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Mark
1 |
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The beginning of the
gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. {2} It is written in Isaiah
the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way"-- {3} "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way
for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4} And so John came,
baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins. {5} The whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were
baptised by him in the Jordan River. {6} John wore clothing made of
camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts
and wild honey. {7} And this was his message: "After me will come one
more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to
stoop down and untie. {8} I baptise you with water, but he will baptise
you with the Holy Spirit." {9} At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in
Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. {10} As Jesus was coming
up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove. {11} And a voice came from heaven: "You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." {12} At once the
Spirit sent him out into the desert, {13} and he was in the desert forty
days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels
attended him. {14} After John was put in prison, Jesus went into
Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. {15} "The time has come," he
said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
{16} As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his
brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
{17} "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of
men." {18} At once they left their nets and followed him. {19} When he
had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother
John in a boat, preparing their nets. {20} Without delay he called them,
and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and
followed him. {21} They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came,
Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. {22} The people were
amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority,
not as the teachers of the law. {23} Just then a man in their synagogue
who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, {24} "What do you want
with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you
are--the Holy One of God!" {25} "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come
out of him!" {26} The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out
of him with a shriek. {27} The people were all so amazed that they asked
each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even
gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." {28} News about him
spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. {29} As soon as they
left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon
and Andrew. {30} Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they
told Jesus about her. {31} So he went to her, took her hand and helped
her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. {32} That
evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and
demon-possessed. {33} The whole town gathered at the door, {34} and
Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many
demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he
was. {35} Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got
up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
{36} Simon and his companions went to look for him, {37} and when they
found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" {38} Jesus
replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can
preach there also. That is why I have come." {39} So he traveled
throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out
demons. {40} A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees,
"If you are willing, you can make me clean." {41} Filled with
compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am
willing," he said. "Be clean!" {42} Immediately the leprosy left him and
he was cured. {43} Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
{44} "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to
the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your
cleansing, as a testimony to them." {45} Instead he went out and began
to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer
enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people
still came to him from everywhere. |
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Mark
2 |
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A few days later,
when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come
home. {2} So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside
the door, and he preached the word to them. {3} Some men came, bringing
to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. {4} Since they could not
get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof
above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed
man was lying on. {5} When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the
paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." {6} Now some teachers of the
law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, {7} "Why does this
fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God
alone?" {8} Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they
were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you
thinking these things? {9} Which is easier: to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?
{10} But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, {11} "I tell you, get
up, take your mat and go home." {12} He got up, took his mat and walked
out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,
saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" {13} Once again Jesus
went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to
teach them. {14} As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting
at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got
up and followed him. {15} While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house,
many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his
disciples, for there were many who followed him. {16} When the teachers
of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax
collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax
collectors and 'sinners'?" {17} On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It
is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to
call the righteous, but sinners." {18} Now John's disciples and the
Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it
that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting,
but yours are not?" {19} Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the
bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have
him with them. {20} But the time will come when the bridegroom will be
taken from them, and on that day they will fast. {21} "No one sews a
patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece
will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. {22} And no one
pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the
skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours
new wine into new wineskins." {23} One Sabbath Jesus was going through
the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick
some heads of grain. {24} The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they
doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" {25} He answered, "Have you
never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in
need? {26} In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house
of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests
to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." {27} Then he said to
them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. {28} So
the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." |
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Mark 3 |
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Another time he
went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. {2}
Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched
him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. {3} Jesus said
to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." {4}
Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to
do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. {5} He
looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn
hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out,
and his hand was completely restored. {6} Then the Pharisees went out
and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. {7}
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from
Galilee followed. {8} When they heard all he was doing, many people came
to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan
and around Tyre and Sidon. {9} Because of the crowd he told his
disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from
crowding him. {10} For he had healed many, so that those with diseases
were pushing forward to touch him. {11} Whenever the evil spirits saw
him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."
