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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 The good news of Jesus Christ - the Message! - begins here,
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1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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2 following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you; He'll make the road smooth for you.
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2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"--
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3 Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!
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3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
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4 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins.
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4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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5 People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life.
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5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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6 John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
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6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
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7 As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life.
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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.
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8 I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism - a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit - will change you from the inside out."
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8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
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9 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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10 The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him.
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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.
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11 Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."
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11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
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12 At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild.
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12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,
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13 For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.
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13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
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14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God:
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14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
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15 "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message."
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15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
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16 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work.
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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.
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17 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."
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17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
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18 They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.
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18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
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19 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets.
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19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
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20 Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.
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20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
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21 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching.
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21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
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22 They were surprised at his teaching - so forthright, so confident - not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.
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22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
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23 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out,
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23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
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24 "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!"
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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!"
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25 Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!"
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25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
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26 The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly - and got out.
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26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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27 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!"
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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."
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28 News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.
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28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
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29 Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew's house, accompanied by James and John.
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29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
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30 Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus.
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30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.
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31 He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.
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31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
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32 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him,
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32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
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33 the whole city lined up at his door!
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33 The whole town gathered at the door,
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34 He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word.
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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.
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35 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed.
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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.
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36 Simon and those with him went looking for him.
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36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,
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37 They found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you."
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37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
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38 Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I've come."
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38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
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39 He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.
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39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."
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40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
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41 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean."
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41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
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42 Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy.
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42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
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43 Jesus dismissed him with strict orders:
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43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
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44 "Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people."
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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."
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45 But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.
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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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| Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
