the waves obey him!’
MARK 5:1-20
The man from Gerasa with the *evil spirits
v1 Jesus and his *disciples arrived on the east side of Lake Galilee. They landed near Gerasa town. v2-4 A certain man in that region had an *evil spirit in him. That man tried to attack people, and people were afraid of him. They had tied him up with *ropes many times. But as he grew more fierce, no one was able to tie him up any longer. He was so strong that he broke the *ropes. Then they tried to put chains on him, but he would just break the chains. He would also break into small pieces the iron bands that they fastened on his feet. v5 He lived in one of the caves where they buried dead people. All night and all day he wandered in the caves and the hills and he screamed. He also used to cut himself with sharp stones.
v6 When Jesus and his *disciples got out of the boat, this man left the caves. He saw Jesus from a distance. Immediately, the man ran to Jesus, and then he kneeled down in front of Jesus. v7-8 Jesus said to the *evil spirit, ‘You *evil spirit, come out of this man!’ But the *evil spirit did not leave quickly. The *evil spirit made a loud cry, ‘Jesus, I know that you are the *Son of God. So leave me alone! I know that God is listening. So I ask you to promise that you will not hurt me now!’ v9 Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ The man with the *evil spirit replied, ‘My name is Crowd, because I have so many *evil spirits in me.’
v10 Then the man urged Jesus not to send the *evil spirits out of the region. v11 At that moment, there were a large number of pigs near Jesus and the man. They were eating food on the side of the hill. v12 So the *evil spirits asked Jesus, ‘Please allow us to go and enter the bodies of those pigs!’ v13 Jesus permitted them to do that. So the *evil spirits left the man and they entered the pigs. There were about two thousand pigs in that large group. They all rushed over the edge of the cliff. Then they fell into the lake. And so they drowned in the lake.
v14 The men who were looking after the pigs ran away. They went to the town and to the country villages. They told everybody about this. Many people then went out with the pig keepers to see what had happened. v15 They came to the place where Jesus was. And they saw the man who earlier had many *evil spirits. The man was sitting quietly. He was wearing all his clothes and his mind was normal again. The village people became extremely afraid. v16 The pig keepers then described what had happened. They told about the man who earlier had the *evil spirits. They also described what had happened to the pigs. v17 So the people were even more afraid and they immediately asked Jesus to leave their region.
v18 Jesus was getting ready to leave in the boat. Then the man who earlier had the *evil spirits spoke to Jesus. He asked Jesus to let him go with him and the *disciples. v19 But Jesus did not let him go with them. This is what Jesus said to him, ‘Now, go home! Tell your family there how much the *Lord has done for you’, Jesus said. ‘Tell them how kind God was to you.’ v20 The man went and travelled round the whole Ten Towns district. He told people how much Jesus had done for him. All the people who heard what the man said were astonished.
MARK 5:21-43
A woman who has been suffering for a long time, and a young girl who has died
v21 Jesus and his *disciples went back in the boat across Lake Galilee. They went to the place where they had been before. They came to the shore of the lake, and a large crowd gathered round Jesus. v22 A man called Jairus was there. Jairus was a president of the *synagogue in that town. When he saw Jesus he threw himself down at Jesus’ feet. v23 Then he asked Jesus desperately, ‘My daughter is ill and she is nearly dead! Please come to my house and put your hands on her. Then you will cure her, and she will not die!’ v24 So Jesus and the *disciples went with him.
A large crowd followed Jesus and many people pushed close to him. v25 There was a woman in the crowd. She had suffered from an illness for 12 years. She was bleeding constantly. v26 She had suffered much, and many doctors had tried to cure her. She had spent all her money on doctors’ fees. None of the doctors or curers had helped her. Instead, she had become worse. v27 She had heard that Jesus cured people. So she came to the place where he was. She pushed close behind Jesus in the crowd. v28 She was thinking, ‘I want to touch him, or maybe I can just touch the edge of his clothes. Then he will cure me with his power.’ So she touched the edge of Jesus’ clothes. v29 At once her body stopped bleeding. And she realised that Jesus had cured her illness.
v30 Jesus also knew immediately that he had cured someone by his power. So he turned round in the crowd and he asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’
v31 His *disciples replied, ‘You see that many people are crowding close to you! So why do you even ask, “Who touched me?” ’ v32 But Jesus kept looking round to see the person who had touched him. v33 The woman was very afraid that Jesus might be angry. But she knew that Jesus had cured her. So she threw herself on the ground in front of him. Then she told him the truth about what she had done. v34 ‘Young woman, I have now cured you because you believed in me’, Jesus said to her. ‘Go home in peace now. I promise you that you will not suffer any more from this illness.’
