The Beginning of the Gospel
This is how the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begins.
The Ministry of John the Baptist
This happened just as the prophet Isaiah had written long ago: "Look, I will send my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. A voice calls out in the wilderness, saying, 'Get ready for the Lord's coming! Make the paths straight for him!'" John the Baptist came into the wilderness, telling people they needed to be baptized to show they had turned away from their sins and wanted God's forgiveness. People streamed out to him from Jerusalem and from all over the Judean countryside. They openly confessed the wrong things they had done, and John baptized them in the Jordan River. John wore clothes made from camel's hair and had a leather belt tied around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed this message to everyone: "Someone is coming after me who is far more powerful than I am. I'm not even good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
The Baptism of Jesus
During that time, Jesus traveled from Nazareth in Galilee and came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. The moment Jesus emerged from the water, he saw the sky tearing open above him, and God's Spirit came down and settled on him like a dove landing gently. Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "You are my beloved Son, and I am completely pleased with you."
The Temptation of Jesus
Immediately after this, the Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness. There He stayed for forty days while Satan tempted Him. Wild animals surrounded Him during this time, but angels took care of Him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
After John was arrested, Jesus traveled to Galilee and began announcing the good news from God. He declared, "The time has come, and God's kingdom is close at hand. Turn away from your sins and put your trust in this good news!"
The Call of the First Disciples
As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he noticed Simon and his brother Andrew throwing their fishing net into the water. These men made their living by catching fish. Jesus called out to them, "Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people instead of fish." Right away, they dropped their nets and went with him. Jesus continued walking and soon saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were sitting in their boat, repairing their fishing nets. Jesus immediately called to them as well. Without hesitation, they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the workers he had hired and followed Jesus.
Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit
Jesus and his companions traveled to the town of Capernaum. As soon as they arrived, Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and started teaching the people gathered there. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his teaching. Unlike the religious teachers they were used to, Jesus taught with real authority—as if he truly knew what he was talking about, not just repeating what others had said. Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit began shouting at Jesus. The spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come here to destroy us? I know exactly who you are—you're the Holy One sent from God!" Jesus spoke firmly to the evil spirit, commanding it, "Be quiet! Get out of him right now!" The unclean spirit threw the man's body into violent shaking, then came out of him with a loud, piercing scream. Everyone in the synagogue was stunned. They started talking excitedly among themselves, asking, "What just happened? This is completely new! He teaches with such authority, and even the evil spirits have to obey when he commands them!" Word about what Jesus had done spread rapidly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law
Right after Jesus and his friends left the synagogue, they walked together to Simon and Andrew's house, bringing James and John with them. When they arrived, they found that Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed, burning with fever and too sick to get up. The moment they saw her condition, they quickly told Jesus what was wrong. Jesus immediately went to where she was lying. He reached down and took her hand in his, then gently helped her sit up. The instant he touched her, the fever completely left her body. She felt so much better that she got up right away and began preparing food and taking care of all of them.
Jesus Heals Many at Evening
That evening, when the sun had set, people brought Jesus everyone who was sick and everyone who had demons inside them. The entire town crowded together outside the door where Jesus was staying. Jesus healed many people who suffered from all kinds of sicknesses, and he forced many demons to leave the people they had been tormenting. But Jesus would not let the demons speak, because they knew exactly who he was.
Jesus Prays and Preaches
Very early in the morning, before the sun came up and while it was still completely dark, Jesus quietly got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be completely alone, and there he prayed. Simon Peter and the other disciples realized Jesus was gone, so they went out searching for him. When they finally found him in that quiet place, they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you! The whole town wants to see you!" But Jesus replied to them, "We need to go to the other towns nearby so I can tell them the good news there too. That's the reason I came into the world." So Jesus traveled throughout the entire region of Galilee. He went into their synagogues and taught the people, and he also forced evil spirits out of those who were possessed by them.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
A man with leprosy came to Jesus. He dropped to his knees and begged, "If you want to, you can heal me and make me clean." Jesus felt deep compassion for him. He reached out and touched the man—something no one else would dare to do. "I do want to," Jesus said. "Be healed!" Instantly, the leprosy disappeared from the man's body. He was completely clean and healthy. Jesus immediately sent the man away, but first he gave him a serious warning. "Don't tell anyone about this," Jesus said firmly. "Instead, go straight to the priest and let him examine you. Then bring the offering that Moses commanded for people who have been cleansed from leprosy. This will prove to the priests what has happened." But the man couldn't contain his excitement. As soon as he left Jesus, he began telling everyone he met about his miraculous healing. He spread the news everywhere he went. Because of this, Jesus could no longer walk openly into any town—too many crowds would gather. Instead, he had to stay out in remote, lonely places away from the cities. Even so, people kept coming to him from all directions, seeking him out wherever he was.