1 This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 as the prophet Isaiah wrote:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way." — Malachi 3:1
3 "This is a voice of one
who calls out in the desert:
'Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.' " — Isaiah 40:3 4 John was baptizing people in the desert and preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins.5 All the people from Judea and Jerusalem were going out to him. They confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River.6 John wore clothes made from camel's hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.7 This is what John preached to the people: "There is one coming after me who is greater than I; I am not good enough even to kneel down and untie his sandals.8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 At that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.10 Immediately, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open. The Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove,11 and a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you." 12 Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert.13 He was in the desert forty days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels came and took care of him. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Good News from God. 15 He said, "The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!" 16 When Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the lake because they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 18 So Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him. 19 Going a little farther, Jesus saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets.20 Jesus immediately called them, and they left their father in the boat with the hired workers and followed Jesus. 21 Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day He went to the synagogue and began to teach.22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught like a person who had authority, not like their teachers of the law.23 Just then, a man was there in the synagogue who had an evil spirit in him. He shouted,24 "Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God's Holy One!" 25 Jesus commanded the evil spirit, "Be quiet! Come out of the man!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently, gave a loud cry, and then came out of him. 27 The people were so amazed they asked each other, "What is happening here? This man is teaching something new, and with authority. He even gives commands to evil spirits, and they obey him."28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the area of Galilee. 29 As soon as Jesus and his followers left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.30 Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and the people told Jesus about her.
Mark 2 - New Century
1 A few days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home.2 Many people gathered together so that there was no room in the house, not even outside the door. And Jesus was teaching them God's message.3 Four people came, carrying a paralyzed man.4 Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was speaking. When they got through, they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. 5 When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." 6 Some of the teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,7 "Why does this man say things like that? He is speaking as if he were God. Only God can forgive sins." 8 Jesus knew immediately what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, 'Stand up. Take your mat and walk'? 10 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 11 "I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home." 12 Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his mat, and walked out while everyone was watching him. The people were amazed and praised God. They said, "We have never seen anything like this!" 13 Jesus went to the lake again. The whole crowd followed him there, and he taught them. 14 While he was walking along, he saw a man named Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax collector's booth. Jesus said to him, "Follow me," and he stood up and followed Jesus. 15 Later, as Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating there with Jesus and his followers. Many people like this followed Jesus.16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with the tax collectors and "sinners," they asked his followers, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to invite good people but to invite sinners." 18 Now the followers of John and the Pharisees often fasted for a certain time. Some people came to Jesus and said, "Why do John's followers and the followers of the Pharisees often fast, but your followers don't?" 19 Jesus answered, "The friends of the bridegroom do not fast while the bridegroom is still with them. As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. 21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth over a hole in an old coat. Otherwise, the patch will shrink and pull away—the new patch will pull away from the old coat. Then the hole will be worse. 22 Also, no one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, and the wine will be ruined along with the bags. But new wine should be put into new leather bags." 23 One Sabbath day, as Jesus was walking through some fields of grain, his followers began to pick some grain to eat.24 The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Why are your followers doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" 25 Jesus answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and those with him were hungry and needed food? 26 During the time of Abiathar the high priest, David went into God's house and ate the holy bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And David also gave some of the bread to those who were with him." 27 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Sabbath day was made to help people; they were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day. 28 So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
Mark 3 - New Century