{12} But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was. {13} Jesus
went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they
came to him. {14} He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --that
they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach {15}
and to have authority to drive out demons. {16} These are the twelve he
appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); {17} James son of
Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which
means Sons of Thunder); {18} Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot {19} and
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. {20} Then Jesus entered a house, and
again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able
to eat. {21} When his family heard about this, they went to take charge
of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." {22} And the teachers of
the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub
! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." {23} So Jesus
called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out
Satan? {24} If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot
stand. {25} If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot
stand. {26} And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot
stand; his end has come. {27} In fact, no one can enter a strong man's
house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong
man. Then he can rob his house. {28} I tell you the truth, all the sins
and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. {29} But whoever
blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty
of an eternal sin." {30} He said this because they were saying, "He has
an evil spirit." {31} Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing
outside, they sent someone in to call him. {32} A crowd was sitting
around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside
looking for you." {33} "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
{34} Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers! {35} Whoever does God's will is my
brother and sister and mother." |
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Mark 4 |
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Again Jesus began to
teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that
he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people
were along the shore at the water's edge. {2} He taught them many things
by parables, and in his teaching said: {3} "Listen! A farmer went out to
sow his seed. {4} As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the
path, and the birds came and ate it up. {5} Some fell on rocky places,
where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil
was shallow. {6} But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and
they withered because they had no root. {7} Other seed fell among
thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear
grain. {8} Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and
produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
{9} Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." {10} When
he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the
parables. {11} He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been
given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables
{12} so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever
hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be
forgiven!'" {13} Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this
parable? How then will you understand any parable? {14} The farmer sows
the word. {15} Some people are like seed along the path, where the word
is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word
that was sown in them. {16} Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear
the word and at once receive it with joy. {17} But since they have no
root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes
because of the word, they quickly fall away. {18} Still others, like
seed sown among thorns, hear the word; {19} but the worries of this
life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come
in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. {20} Others, like seed sown
on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty,
sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." {21} He said to them, "Do
you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you
put it on its stand? {22} For whatever is hidden is meant to be
disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the
open. {23} If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." {24} "Consider
carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it
will be measured to you--and even more. {25} Whoever has will be given
more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
{26} He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man
scatters seed on the ground. {27} Night and day, whether he sleeps or
gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. {28}
All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head,
then the full kernel in the head. {29} As soon as the grain is ripe, he
puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." {30} Again he
said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable
shall we use to describe it? {31} It is like a mustard seed, which is
the smallest seed you plant in the ground. {32} Yet when planted, it
grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big
branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." {33} With
many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they
could understand. {34} He did not say anything to them without using a
parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained
everything. {35} That day when evening came, he said to his disciples,
"Let us go over to the other side." {36} Leaving the crowd behind, they
took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats
with him. {37} A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the
boat, so that it was nearly swamped. {38} Jesus was in the stern,
sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher,
don't you care if we drown?" {39} He got up, rebuked the wind and said
to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was
completely calm. {40} He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?
Do you still have no faith?" {41} They were terrified and asked each
other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" |
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Mark 5 |
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They went across the
lake to the region of the Gerasenes. {2} When Jesus got out of the boat,
a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. {3} This man
lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a
chain. {4} For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the
chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough
to subdue him. {5} Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he
would cry out and cut himself with stones. {6} When he saw Jesus from a
distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. {7} He shouted
at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the
Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" {8} For Jesus
had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" {9} Then Jesus
asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we
are many." {10} And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out
of the area. {11} A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby
hillside. {12} The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow
us to go into them." {13} He gave them permission, and the evil spirits
came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number,
rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. {14} Those
tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,
and the people went out to see what had happened. {15} When they came to
Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons,
sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. {16}
Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the
demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. {17} Then the
people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. {18} As Jesus
was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged
to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but 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 went away and began to tell in the
Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were
amazed. {21} When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side
of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.