v35 Jesus was still speaking to that woman, when some other people arrived. They had come from Jairus’s house. ‘Your daughter is now dead’, they said to Jairus. ‘So, it will not help you now to urge the teacher to come to your house.’
v36 But Jesus heard what those people were saying. He said to Jairus, ‘Do not be afraid! Just believe that I can cure her!’ v37 Jesus only allowed his three closest *disciples, Peter, James, and John, to go with him to Jairus’s house. He did not allow any other people to go with him.
v38 As they got near the house, Jesus heard the noise of the people. They were weeping and crying out loudly. v39 Jesus went into the house. ‘Do not make such a noise!’ he said to all the people. ‘Stop crying! The child is not dead! She is only sleeping!’ v40 The people knew that she was dead. So they laughed at him.
But Jesus sent everyone out of the house. Then he took the child’s father and mother and the three *disciples who were with him. They all went into the room where the child was lying. She was 12 years old. v41 He took hold of the child’s hand and he said to her in her own language, ‘Talitha Koum!’ That means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ v42 At once, the girl got up and she walked about a bit. The people who saw this *miracle were completely astonished. v43 Jesus gave them strict orders, ‘Do not tell anyone what I have done!’ Then he told them to bring some food to the child.
MARK 6:1-6a
Many people in Nazareth town refuse to listen to Jesus
v1 Jesus left Capernaum town and he went to his home town, Nazareth. His *disciples went with him. v2 On the *Sabbath day, he went into the *synagogue. He taught God’s *Message to the people there. Many of those people listened to what he said. They were astonished. They began to say, [6] ‘We cannot believe that God has made this man so very wise. We cannot believe the *miracles that he is doing! v3 We know that he is just an ordinary person! He earns money by making things with wood! We know him and his family! We know Mary his mother! We know his younger brothers James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. His younger sisters live here in this town with us.’ So they hated him. v4 Jesus knew that they refused to believe him. So this is what he said to them. ‘It is certainly true that people give honour to *prophets in many places’, Jesus said. ‘But people in the *prophets’ home towns do not give them honour! Even their relatives and the people who live in the *prophets’ own houses do not give them honour. And you also, like them, do not give me honour!’
v5 Jesus was not able to do many *miracles in Nazareth. The people there did not believe him. But he did touch a few sick people there and he cured them. v6 Jesus was astonished that people in Nazareth did not believe him.
MARK 6:6b-13
Jesus begins to send his *disciples out in pairs
Jesus and his *disciples went from town to town in that region. Everywhere he taught God’s *Message to the people. v7 One day Jesus asked the 12 *disciples to come to where he was sitting. Then he told them that he would send them out to various other towns. He told them to always go in pairs. They must teach God’s *Message to people. Jesus gave them power to make *evil spirits come out of people. v8-9 He told the *disciples to wear *sandals. He said that they could take a stick with them. This might help them walk when they were travelling. But he told them not to take any food with them. They should not take a bag to carry anything, nor any money. Also he did not allow them to take extra clothes.[7]
v10 Jesus also told them this: ‘When you arrive in a town, someone may invite you to stay in their house. This is all right. Go into that house. Eat and sleep there. Stay in that house until you leave the town. v11 But you must leave any place where people do not welcome you. And you must leave any place where people do not listen to you. You must leave such places. And as you leave, shake the dust off your feet. Like that, you will warn the people there that God will blame them. They have refused to listen to God’s *Message.’ v12 So the *apostles went out to various towns, and they told the *Message to the people there. They told the people that they should be sorry for their *sins. They should stop constantly *sinning. v13 They also made many *evil spirits come out of people. And they put oil on many sick people and cured them.