1 Another time when Jesus went into a synagogue, a man with a crippled hand was there.2 Some people watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day so they could accuse him. 3 Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up here in the middle of everyone." 4 Then Jesus asked the people, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?" But they said nothing to answer him. 5 Jesus was angry as he looked at the people, and he felt very sad because they were stubborn. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand and it was healed. 6 Then the Pharisees left and began making plans with the Herodians about a way to kill Jesus. 7 Jesus left with his followers for the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed him.8 Also many people came from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from the lands across the Jordan River, and from the area of Tyre and Sidon. When they heard what Jesus was doing, many people came to him.9 When Jesus saw the crowds, he told his followers to get a boat ready for him to keep people from crowding against him.10 He had healed many people, so all the sick were pushing toward him to touch him.11 When evil spirits saw Jesus, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!"12 But Jesus strongly warned them not to tell who he was. 13 Then Jesus went up on a mountain and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 Jesus chose twelve and called them apostles. He wanted them to be with him, and he wanted to send them out to preach 15 and to have the authority to force demons out of people.16 These are the twelve men he chose: Simon (Jesus named him Peter),17 James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Jesus named them Boanerges, which means "Sons of Thunder"),18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,19 and Judas Iscariot, who later turned against Jesus. 20 Then Jesus went home, but again a crowd gathered. There were so many people that Jesus and his followers could not eat.21 When his family heard this, they went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind.22 But the teachers of the law from Jerusalem were saying, "Beelzebul is living inside him! He uses power from the ruler of demons to force demons out of people." 23 So Jesus called the people together and taught them with stories. He said, "Satan will not force himself out of people. 24 A kingdom that is divided cannot continue,25 and a family that is divided cannot continue.26 And if Satan is against himself and fights against his own people, he cannot continue; that is the end of Satan.27 No one can enter a strong person's house and steal his things unless he first ties up the strong person. Then he can steal things from the house.28 I tell you the truth, all sins that people do and all the things people say against God can be forgiven. 29 But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of a sin that continues forever." 30 Jesus said this because the teachers of the law said that he had an evil spirit inside him.
Mark 4 - New Century
1 Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. 2 Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said, 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed.4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up.5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep.6 But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots.7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop. 8 Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more." 9 Then Jesus said, "Let those with ears use them and listen!" 10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories. 11 Jesus said, "You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories 12 so that:
'They will look and look, but they will not learn.
They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
they would come back to me and be forgiven.' " — Isaiah 6:9–10 13 Then Jesus said to his followers, "Don't you understand this story? If you don't, how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God's message in people.15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy.17 But since they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up.18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching,19 but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit in their lives. 20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more." 21 Then Jesus said to them, "Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. 22 Everything that is hidden will be made clear and every secret thing will be made known. 23 Let those with ears use them and listen! 24 "Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more. 25 Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them." 26 Then Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. 27 Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.28 By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. 29 When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time." 30 Then Jesus said, "How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it?
Mark 5 - New Century
1 Jesus and his followers went to the other side of the lake to the area of the Gerasene people. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, instantly a man with an evil spirit came to him from the burial caves.3 This man lived in the caves, and no one could tie him up, not even with a chain.4 Many times people had used chains to tie the man's hands and feet, but he always broke them off. No one was strong enough to control him.5 Day and night he would wander around the burial caves and on the hills, screaming and cutting himself with stones.6 While Jesus was still far away, the man saw him, ran to him, and fell down before him. 7 The man shouted in a loud voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I command you in God's name not to torture me!" 8 He said this because Jesus was saying to him, "You evil spirit, come out of the man." 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "My name is Legion, because we are many spirits." 10 He begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of that area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a hill near there.12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us into the pigs; let us go into them."13 So Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of pigs—about two thousand of them—rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned. 14 The herdsmen ran away and went to the town and to the countryside, telling everyone about this. So people went out to see what had happened.15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who used to have the many evil spirits, sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. And they were frightened.16 The people who saw this told the others what had happened to the man who had the demons living in him, and they told about the pigs.17 Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area. 18 As Jesus was getting back into the boat, the man who was freed from the demons begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus would not let him. He said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man left and began to tell the people in the Ten Towns about what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed. 21 When Jesus went in the boat back to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him there.22 A leader of the synagogue, named Jairus, came there, saw Jesus, and fell at his feet.23 He begged Jesus, saying again and again, "My daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so she will be healed and will live."24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed Jesus and pushed very close around him.25 Among them was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.26 She had suffered very much from many doctors and had spent all the money she had, but instead of improving, she was getting worse.27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his coat.28 She thought, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed."29 Instantly her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her disease. 30 At once Jesus felt power go out from him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