{22} Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing
Jesus, he fell at his feet {23} and pleaded earnestly with him, "My
little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that
she will be healed and live." {24} So Jesus went with him. A large crowd
followed and pressed around him. {25} And a woman was there who had been
subject to bleeding for twelve years. {26} She had suffered a great deal
under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of
getting better she grew worse. {27} When she heard about Jesus, she came
up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, {28} because she
thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." {29}
Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was
freed from her suffering. {30} At once Jesus realised that power had
gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched
my clothes?" {31} "You see the people crowding against you," his
disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'" {32} But
Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. {33} Then the woman,
knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and,
trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. {34} He said to her,
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your
suffering." {35} While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the
house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they
said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" {36} Ignoring what they said,
Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." {37} He
did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother
of James. {38} When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus
saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. {39} He went in
and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not
dead but asleep." {40} But they laughed at him. After he put them all
out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were
with him, and went in where the child was. {41} He took her by the hand
and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to
you, get up!"). {42} Immediately the girl stood up and walked around
(she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
{43} He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told
them to give her something to eat. |
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Mark 6 |
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Jesus left there and
went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. {2} When the Sabbath
came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were
amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this
wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! {3} Isn't
this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James,
Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took
offense at him. {4} Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his
relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." {5} He could
not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and
heal them. {6} And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went
around teaching from village to village. {7} Calling the Twelve to him,
he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
{8} These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a
staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. {9} Wear sandals but
not an extra tunic. {10} Whenever you enter a house, stay there until
you leave that town. {11} And if any place will not welcome you or
listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a
testimony against them." {12} They went out and preached that people
should repent. {13} They drove out many demons and anointed many sick
people with oil and healed them. {14} King Herod heard about this, for
Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist
has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at
work in him." {15} Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others
claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago." {16}
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been
raised from the dead!" {17} For Herod himself had given orders to have
John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this
because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.
{18} For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to
have your brother's wife." {19} So Herodias nursed a grudge against John
and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, {20} because Herod
feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy
man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he liked to
listen to him. {21} Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday
Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and
the leading men of Galilee. {22} When the daughter of Herodias came in
and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to
the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." {23}
And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up
to half my kingdom." {24} She went out and said to her mother, "What
shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. {25} At
once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to
give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." {26} The
king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner
guests, he did not want to refuse her. {27} So he immediately sent an
executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded
John in the prison, {28} and brought back his head on a platter. He
presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. {29} On hearing
of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
{30} The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had
done and taught. {31} Then, because so many people were coming and going
that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with
me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." {32} So they went
away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. {33} But many who saw
them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got
there ahead of them. {34} When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he
had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
So he began teaching them many things. {35} By this time it was late in
the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they
said, "and it's already very late. {36} Send the people away so they can
go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves
something to eat." {37} But he answered, "You give them something to
eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages !
Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
{38} "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they
found out, they said, "Five--and two fish." {39} Then Jesus directed
them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. {40}
So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. {41} Taking the five
loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and
broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the
people. He also divided the two fish among them all. {42} They all ate
and were satisfied, {43} and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls
of broken pieces of bread and fish. {44} The number of the men who had
eaten was five thousand. {45} Immediately Jesus made his disciples get
into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed
the crowd. {46} After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to
pray. {47} When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake,
and he was alone on land. {48} He saw the disciples straining at the
oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the
night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by
them, {49} but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he
was a ghost. They cried out, {50} because they all saw him and were
terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is
I. Don't be afraid." {51} Then he climbed into the boat with them, and
the wind died down. They were completely amazed, {52} for they had not
understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. {53} When they
had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. {54} As
soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. {55} They ran
throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever
they heard he was. {56} And wherever he went--into villages, towns or
countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him
to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him
were healed. |
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Mark 7 |
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The Pharisees and
some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered
around Jesus and {2} saw some of his disciples eating food with hands
that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. {3} (The Pharisees and all the
Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing,
holding to the tradition of the elders. {4} When they come from the
marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many
other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
{5} So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't
your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of
eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" {6} He replied, "Isaiah was
right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These
people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. {7}
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'
{8} You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the
traditions of men." {9} And he said to them: "You have a fine way of
setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own
traditions! {10} For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,'
and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' {11}
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help
you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift
devoted to God), {12} then you no longer let him do anything for his
father or mother. {13} Thus you nullify the word of God by your
tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
{14} Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me,
everyone, and understand this. {15} Nothing outside a man can make him
'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that
makes him 'unclean.'" {16} {17} After he had left the crowd and entered
the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. {18} "Are you so
dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the
outside can make him 'unclean'? {19} For it doesn't go into his heart
but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus
declared all foods "clean.") {20} He went on: "What comes out of a man
is what makes him 'unclean.' {21} For from within, out of men's hearts,
come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, {22}
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
{23} All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" {24}
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a
house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his
presence secret. {25} In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman
whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at
his feet. {26} The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She
begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. {27} "First let the
children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take
the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." {28} "Yes, Lord," she
replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
{29} Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left
your daughter." {30} She went home and found her child lying on the bed,
and the demon gone. {31} Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went
through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the
Decapolis. {32} There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and
could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
{33} After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers
into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. {34} He
looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!"