MARK 6:14-29
King *Herod tells his soldiers to kill John the *Baptiser
v14 Many people were talking about what Jesus was doing. So King *Herod Antipas heard about Jesus. Some people were saying about Jesus, ‘God has made John the *Baptiser alive again! John has returned here! God has given him power to do those astonishing things!’ v15 Other people were saying about Jesus, ‘He is the former *prophet Elijah. God promised to send Elijah back to this world again.’ Other people were saying about Jesus, ‘No, he is a different *prophet. He is like one of the other *prophets who lived long ago.’ v16 King *Herod Antipas heard that the people were saying all these things. But he kept saying to himself, ‘That man who is doing those astonishing things is John! I ordered my soldiers to cut off his head, but he has become alive again. He wants to kill me in turn because I killed him!’
v17-18 Some time before this, King *Herod had married Herodias. But she was still the wife of his younger brother, Philip. So John told *Herod many times, ‘God’s *law does not permit you to marry your brother’s wife. Philip is still alive.’ Herodias, Philip’s wife, kept telling *Herod that he should put John in prison. So *Herod sent soldiers to John. They arrested John and they put him in prison. v19 Herodias wanted to do still more bad things to John because of what he had said about her. She wanted someone to kill him. But she was not able to find anyone to do this. King *Herod Antipas was keeping John in prison, and she could not hurt him there. v20 *Herod kept John in safety because he respected him. He knew that John obeyed God’s rules. He knew that John was completely God’s man. The king liked to listen to what John said. But his mind was confused.
v21 However, Herodias had an opportunity to hurt John later. It was *Herod’s birthday, and there was a party in his honour. *Herod had invited the main government officials and the main army leaders to a special dinner with him. He had also invited the most important men in Galilee district.
v22 They were all eating. Then Herodias’s daughter came into the room to dance. King *Herod and his guests liked the way that she danced. So the king said to her, ‘Ask me to give you whatever you want. Whatever you want, I will give it to you!’ v23 ‘I will give you whatever you ask me for!’ The king also said, ‘This what I will give you. I will give you as much as half of everything that I rule. Just ask me for it. I ask God now to punish me if I do not keep this promise!’ he said.
v24 The girl left the room and she went to her mother. She told her what the king had said. Then she asked her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ Her mother replied, ‘Ask the king to give you John the *Baptiser’s head!’ v25 The girl immediately went back again to the room where the king was. She went to the king. This is what she asked him, ‘I want you to cut off John the *Baptiser’s head at once! I want you to give his head to me now, on a tray!’ v26 The king became very sad when he heard this. But he could not refuse to give John’s head to her. He had made a promise. His guests had heard him make this promise. He had promised to give Herodias’s daughter whatever she asked for.
v27 So the king at once ordered one of his soldiers to go and cut off John’s head. He ordered the soldier to bring it to him on a tray. The soldier went to the prison and he cut off John’s head. v28 He put the head on a tray and he brought it back to Herodias’s daughter. He gave it to the girl. And the girl took it to her mother. v29 John’s *disciples heard that *Herod had killed John. So they came and took John’s body away to bury it. That was what had happened. And now King *Herod was afraid of what John might do.
MARK 6:30-34
Jesus and the *disciples go away to a quiet place
v30 The 12 *apostles returned to Jesus from the places where they had gone. They reported to Jesus what they had done. They reported what they had taught the people. v31 But many other people kept coming there. They left and other people came. And Jesus and his *apostles did not have time to eat. And they did not have time to do anything else. So Jesus said to them, ‘Let us go somewhere where we can be completely alone. We will be able to rest there!’ v32 So they went away by themselves. They went in a boat to a quiet place. v33 Many people saw them leave. They recognised Jesus and his *disciples. They guessed where they were going. So they came out from all the towns near them. And they ran ahead round the lake to the place where Jesus and the *disciples were going. They arrived there before Jesus and his *disciples. v34 As Jesus got out of the boat, he saw this large crowd. He felt sorry for the people because they were so confused. They looked like sheep that did not have anyone to look after them. So he began to teach them many things about God.
MARK 6:35-44
Jesus provides food for more than five thousand people in an astonishing way
v35 Later in the afternoon, the *disciples came to Jesus. ‘Nobody lives here and it is very late in the day’, they said. v36 ‘So, send the people away to the surrounding villages and places where people live. Then they can buy something to eat for themselves!’ v37 However, Jesus replied, ‘You yourselves give them something to eat!’ Then the *disciples said, ‘There is no way that we can buy enough bread to feed all these people. Even if we spent a man’s wages for two hundred days’ work we could not buy enough!’ v38 Jesus’ reply to those words was, ‘How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and look!’ They looked, and then they told him, ‘We have only five loaves of bread and two fishes!’
v39 Jesus told the *disciples to make the people sit down on the green grass.
v40 So the people sat down in groups. There were 50 people in some groups and 100 people in other groups. v41 Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up towards *heaven. He then thanked God for the food. Jesus broke the loaves into pieces. He gave the bread and the fish to the *disciples. He told them to distribute the food to the people. v42 And everyone ate this food until they had all had enough! v43 The *disciples then collected all the pieces of bread and fish that the people had left. There were 12 large baskets full of pieces. v44 Nearly five thousand men ate the bread and fish. They did not count the women and children.