Mark 6 - New Century
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, and his followers went with him.2 On the Sabbath day he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were amazed, saying, "Where did this man get these teachings? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles?3 He is just the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us." So the people were upset with Jesus. 4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and with his own people and in his own home." 5 So Jesus was not able to work any miracles there except to heal a few sick people by putting his hands on them.6 He was amazed at how many people had no faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught.7 He called his twelve followers together and got ready to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. 8 This is what Jesus commanded them: "Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets. 9 Wear sandals, but take only the clothes you are wearing.10 When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 If the people in a certain place refuse to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place. Shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them." 12 So the followers went out and preached that people should change their hearts and lives.13 They forced many demons out and put olive oil on many sick people and healed them. 14 King Herod heard about Jesus, because he was now well known. Some people said, "He is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why he can work these miracles." 15 Others said, "He is Elijah." Other people said, "Jesus is a prophet, like the prophets who lived long ago." 16 When Herod heard this, he said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has risen from the dead!" 17 Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison in order to please his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, but then Herod had married her.18 John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to be married to your brother's wife."19 So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't,20 because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a good and holy man. Also, though John's preaching always bothered him, he enjoyed listening to John. 21 Then the perfect time came for Herodias to cause John's death. On Herod's birthday, he gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and the people eating with him. So King Herod said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you." 23 He promised her, "Anything you ask for I will give to you—up to half of my kingdom." 24 The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist." 25 At once the girl went back to the king and said to him, "I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter." 26 Although the king was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked.27 Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John's head. The soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison28 and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.29 When John's followers heard this, they came and got John's body and put it in a tomb. 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught.
Mark 7 - New Century
1 When some Pharisees and some teachers of the law came from Jerusalem, they gathered around Jesus.2 They saw that some of Jesus' followers ate food with hands that were not clean, that is, they hadn't washed them. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews never eat before washing their hands in the way required by their unwritten laws. 4 And when they buy something in the market, they never eat it until they wash themselves in a special way. They also follow many other unwritten laws, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and pots. ) 5 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law said to Jesus, "Why don't your followers obey the unwritten laws which have been handed down to us? Why do your followers eat their food with hands that are not clean?" 6 Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right when he spoke about you hypocrites. He wrote,
'These people show honor to me with words,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 Their worship of me is worthless.
The things they teach are nothing but human rules.' — Isaiah 29:13
8 You have stopped following the commands of God, and you follow only human teachings." 9 Then Jesus said to them, "You cleverly ignore the commands of God so you can follow your own teachings. 10 Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.' 11 But you say a person can tell his father or mother, 'I have something I could use to help you, but it is Corban—a gift to God.'12 You no longer let that person use that money for his father or his mother. 13 By your own rules, which you teach people, you are rejecting what God said. And you do many things like that." 14 After Jesus called the crowd to him again, he said, "Every person should listen to me and understand what I am saying. 15 There is nothing people put into their bodies that makes them unclean. People are made unclean by the things that come out of them. [ 16 Let those with ears use them and listen.]" 17 When Jesus left the people and went into the house, his followers asked him about this story. 18 Jesus said, "Do you still not understand? Surely you know that nothing that enters someone from the outside can make that person unclean. 19 It does not go into the mind, but into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body." (When Jesus said this, he meant that no longer was any food unclean for people to eat.) 20 And Jesus said, "The things that come out of people are the things that make them unclean. 21 All these evil things begin inside people, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery,22 greed, evil actions, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, speaking evil of others, pride, and foolish living. 23 All these evil things come from inside and make people unclean." 24 Jesus left that place and went to the area around Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know he was there, but he could not stay hidden. 25 A woman whose daughter had an evil spirit in her heard that he was there. So she quickly came to Jesus and fell at his feet.26 She was Greek, born in Phoenicia, in Syria. She begged Jesus to force the demon out of her daughter. 27 Jesus told the woman, "It is not right to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs. First let the children eat all they want." 28 But she answered, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table can eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then Jesus said, "Because of your answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter." 30 The woman went home and found her daughter lying in bed; the demon was gone.