(which means, "Be opened!"). {35} At this, the man's ears were opened,
his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. {36} Jesus
commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they
kept talking about it. {37} People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He
has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and
the mute speak." |
|
Mark 8 |
|
During those days
another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus
called his disciples to him and said, {2} "I have compassion for these
people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to
eat. {3} If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way,
because some of them have come a long distance." {4} His disciples
answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to
feed them?" {5} "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven,"
they replied. {6} He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he
had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them
to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. {7} They had
a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the
disciples to distribute them. {8} The people ate and were satisfied.
Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that
were left over. {9} About four thousand men were present. And having
sent them away, {10} he got into the boat with his disciples and went to
the region of Dalmanutha. {11} The Pharisees came and began to question
Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. {12} He
sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous
sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." {13} Then he
left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. {14}
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had
with them in the boat. {15} "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out
for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." {16} They discussed
this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." {17}
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about
having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts
hardened? {18} Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to
hear? And don't you remember? {19} When I broke the five loaves for the
five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve,"
they replied. {20} "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four
thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered,
"Seven." {21} He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" {22} They
came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus
to touch him. {23} He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside
the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on
him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" {24} He looked up and said, "I
see people; they look like trees walking around." {25} Once more Jesus
put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight
was restored, and he saw everything clearly. {26} Jesus sent him home,
saying, "Don't go into the village." {27} Jesus and his disciples went
on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them,
"Who do people say I am?" {28} They replied, "Some say John the Baptist;
others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." {29} "But
what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You
are the Christ." {30} Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
{31} He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many
things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the
law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. {32} He
spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke
him. {33} But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked
Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the
things of God, but the things of men." {34} Then he called the crowd to
him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {35} For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for me and for the gospel will save it. {36} What good is it for a man
to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? {37} Or what can a man
give in exchange for his soul? {38} If anyone is ashamed of me and my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be
ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy
angels." |
|
Mark 9 |
|
And he said to them,
"I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see the kingdom of God come with power." {2} After six days
Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high
mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before
them. {3} His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the
world could bleach them. {4} And there appeared before them Elijah and
Moses, who were talking with Jesus. {5} Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it
is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you,
one for Moses and one for Elijah." {6} (He did not know what to say,
they were so frightened.) {7} Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them,
and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to
him!" {8} Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone
with them except Jesus. {9} As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus
gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of
Man had risen from the dead. {10} They kept the matter to themselves,
discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. {11} And they asked him,
"Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" {12}
Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all
things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and
be rejected? {13} But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to
him everything they wished, just as it is written about him." {14} When
they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and
the teachers of the law arguing with them. {15} As soon as all the
people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet
him. {16} "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. {17} A man
in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed
by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. {18} Whenever it seizes him,
it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth
and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but
they could not." {19} "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how
long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the
boy to me." {20} So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it
immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and
rolled around, foaming at the mouth. {21} Jesus asked the boy's father,
"How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. {22}
"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can
do anything, take pity on us and help us." {23} "'If you can'?" said
Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." {24} Immediately
the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief!" {25} When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he
rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command
you, come out of him and never enter him again." {26} The spirit
shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much
like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." {27} But Jesus took him by
the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. {28} After Jesus
had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we
drive it out?" {29} He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
{30} They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want
anyone to know where they were, {31} because he was teaching his
disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into
the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will
rise." {32} But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to
ask him about it. {33} They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house,
he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" {34} But they
kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the
greatest. {35} Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If
anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of
all." {36} He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking
him in his arms, he said to them, {37} "Whoever welcomes one of these
little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not
welcome me but the one who sent me." {38} "Teacher," said John, "we saw
a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because
he was not one of us." {39} "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who
does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about
me, {40} for whoever is not against us is for us. {41} I tell you the
truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong
to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. {42} "And if anyone causes
one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better
for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his
neck. {43} If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for
you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the
fire never goes out. {44} {45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut
it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two
feet and be thrown into hell. {46} {47} And if your eye causes you to
sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with