MARK 6:45-52
The *disciples have a difficult time on the lake
v45 Jesus immediately ordered his *disciples to get back into the boat. He told them to go ahead of him to Bethsaida town. Bethsaida was further round the side of Lake Galilee. Jesus himself stayed and sent away the large crowd of people. v46 He said goodbye to the people. Then he went up into the hills to pray. v47 By the evening, the *disciples’ boat was in the middle of the lake. But Jesus was still there on the land by himself. v48 The *disciples were rowing the boat. (This means that they were using oars to move the boat.) Jesus saw that the wind was blowing against the *disciples. It is very difficult to row a boat against a strong wind.
So, early in the morning, when it was still dark, Jesus went to help them. He went towards them, walking on the water. He was about to pass by them. v49 But the *disciples saw him as he was walking on the water. They thought that he was a *spirit. And they screamed when they saw him. v50 They screamed because they were all very afraid. But Jesus talked to them. ‘Be calm!’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid! It is just me, Jesus!’ v51 Then Jesus got into the boat with the *disciples. Suddenly the wind stopped. They were completely astonished at what he had done. v52 It was true that Jesus had multiplied the loaves of bread and the fish. They had seen this themselves. But they did not understand why Jesus did it. They were very confused by everything.
MARK 6:53-56
People bring more sick people to Jesus
v53 After that, Jesus and the *disciples went further round Lake Galilee in the boat. They came to the shore at Gennesaret town. They tied up the boat there. v54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people there recognised Jesus. v55 These people ran all over the district to tell other people that Jesus was there. And people put those who were sick onto *stretchers. They carried them on the *stretchers to Jesus. They heard that Jesus was in a certain place. Then they took the sick people to that place. v56 Jesus went to the places where there were markets. These were in the villages, the towns and in the country. The sick people asked Jesus to let them touch him. They wanted to touch just the edge of his clothes. And all those who touched Jesus or his clothes were cured.
MARK 7:1-23
What spoils a person, and what makes a person suitable for God
v1 One day some *Pharisees and some men who teach the *Jewish *laws gathered round Jesus. They had come from Jerusalem city to see what Jesus was doing. v2-4 Many years before, the *Jewish leaders had taught the people various customs. For example, *Jews refuse to eat until they have washed their hands in a special way. They also wash all the food that they buy in a special way. They think that otherwise God will be angry with them.[8] The *Jews also have many other such customs that they try to obey. They wash their cups, plates, pots, kettles, and beds in a special way, so that they will please God. The *Pharisees and many other *Jews obeyed these old customs completely.
v5 Well, those *Pharisees and *scribes saw that Jesus’ *disciples had not washed their hands in this special way. And now they were eating food with their hands. So they asked Jesus why the *disciples were eating like this. ‘Your *disciples do not obey the customs that our *Jewish people have obeyed for many years!’ they said. ‘They have not washed their hands in the special way. So, you should not let them eat food!’ v6 Jesus said to them, ‘You people only pretend to be good!’ he said. ‘Long ago, Isaiah wrote these words that came from God: He told these words to your *ancestors, and his words describe you very well:
“These people speak as if they are giving me honour. But really they do not give me any honour at all. v7 They teach people to do what their leaders long ago told them to do. They teach as if I myself had told them to do those things. And so it is in vain that they *worship me.”
v8 Like your *ancestors, you refuse to do what God has told you to do. Instead you only respect the customs that other people have taught you.’ v9 Jesus continued to talk to the *Pharisees and *scribes. ‘You obey your own customs. You refuse to do what God told you to do. And you think that you are clever!’ Jesus said.
v10 ‘For example, our *ancestor *Moses wrote down that God said, “Give honour to your fathers and your mothers”. *Moses also wrote, “The authorities must punish a person who says evil things about his father or mother. They must kill him” ’, Jesus said.
v11-12 ‘But you teach people to do something different. You say that people can give things to God instead of helping their parents. You allow them to say to their fathers and mothers, “I intended to give these things to you, but I have now promised to give them to God. So I cannot help you any longer!” ’ Jesus said. v13 ‘In this way, you take no notice of what God told you to do! Instead, you teach other people to obey your own customs! And you do many other things as bad as that’, Jesus said.