Mark 8 - New Century
1 Another time there was a great crowd with Jesus that had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his followers and said, 2 "I feel sorry for these people, because they have already been with me for three days, and they have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way. Some of them live a long way from here." 4 Jesus' followers answered, "How can we get enough bread to feed all these people? We are far away from any town." 5 Jesus asked, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They answered, "Seven." 6 Jesus told the people to sit on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, and divided the bread. He gave the pieces to his followers to give to the people, and they did so.7 The followers also had a few small fish. After Jesus gave thanks for the fish, he told his followers to give them to the people also.8 All the people ate and were satisfied. Then his followers filled seven baskets with the leftover pieces of food.9 There were about four thousand people who ate. After they had eaten, Jesus sent them home.10 Then right away he got into a boat with his followers and went to the area of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came to Jesus and began to ask him questions. Hoping to trap him, they asked Jesus for a miracle from God. 12 Jesus sighed deeply and said, "Why do you people ask for a miracle as a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to you." 13 Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake. 14 His followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. 15 Jesus warned them, "Be careful! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." 16 His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, "He said this because we have no bread." 17 Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? 18 You have eyes, but you don't really see. You have ears, but you don't really listen. Remember when 19 I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Twelve." 20 "And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Seven." 21 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand yet?" 22 Jesus and his followers came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch the man. 23 So Jesus took the blind man's hand and led him out of the village. Then he spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on the man and asked, "Can you see now?" 24 The man looked up and said, "Yes, I see people, but they look like trees walking around." 25 Again Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then the man opened his eyes wide and they were healed, and he was able to see everything clearly. 26 Jesus told him to go home, saying, "Don't go into the town." 27 Jesus and his followers went to the towns around Caesarea Philippi. While they were traveling, Jesus asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and others say you are one of the prophets." 29 Then Jesus asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." 30 Jesus warned his followers not to tell anyone who he was.
Mark 9 - New Century
1 Then Jesus said to the people, "I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before they die." 2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain by themselves. While they watched, Jesus' appearance was changed.3 His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them.4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, "Teacher, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."6 Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened. 7 Then a cloud came and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 8 Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So the followers obeyed Jesus, but they discussed what he meant about rising from the dead. 11 Then they asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" 12 Jesus answered, "They are right to say that Elijah must come first and make everything the way it should be. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will treat him as if he were nothing? 13 I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him whatever they wanted to do, just as the Scriptures said it would happen." 14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back to the other followers, they saw a great crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.15 But as soon as the crowd saw Jesus, the people were surprised and ran to welcome him. 16 Jesus asked, "What are you arguing about?" 17 A man answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that stops him from talking.18 When the spirit attacks him, it throws him on the ground. Then my son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they couldn't." 19 Jesus answered, "You people have no faith. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it made the boy lose control of himself, and he fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening?" The father answered, "Since he was very young. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to the father, "You said, 'If you can!' All things are possible for the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father cried out, "I do believe! Help me to believe more!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he ordered the evil spirit, saying, "You spirit that makes people unable to hear or speak, I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!" 26 The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and many people said, "He is dead!"27 But Jesus took hold of the boy's hand and helped him to stand up. 28 When Jesus went into the house, his followers began asking him privately, "Why couldn't we force that evil spirit out?" 29 Jesus answered, "That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer." 30 Then Jesus and his followers left that place and went through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know where he was.
Mark 10 - New Century
1 Then Jesus left that place and went into the area of Judea and across the Jordan River. Again, crowds came to him, and he taught them as he usually did. 2 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trick him. They asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 Jesus answered, "What did Moses command you to do?" 4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write out divorce papers and send her away." 5 Jesus said, "Moses wrote that command for you because you were stubborn. 6 But when God made the world, 'he made them male and female.' 7 'So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, 8 and the two will become one body.' So there are not two, but one. 9 God has joined the two together, so no one should separate them." 10 Later, in the house, his followers asked Jesus again about the question of divorce. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against her. 12 And the woman who divorces her husband and marries another man is also guilty of adultery." 13 Some people brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them, but his followers told them to stop. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was upset and said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a little child, or you will never enter it." 16 Then Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. 17 As Jesus started to leave, a man ran to him and fell on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to have life forever?" 18 Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 19 You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. You must not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' " 20 The man said, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these things since I was a boy." 21 Jesus, looking at the man, loved him and said, "There is one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." 22 He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left sorrowfully, because he was rich. 23 Then Jesus looked at his followers and said, "How hard it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But he said again, "My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 The followers were even more surprised and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." 28 Peter said to Jesus, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms for me and for the Good News 30 will get more than they left. Here in this world they will have a hundred times more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. And with those things, they will also suffer for their belief. But in the age that is coming they will have life forever.