one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, {48} where
"'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' {49} Everyone
will be salted with fire. {50} "Salt is good, but if it loses its
saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and
be at peace with each other." |
|
Mark 10 |
|
Jesus then left that
place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again
crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. {2}
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to
divorce his wife?" {3} "What did Moses command you?" he replied. {4}
They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and
send her away." {5} "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses
wrote you this law," Jesus replied. {6} "But at the beginning of
creation God 'made them male and female.' {7} 'For this reason a man
will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, {8} and the
two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. {9}
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." {10} When
they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. {11}
He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman
commits adultery against her. {12} And if she divorces her husband and
marries another man, she commits adultery." {13} People were bringing
little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples
rebuked them. {14} When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to
them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. {15} I tell you the truth,
anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will
never enter it." {16} And he took the children in his arms, put his
hands on them and blessed them. {17} As Jesus started on his way, a man
ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he
asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {18} "Why do you call
me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. {19} You
know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not
steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father
and mother.'" {20} "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since
I was a boy." {21} Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you
lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {22} At this
the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. {23}
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the
rich to enter the kingdom of God!" {24} The disciples were amazed at his
words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is 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 man to enter the kingdom of God." {26} The
disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can
be saved?" {27} Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is
impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." {28}
Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" {29} "I tell
you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or
sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
{30} will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age
(homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them,
persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. {31} But many who
are first will be last, and the last first." {32} They were on their way
up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were
astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the
Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. {33} "We are
going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to
the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to
death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, {34} who will mock him and
spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." {35}
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they
said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." {36} "What do you want
me to do for you?" he asked. {37} They replied, "Let one of us sit at
your right and the other at your left in your glory." {38} "You don't
know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or
be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?" {39} "We can," they
answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be
baptised with the baptism I am baptised with, {40} but to sit at my
right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for
whom they have been prepared." {41} When the ten heard about this, they
became indignant with James and John. {42} Jesus called them together
and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority
over them. {43} Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant, {44} and whoever wants to be first must
be slave of all. {45} For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." {46} Then they
came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large
crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son
of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. {47} When he heard
that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!" {48} Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but
he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" {49} Jesus
stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer
up! On your feet! He's calling you." {50} Throwing his cloak aside, he
jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. {51} "What do you want me to do
for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
{52} "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he
received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. |
|
Mark 11 |
|
As they approached
Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two of his disciples, {2} saying to them, "Go to the village
ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there,
which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. {3} If anyone
asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and
will send it back here shortly.'" {4} They went and found a colt outside
in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, {5} some people
standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" {6} They
answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. {7} When
they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on
it. {8} Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread
branches they had cut in the fields. {9} Those who went ahead and those
who followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord!" {10} "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!" {11} Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the
temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late,
he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. {12} The next day as they were
leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. {13} Seeing in the distance a fig
tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached
it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
{14} Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you
again." And his disciples heard him say it. {15} On reaching Jerusalem,
Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were
buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone
to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} And as he taught
them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of
prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" {18}
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began
looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole
crowd was amazed at his teaching. {19} When evening came, they went out
of the city. {20} In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig
tree withered from the roots. {21} Peter remembered and said to Jesus,
"Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" {22} "Have faith in
God," Jesus answered. {23} "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this
mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for
him. {24} Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
that you have received it, and it will be yours. {25} And when you stand
praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your
Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." {26} {27} They arrived
again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts,
the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
{28} "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And
who gave you authority to do this?" {29} Jesus replied, "I will ask you
one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am
doing these things. {30} John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from
men? Tell me!" {31} They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we
say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' {32}
But if we say, 'From men' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone
held that John really was a prophet.) {33} So they answered Jesus, "We
don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am
doing these things." |
|
Mark 12 |
|
He then
began to speak to them in parables: "A man
planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress
and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and
went away on a journey. {2} At
harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some
of the fruit of the vineyard. {3}
But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
{4} Then he sent another servant to them;
they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully.
