As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,

People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

John wore a garment made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

And a voice came from heaven: "You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight."

He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.

As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).

The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law.

"Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!"

They were all amazed so that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him."

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.

So 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.

Now a leper came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. "If you are willing, you can make me clean," he said.

He told him, "See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds:

Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'?

"I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home."

And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

When Jesus heard this he said to them, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came to Jesus and said, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"

But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast.

So the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?"

He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry --

Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?" But they were silent.

After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

For he had healed many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.

And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."

Now Jesus went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat.

A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

He answered them and said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them.

These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.

But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word,

But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred."

He also said to them, "A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand?

He also asked, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it?

So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear.

So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.

Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped.

But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?"

And he said to them, "Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?"

They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!"

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "My name is Legion, for we are many."

Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about two thousand were drowned in the lake.

They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind -- the one who had the "Legion" -- and they were afraid.

But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, "Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you."

So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.

He asked him urgently, "My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live."

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?"

They came to the house of the synagogue ruler where he saw noisy confusion and people weeping and wailing loudly.

When he entered he said to them, "Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."

And they began making fun of him. But he put them all outside and he took the child's father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was.

The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?

and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics.

He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the area.

If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him."

For John had repeatedly told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

He said to them, "Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while" (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat).

As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

They all ate and were satisfied,

and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.

Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.

for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished,

because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

And wherever he would go -- into villages, towns, or countryside -- they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?"

He also said to them, "You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.

For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.'

But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, 'Whatever help you would have received from me is corban' (that is, a gift for God),

then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother.

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this."

He said to them, "Are you so foolish? Don't you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?

For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer." (This means all foods are clean.)

Then he said to her, "Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter."

And immediately the man's ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly.

People were completely astounded and said, "He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

His disciples answered him, "Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?"

There were about four thousand who ate. Then he dismissed them.

When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened?

He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."

But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's."

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

(For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)

As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him.

He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"

Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so."

It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Then Jesus said to him, "'If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes."