Genesis 9:8-17; Mark 1:9-15

8 God said to Noah and his sons,

9 "I am now making my covenant with you and with your descendants,

10 and with all living beings - all birds and all animals - everything that came out of the boat with you.

11 With these words I make my covenant with you: I promise that never again will all living beings be destroyed by a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.

12 As a sign of this everlasting covenant which I am making with you and with all living beings,

13 I am putting my bow in the clouds. It will be the sign of my covenant with the world.

14 Whenever I cover the sky with clouds and the rainbow appears,

15 I will remember my promise to you and to all the animals that a flood will never again destroy all living beings.

16 When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between me and all living beings on earth.

17 That is the sign of the promise which I am making to all living beings."

9 Not long afterward Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.

11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you."

12 At once the Spirit made him go into the desert,

13 where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped him.

14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God.

15 "The right time has come," he said, "and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!"