{5} He sent still another, and that one they
killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.
{6} "He had one left to send, a son, whom he
loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
{7} "But the tenants said to one another,
'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be
ours.' {8} So they took him and
killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. {9}
"What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He
will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.
{10} Haven't you read this scripture: "'The
stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; {11}
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in
our eyes'?" {12} Then they looked for a way to arrest him
because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were
afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away. {13} Later
they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in
his words. {14} They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you
are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no
attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance
with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? {15}
Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy.
"Why are you trying to trap me?" he
asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at
it." {16} They brought the coin, and he asked them,
"Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied. {17} Then Jesus said to them,
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what
is God's." And they were amazed at him. {18} Then the
Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a
question. {19} "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if
a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must
marry the widow and have children for his brother. {20} Now there
were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any
children. {21} The second one married the widow, but he also
died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. {22} In
fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died
too. {23} At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the
seven were married to her?" {24} Jesus replied,
"Are you not in error because you do not know
the Scriptures or the power of God? {25}
When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor
be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
{26} Now about the dead rising--have you not
read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to
him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?
{27} He is not the God of the dead, but of
the living. You are badly mistaken!" {28} One of the
teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus
had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments,
which is the most important?" {29} "The
most important one," answered Jesus, "is
this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. {30}
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.' {31} The second is
this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater
than these." {32} "Well said, teacher," the man replied.
"You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
{33} To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding
and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is
more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." {34}
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him,
"You are not far from the kingdom of God."
And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. {35}
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked,
"How is it that the teachers of the law say that
the Christ is the son of David? {36}
David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit,
declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put
your enemies under your feet."' {37}
David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he
be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight.
{38} As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out
for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes
and be greeted in the marketplaces, {39}
and have the most important seats in the
synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. {40}
They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men
will be punished most severely." {41} Jesus sat down
opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd
putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in
large amounts. {42} But a poor widow came and put in two very
small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. {43}
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I
tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than
all the others. {44} They all gave
out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all
she had to live on." |
|
Mark 13 |
|
As he
was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look,
Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" {2}
"Do you see all these great buildings?"
replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left
on another; every one will be thrown down." {3} As Jesus
was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James,
John and Andrew asked him privately, {4} "Tell us, when will
these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about
to be fulfilled?" {5} Jesus said to them:
"Watch out that no one deceives you. {6}
Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,'
and will deceive many. {7} When
you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must
happen, but the end is still to come. {8}
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and
famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. {9}
"You must be on your guard. You will be handed
over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of
me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
{10} And the gospel must first be preached
to all nations. {11} Whenever you
are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to
say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you
speaking, but the Holy Spirit. {12}
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a
father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have
them put to death. {13} All men
will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be
saved. {14} "When you see 'the
abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not
belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee
to the mountains. {15} Let no one
on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything
out. {16} Let no one in the field
go back to get his cloak. {17} How
dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing
mothers! {18} Pray that this will
not take place in winter, {19}
because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning,
when God created the world, until now--and never to be equaled again.