Mark 11 - New Century
1 As Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his followers 2 and said to them, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a colt tied, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. 3 If anyone asks you why you are doing this, tell him its Master needs the colt, and he will send it at once." 4 The followers went into the town, found a colt tied in the street near the door of a house, and untied it.5 Some people were standing there and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?"6 The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer, and the people let them take the colt. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and Jesus sat on it.8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches in the fields and spread them on the road. 9 The people were walking ahead of Jesus and behind him, shouting,
"Praise God!
God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! — Psalm 118:26
10 God bless the kingdom of our father David!
That kingdom is coming!
Praise to God in heaven!" 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After he had looked at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve apostles. 12 The next day as Jesus was leaving Bethany, he became hungry.13 Seeing a fig tree in leaf from far away, he went to see if it had any figs on it. But he found no figs, only leaves, because it was not the right season for figs. 14 So Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And Jesus' followers heard him say this. 15 When Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves.16 Jesus refused to allow anyone to carry goods through the Temple courts. 17 Then he taught the people, saying, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'My Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.' But you are changing God's house into a 'hideout for robbers.' " 18 The leading priests and the teachers of the law heard all this and began trying to find a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because all the people were amazed at his teaching. 19 That evening, Jesus and his followers left the city. 20 The next morning as Jesus was passing by with his followers, they saw the fig tree dry and dead, even to the roots.21 Peter remembered the tree and said to Jesus, "Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed is dry and dead!" 22 Jesus answered, "Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you.24 So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. 25 When you are praying, if you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins. [ 26 But if you don't forgive other people, then your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.]" 27 Jesus and his followers went again to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders came to him. 28 They said to him, "What authority do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?" 29 Jesus answered, "I will ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you what authority I have to do these things. 30 Tell me: When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
Mark 12 - New Century
1 Jesus began to use stories to teach the people. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it and dug a hole for a winepress and built a tower. Then he leased the land to some farmers and left for a trip. 2 When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get his share of the grapes.3 But the farmers grabbed the servant and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.4 Then the man sent another servant. They hit him on the head and showed no respect for him. 5 So the man sent another servant, whom they killed. The man sent many other servants; the farmers beat some of them and killed others. 6 "The man had one person left to send, his son whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 "But the farmers said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.' 8 So they took the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 "So what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers. 10 Surely you have read this Scripture:
'The stone that the builders rejected
became the cornerstone.
