October 16: Mark 1-3 (NLT)

This is the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.

He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord's coming.

Clear the road for him!'" This messenger was John the Baptist.

He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.

For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

John announced, "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.

And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy." The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days.

He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.

"The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced.

"The Kingdom of God is near.

Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.

Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people." And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets, and he called them at once.

And they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.

When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority - quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

Suddenly a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus reprimanded him.

This is the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.

He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord's coming.

Clear the road for him!'" This messenger was John the Baptist.

He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.

For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

John announced, "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.

And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy." The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days.

He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.

"The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced.

"The Kingdom of God is near.

Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.

Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people." And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets, and he called them at once.

And they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.

When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority - quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

Suddenly a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus reprimanded him.