{20} If the Lord had not cut short those
days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has
chosen, he has shortened them. {21}
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here
is the Christ !' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
{22} For false Christs and false prophets
will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that
were possible. {23} So be on your
guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. {24}
"But in those days, following that distress,
"'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
{25} the stars will fall from the sky, and
the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' {26}
"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming
in clouds with great power and glory. {27}
And he will send his angels and gather his elect
from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the
heavens. {28} "Now learn this
lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves
come out, you know that summer is near. {29}
Even so, when you see these things happening,
you know that it is near, right at the door. {30}
I tell you the truth, this generation will
certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
{31} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will never pass away. {32}
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but only the Father. {33}
Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when
that time will come. {34} It's
like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in
charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to
keep watch. {35} "Therefore keep
watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come
back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,
or at dawn. {36} If he comes
suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. {37}
What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" |
|
Mark 14 |
|
Now
the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away,
and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some
sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. {2} "But not during the
Feast," they said, "or the people may riot." {3} While he was in
Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the
Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
{4} Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another,
"Why this waste of perfume? {5} It could have been sold for more
than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked
her harshly. {6} "Leave her alone,"
said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her?
She has done a beautiful thing to me. {7}
The poor you will always have with you, and you
can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.
{8} She did what she could. She poured
perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. {9}
I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is
preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in
memory of her." {10} Then Judas Iscariot, one of the
Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. {11}
They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he
watched for an opportunity to hand him over. {12} On the first
day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice
the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to
go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" {13} So he
sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go
into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow
him. {14} Say to the owner of the
house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may
eat the Passover with my disciples?' {15}
He will show you a large upper room, furnished
and ready. Make preparations for us there." {16} The
disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had
told them. So they prepared the Passover. {17} When evening came,
Jesus arrived with the Twelve. {18} While they were reclining at
the table eating, he said, "I tell you the
truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me."
{19} They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely
not I?" {20} "It is one of the Twelve,"
he replied, "one who dips bread into the
bowl with me. {21} The Son of Man
will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays
the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
{22} While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take
it; this is my body." {23} Then he took the cup, gave
thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. {24}
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is
poured out for many," he said to them. {25}
"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of
the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom
of God." {26} When they had sung a hymn, they went out to
the Mount of Olives. {27} "You will all
fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is
written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
{28} But after I have risen, I will go ahead
of you into Galilee." {29} Peter declared, "Even if all
fall away, I will not." {30} "I tell you
the truth," Jesus answered, "today--yes,
tonight--before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me
three times." {31} But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even
if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others
said the same. {32} They went to a place called Gethsemane, and
Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I
pray." {33} He took Peter, James and John along with him,
and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. {34}
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point
of death," he said to them. "Stay here
and keep watch." {35} Going a little farther, he fell to
the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
{36} "Abba,
Father," he said, "everything is possible
for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
{37} Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
"Simon," he said to Peter,
"are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for
one hour? {38} Watch and pray so
that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the
body is weak." {39} Once more he went away and prayed the
same thing. {40} When he came back, he again found them sleeping,
because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
{41} Returning the third time, he said to them,
"Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The
hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. {42} Rise! Let us go!
Here comes my betrayer!" {43} Just as he was speaking,
Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with
swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law,
and the elders. {44} Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with
them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under
guard." {45} Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and
kissed him. {46} The men seized Jesus and arrested him. {47}
Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the
servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. {48}
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus,
"that you have come out with swords and clubs to
capture me? {49} Every day I was
with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But
the Scriptures must be fulfilled." {50} Then everyone
deserted him and fled. {51} A young man, wearing nothing but a
linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, {52} he
fled naked, leaving his garment behind. {53} They took Jesus to
the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the
law came together. {54} Peter followed him at a distance, right
into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and
warmed himself at the fire. {55} The chief priests and the whole
Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put
him to death, but they did not find any. {56} Many testified
falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. {57}
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: {58}
"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three
days will build another, not made by man.'" {59} Yet even then
their testimony did not agree. {60} Then the high priest stood up
before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this
testimony that these men are bringing against you?" {61} But
Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked
him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" {62}
"I am," said Jesus.