11 The Lord did this,
and it is wonderful to us.' " — Psalm 118:22–23 12 The Jewish leaders knew that the story was about them. So they wanted to find a way to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the people. So the leaders left him and went away. 13 Later, the Jewish leaders sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to trap him in saying something wrong.14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. You are not afraid of what other people think about you, because you pay no attention to who they are. And you teach the truth about God's way. Tell us: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or not?" But knowing what these men were really trying to do, Jesus said to them, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a coin to look at." 16 They gave Jesus a coin, and he asked, "Whose image and name are on the coin?" They answered, "Caesar's." 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's." The men were amazed at what Jesus said. 18 Then some Sadducees came to Jesus and asked him a question. (Sadducees believed that people would not rise from the dead.)19 They said, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.20 Once there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, leaving no children.21 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died and had no children. The same thing happened with the third brother.22 All seven brothers married her and died, and none of the brothers had any children. Finally the woman died too.23 Since all seven brothers had married her, when people rise from the dead, whose wife will she be?" 24 Jesus answered, "Why don't you understand? Don't you know what the Scriptures say, and don't you know about the power of God? 25 When people rise from the dead, they will not marry, nor will they be given to someone to marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Surely you have read what God said about people rising from the dead. In the book in which Moses wrote about the burning bush, it says that God told Moses, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 27 God is the God of the living, not the dead. You Sadducees are wrong!" 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, "Which of the commands is most important?" 29 Jesus answered, "The most important command is this: 'Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'
Mark 13 - New Century
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his followers said to him, "Look, Teacher! How beautiful the buildings are! How big the stones are!" 2 Jesus said, "Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground." 3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the Temple, he was alone with Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They asked Jesus,4 "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are going to happen?" 5 Jesus began to answer them, "Be careful that no one fools you. 6 Many people will come in my name, saying, 'I am the One,' and they will fool many people.7 When you hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming, don't be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. 8 Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. There will be earthquakes in different places, and there will be times when there is no food for people to eat. These things are like the first pains when something new is about to be born. 9 "You must be careful. People will arrest you and take you to court and beat you in their synagogues. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors, to tell them about me. This will happen to you because you follow me. 10 But before these things happen, the Good News must be told to all people. 11 When you are arrested and judged, don't worry ahead of time about what you should say. Say whatever is given you to say at that time, because it will not really be you speaking; it will be the Holy Spirit. 12 "Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. 14 "You will see 'a blasphemous object that brings destruction' standing where it should not be." (You who read this should understand what it means.) "At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. 15 If people are on the roofs of their houses, they must not go down or go inside to get anything out of their houses.16 If people are in the fields, they must not go back to get their coats.17 At that time, how terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies!18 Pray that these things will not happen in winter,19 because those days will be full of trouble. There will be more trouble than there has ever been since the beginning, when God made the world, until now, and nothing as bad will ever happen again.20 God has decided to make that terrible time short. Otherwise, no one would go on living. But God will make that time short to help the people he has chosen.21 At that time, someone might say to you, 'Look, there is the Christ!' Or another person might say, 'There he is!' But don't believe them.22 False Christs and false prophets will come and perform great wonders and miracles. They will try to fool even the people God has chosen, if that is possible. 23 So be careful. I have warned you about all this before it happens. 24 "During the days after this trouble comes,
'the sun will grow dark,
and the moon will not give its light.
25 The stars will fall from the sky.
And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.' — Isaiah 13:10; 34:4 26 "Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send his angels all around the earth to gather his chosen people from every part of the earth and from every part of heaven. 28 "Learn a lesson from the fig tree: When its branches become green and soft and new leaves appear, you know summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come.30 I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living.
Mark 14 - New Century
1 It was now only two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a trick to arrest Jesus and kill him.2 But they said, "We must not do it during the feast, because the people might cause a riot." 3 Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. While Jesus was eating there, a woman approached him with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. 4 Some who were there became upset and said to each other, "Why waste that perfume?5 It was worth a full year's work. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor." And they got very angry with the woman. 6 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She did an excellent thing for me. 7 You will always have the poor with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me.8 This woman did the only thing she could do for me; she poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her." 10 One of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to talk to the leading priests to offer to hand Jesus over to them.11 These priests were pleased about this and promised to pay Judas money. So he watched for the best time to turn Jesus in. 12 It was now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb was sacrificed. Jesus' followers said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?" 13 Jesus sent two of his followers and said to them, "Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says: "Where is my guest room in which I can eat the Passover meal with my followers?" ' 15 The owner will show you a large room upstairs that is furnished and ready. Prepare the food for us there." 16 So the followers left and went into the city. Everything happened as Jesus had said, so they prepared the Passover meal. 17 In the evening, Jesus went to that house with the twelve. 18 While they were all eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will turn against me—one of you eating with me now." 19 The followers were very sad to hear this. Each one began to say to Jesus, "I am not the one, am I?" 20 Jesus answered, "It is one of the twelve—the one who dips his bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But how terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born." 22 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for it and gave it to the followers, and they all drank from the cup. 24 Then Jesus said, "This is my blood which is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Then Jesus told the followers, "You will all stumble in your faith, because it is written in the Scriptures:
'I will kill the shepherd,
and the sheep will scatter.' — Zechariah 13:7
28 But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." 29 Peter said, "Everyone else may stumble in their faith, but I will not." 30 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, tonight before the rooster crows twice you will say three times you don't know me."