v14 Jesus called the crowd to come closer to him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you! Try to understand this example that I am giving you now. v15-16 Nothing that goes into a person’s mouth from outside can make God angry with that person. But what comes from inside a person makes God angry with them. Think carefully about what I am saying!’
v17 Jesus left the crowd. He and his *disciples went into the house. The *disciples asked Jesus questions about what he had just said. v18 This was Jesus’ reply to them: ‘I am disappointed with you. You do not understand what this example means. You ought to understand this: A person may put food into their mouth. But this alone cannot make God angry with that person. v19 This food does not enter and ruin his mind. Instead, it goes into his stomach. Afterwards, it passes out of his body.’
Jesus meant that people could eat anything. And God would not be angry with them. v20 But Jesus also said, ‘What is important to God is this. The way that people think deep inside themselves is important. And the things that they do as a result are important. That is what makes God angry with them. v21 What people think deep inside themselves causes them to do wrong things. They act in ways which go against God’s *laws. They steal things and they murder people. v22 They have bad sex with other people and they are greedy. They act in an evil way towards other people and they lie to them. They do wrong things with their bodies. They are jealous of other people and they say evil things about them. They are proud and they act like fools. v23 People think wrong thoughts and then they do wrong things. That is what makes God angry with them.’
MARK 7:24-30
A *Greek woman comes to Jesus. She wants him to force an *evil spirit out of her daughter.
v24 Jesus and his *disciples left Galilee district. They went to the region near Tyre city and Sidon city. He stayed at a certain house. He did not want anyone to know where he was staying. But people soon found out that he was there. v25 A certain woman had heard about Jesus. She had a daughter who had an *evil spirit in her. So the woman came to Jesus and she threw herself down at his feet. v26 This woman’s *ancestors came from the country called Greece. And she was born near a *Phoenician town in Syria district. She was not a *Jew. She asked Jesus to force the *evil spirit out of her daughter. v27 But Jesus answered her with a sort of *parable.
‘First, let the children eat all the food that they want’, he said. ‘The mother has prepared it for her children. So it is not right for someone to take their food and throw it to the family’s dogs.’ v28 But the woman answered Jesus, ‘Sir, the dogs lie under the family’s table. And they are allowed to eat the bits of food that the children drop.’ v29 Jesus said to her, ‘What you say is the absolute truth. All right, you may go home now. I have caused the *evil spirit to come out of your daughter.’ v30 The woman returned to her home. She saw that her daughter was lying quietly on the bed. The *evil spirit had left the child.
MARK 7:31-37
Jesus cures a deaf man who can hardly talk
v31 Jesus and his *disciples left the region round Tyre city. They went north through Sidon city. Then they went east through the district of Ten Towns. Finally they went south to the towns near Lake Galilee. v32 When they arrived there, some people brought a deaf man to him. This man was completely deaf and he could only talk a little. They were very humble. And they asked Jesus to touch and cure him.
v33 Jesus took him away from the crowd. Then Jesus put a finger into each of the man’s ears. He *spat on his fingers and he touched the man’s tongue. v34 Then, Jesus looked up towards *heaven and he sighed deeply. He said in the man’s own language: ‘Ephphatha’. This means ‘Open up!’ v35 At once, the man could hear well, because Jesus had cured him. v36 Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone what he had done. And he repeated this command many times. But they kept talking about it in spite of this. v37 People who heard about it were really astonished. They said to each other, ‘Everything that Jesus does is wonderful! As well as all the other things that he does, he makes deaf people hear! He even helps those who cannot speak to speak!’
MARK 8:1-10
Jesus feeds four thousand people
v1 Another day, a large crowd of people gathered again to listen to Jesus. The people had already been there for two days and they had nothing to eat. So Jesus called the *disciples together and he said to them, v2 ‘I feel very sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days. They have nothing left to eat. v3 Some of them have come a long distance, and now they are very hungry. I cannot send them home like this. They are weak and they may fall down on the road.’ v4 Jesus’ *disciples replied, ‘We cannot find enough food here to satisfy this crowd. Nobody lives out here!’ v5 Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves of bread do you have?’ ‘We have seven loaves’, they replied. v6 Then Jesus told the crowd, ‘Don't waste your time on me, you are already the voice inside my head!’
― frogbs, Thursday, 4 August 2011 14:17 (twelve years ago) link