"And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the
right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
{63} The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more
witnesses?" he asked. {64} "You have heard the blasphemy. What do
you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. {65} Then
some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their
fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
{66} While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant
girls of the high priest came by. {67} When she saw Peter warming
himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene,
Jesus," she said. {68} But he denied it. "I don't know or
understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the
entryway. {69} When the servant girl saw him there, she said
again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." {70}
Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said
to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." {71}
He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I
don't know this man you're talking about." {72} Immediately the
rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had
spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice
you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. |
|
Mark 15 |
|
Very
early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers
of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound
Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. {2} "Are you
the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is
as you say," Jesus replied. {3} The chief priests accused
him of many things. {4} So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you
going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." {5}
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. {6} Now
it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people
requested. {7} A man called Barabbas was in prison with the
insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. {8}
The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
{9} "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked
Pilate, {10} knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests
had handed Jesus over to him. {11} But the chief priests stirred
up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. {12} "What
shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate
asked them. {13} "Crucify him!" they shouted. {14} "Why?
What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the
louder, "Crucify him!" {15} Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate
released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to
be crucified. {16} The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace
(that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of
soldiers. {17} They put a purple robe on him, then twisted
together a crown of thorns and set it on him. {18} And they began
to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" {19} Again and
again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling
on their knees, they paid homage to him. {20} And when they had
mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on
him. Then they led him out to crucify him. {21} A certain man
from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on
his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
{22} They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means
The Place of the Skull). {23} Then they offered him wine mixed
with myrrh, but he did not take it. {24} And they crucified him.
Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
{25} It was the third hour when they crucified him. {26} The
written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
{27} They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one
on his left. {28} {29} Those who passed by hurled insults at
him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy
the temple and build it in three days, {30} come down from the
cross and save yourself!" {31} In the same way the chief priests
and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved
others," they said, "but he can't save himself! {32} Let this
Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may
see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
{33} At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the
ninth hour. {34} And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud
voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which
means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?" {35} When some of those standing near heard this,
they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." {36} One man ran,
filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to
Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take
him down," he said. {37} With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his
last. {38} The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. {39} And when the centurion, who stood there in front of
Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was
the Son of God!" {40} Some women were watching from a distance.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and
of Joses, and Salome. {41} In Galilee these women had followed
him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him
to Jerusalem were also there. {42} It was Preparation Day (that
is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, {43}
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself
waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for
Jesus' body. {44} Pilate was surprised to hear that he was
already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already
died. {45} When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he
gave the body to Joseph. {46} So Joseph bought some linen cloth,
took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut
out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
{47} Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was
laid. |
|
Mark 16 |
|
When
the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and
Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. {2}
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they
were on their way to the tomb {3} and they asked each other, "Who
will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" {4} But
when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had
been rolled away. {5} As they entered the tomb, they saw a young
man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were
alarmed. {6} "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for
Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See
the place where they laid him. {7} But go, tell his disciples and
Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him,
just as he told you.'" {8} Trembling and bewildered, the women
went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because
they were afraid. {9} When Jesus rose early on the first day of
the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven
seven demons. {10} She went and told those who had been with him
and who were mourning and weeping. {11} When they heard that
Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
{12} Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them
while they were walking in the country. {13} These returned and
reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. {14}
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked
them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those
who had seen him after he had risen. {15} He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the good news
to all creation. {16} Whoever
believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned. {17} And these
signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out
demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18}
they will pick up snakes with their hands; and
when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will
place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
{19} After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into
heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. {20} Then the
disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with
them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. |
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