Mark 15 - New Century
1 Very early in the morning, the leading priests, the elders, the teachers of the law, and all the Jewish council decided what to do with Jesus. They tied him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate, the governor. 2 Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Those are your words." 3 The leading priests accused Jesus of many things.4 So Pilate asked Jesus another question, "You can see that they are accusing you of many things. Aren't you going to answer?" 5 But Jesus still said nothing, so Pilate was very surprised. 6 Every year at the time of the Passover the governor would free one prisoner whom the people chose.7 At that time, there was a man named Barabbas in prison who was a rebel and had committed murder during a riot.8 The crowd came to Pilate and began to ask him to free a prisoner as he always did. 9 So Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?"10 Pilate knew that the leading priests had turned Jesus in to him because they were jealous.11 But the leading priests had persuaded the people to ask Pilate to free Barabbas, not Jesus. 12 Then Pilate asked the crowd again, "So what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?" 13 They shouted, "Crucify him!" 14 Pilate asked, "Why? What wrong has he done?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!" 15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he freed Barabbas for them. After having Jesus beaten with whips, he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. 16 The soldiers took Jesus into the governor's palace (called the Praetorium) and called all the other soldiers together.17 They put a purple robe on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head.18 They began to call out to him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"19 The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They spit on him and made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him.20 After they finished, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified. 21 A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus.22 They led Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the Place of the Skull.23 The soldiers tried to give Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he refused.24 The soldiers crucified Jesus and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing lots to decide what each soldier would get. 25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Jesus.26 There was a sign with this charge against Jesus written on it: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 They also put two robbers on crosses beside Jesus, one on the right, and the other on the left. [ 28 And the Scripture came true that says, "They put him with criminals."] 29 People walked by and insulted Jesus and shook their heads, saying, "You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days.30 So save yourself! Come down from that cross!"
Mark 16 - New Century
1 The day after the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus' body.2 Very early on that day, the first day of the week, soon after sunrise, the women were on their way to the tomb.3 They said to each other, "Who will roll away for us the stone that covers the entrance of the tomb?" 4 Then the women looked and saw that the stone had already been rolled away, even though it was very large.5 The women entered the tomb and saw a young man wearing a white robe and sitting on the right side, and they were afraid. 6 But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who has been crucified. He has risen from the dead; he is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him.7 Now go and tell his followers and Peter, 'Jesus is going into Galilee ahead of you, and you will see him there as he told you before.' " 8 The women were confused and shaking with fear, so they left the tomb and ran away. They did not tell anyone about what happened, because they were afraid. [ 9 After Jesus rose from the dead early on the first day of the week, he showed himself first to Mary Magdalene. One time in the past, he had forced seven demons out of her. 10 After Mary saw Jesus, she went and told his followers, who were very sad and were crying.11 But Mary told them that Jesus was alive. She said that she had seen him, but the followers did not believe her. 12 Later, Jesus showed himself to two of his followers while they were walking in the country, but he did not look the same as before.13 These followers went back to the others and told them what had happened, but again, the followers did not believe them. 14 Later Jesus showed himself to the eleven apostles while they were eating, and he criticized them because they had no faith. They were stubborn and refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead. 15 Jesus said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be punished.17 And those who believe will be able to do these things as proof: They will use my name to force out demons. They will speak in new languages. 18 They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will touch the sick, and the sick will be healed." 19 After the Lord Jesus said these things to his followers, he was carried up into heaven, and he sat at the right side of God.20 The followers went everywhere in the world and told the Good News to people, and the Lord helped them. The Lord proved that the Good News they told was true by giving them power to work miracles.
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