As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

And a voice came from heaven:

You are My beloved Son;
I take delight in You!

As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.

Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets.

They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.

“What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.

and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:

Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

“I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.

When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry—

In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath.

Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Since He had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch Him.

Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, those possessed fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.

because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for You.”

He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil.

When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.

These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.

Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,

But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?

And He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?

He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.

So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.

A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”

And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

“What is your name?” He asked him.

“My name is Legion,” he answered Him, “because we are many.”

They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.”

So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live.”

“Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.”

While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”

He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”

They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was.

Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands?

Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us?” So they were offended by Him.

They were to wear sandals, but not put on an extra shirt.

If any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

And they were driving out many demons, anointing many sick people with olive oil, and healing them.

King Herod heard of this, because Jesus’ name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why supernatural powers are at work in him.”

John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.

Now those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.

for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,

because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

Wherever He would go, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch just the tassel of His robe. And everyone who touched it was made well.

They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean—that is, unwashed—hands.

When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)

Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why don’t Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean hands?”

He also said to them, “You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain your tradition!

For Moses said:

Honor your father and your mother; and
Whoever speaks evil of father or mother
must be put to death.

But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corban’” (that is, a gift committed to the temple),

“you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.

You revoke God’s word by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”

Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

And He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?

Then He told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

Immediately his ears were opened, his speech difficulty was removed, and he began to speak clearly.

They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk!”

His disciples answered Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?”

They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.

They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.

About 4,000 men were there. He dismissed them

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?

“But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”

Then He said to them, “I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him.

Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”