New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Mark 1
1
This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 17:5
Matthew 3:17
John 1:14
References God
Matthew 4:3
Matthew 14:33
Romans 8:3
References Jesus
John 20:31
2
Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote, "I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way." --(Malachi 3:1)
Reference
3
"A messenger is calling out in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.' " --(Isaiah 40:3)
Reference
References Lord
Matthew 3:3
4
And so John came. He baptized people in the desert. He also preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.
Reference
5
All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River.
Reference
6
John wore clothes made out of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey.
Reference
7
Here is what John was preaching. "After me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. I'm not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals.
Reference
9
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 2:23
10
Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove.
Reference
11
A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."
Reference
Love
Mark 9:7
Matthew 3:17
John 3:16
Parallel theme
Isaiah 42:1
Psalm 2:7
Colossians 1:13
Romans 1:4
12
At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert.
13
He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn't harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.
Reference
14
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God's good news.
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 4:23
Luke 8:1
Matthew 9:35
Parallel theme
Ephesians 2:17
References Jesus
Matthew 4:12
15
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!"
Reference
Faith
Acts 20:21
Kingdom
Matthew 3:2
Matthew 4:17
Matthew 10:7
Daniel 2:44
Luke 10:11
Luke 10:9
Parallel theme
Ephesians 1:10
References God
Galatians 4:4
Repentance
Luke 24:47
16
One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen.
Reference
17
"Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people."
Reference
References Jesus
Luke 5:10
19
Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets.
20
Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.
Reference
21
Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach.
Reference
22
The people were amazed at his teaching. He taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 13:54
John 7:46
Luke 4:32
Jeremiah 23:29
Acts 6:10
2 Corinthians 4:2
Luke 21:15
23
Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said,
Reference
Spirit
Mark 9:25
24
"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"
Reference
Holy
Acts 3:14
Luke 4:34
Revelation 3:7
Acts 2:27
Psalm 16:10
References God
James 2:19
John 6:69
References Jesus
Matthew 8:29
Mark 5:7
Luke 8:28
27
All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him."
Reference
29
Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 1:21
31
So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 9:41
32
That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons.
Reference
33
All the people in town gathered at the door.
34
Jesus healed many of them. They had all kinds of sicknesses. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.
Reference
35
It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:15
Philippians 2:5
John 4:34
Prayer
Luke 6:12
Ephesians 6:18
Psalm 5:3
Luke 5:16
Hebrews 5:7
Matthew 14:23
36
Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus.
37
When they found him, they called out, "Everyone is looking for you!"
Reference
Parallel theme
John 12:19
38
Jesus replied, "Let's go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come."
Reference
39
So he traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.
Reference
40
A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, "If you are willing to make me 'clean,' you can do it."
Reference
41
Jesus was filled with deep concern. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing to do it," he said. "Be 'clean'!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 9:36
Hebrews 2:17
Hebrews 4:15
Hebrews 1:3
Mark 5:41
Mark 4:39
Genesis 1:3
References Jesus
Mark 6:34
44
"Don't tell this to anyone," he said. "Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are 'clean.' "
Reference
Chapter Summary
Mark 1 begins by introducing Jesus as the Son of God and immediately connects His arrival with the preparation ministry of John the Baptist, who calls people in the wilderness to repentance and announces that someone far greater is coming.
John's ministry prepares the way, and Jesus then appears at the Jordan River to be baptized, where the heavens are opened, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him, and a voice from heaven identifies Him as God's beloved Son.
Immediately afterward, Jesus enters the wilderness for forty days of testing by Satan, demonstrating that His ministry begins with spiritual confrontation and faithful obedience rather than comfort or popularity.
After John is arrested, Jesus begins preaching in Galilee with a concise message announcing that God's kingdom has drawn near and calling people to repent and believe the good news.
Jesus then calls Simon and Andrew, followed by James and John, and their immediate decision to leave their fishing work demonstrates the urgency and authority of His call to discipleship.
In Capernaum, Jesus teaches in the synagogue with an authority that astonishes the people, and His authority is immediately demonstrated when He commands an unclean spirit to leave a possessed man.
The people recognize that Jesus' teaching is different because His words are accompanied by direct authority over spiritual evil, and news about Him rapidly spreads throughout Galilee.
Jesus then enters Simon Peter's home and heals Peter's mother-in-law, after which crowds gather at the house once the Sabbath has ended, bringing sick and demon-possessed people to Him.
Jesus heals many and drives out many demons, demonstrating that His ministry is not merely a program of teaching but a visible announcement that God's kingdom is confronting sickness, suffering, and spiritual oppression.
Despite the enormous demand for His attention, Jesus rises before dawn and goes to a solitary place to pray, showing that private communion with God remains essential even when public ministry becomes increasingly demanding.
When the disciples tell Jesus that everyone is looking for Him, He refuses to allow popularity to determine His direction and instead explains that He must go to other towns to preach, because proclaiming God's message is central to the purpose of His mission.
The chapter concludes with Jesus healing a man suffering from a serious skin disease, an especially meaningful act because such conditions could lead to social and religious exclusion.
Jesus reaches out and touches the man, demonstrates compassion toward someone who would normally be avoided, and immediately restores him to health, while also instructing him to show himself to the priest so that his restoration can be officially recognized.
The healed man, however, spreads the news widely, causing Jesus' reputation to become so great that He can no longer enter towns openly and must remain in isolated places while crowds continue coming to Him.
Mark 1 therefore establishes several major themes that will continue throughout the Gospel: Jesus' divine identity, the arrival of God's kingdom, the authority of His teaching, His power over evil, His compassion toward suffering people, the calling of disciples, and His dependence upon prayer.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus arrives with God's authority and begins announcing God's kingdom through powerful teaching, spiritual victory, healing, and a call to repentance and discipleship.
Mark 1 ultimately presents Jesus as the powerful and compassionate Son of God whose authority is immediately visible in both His words and His actions, while His example shows that even extraordinary public ministry must remain grounded in prayer, obedience, compassion, and complete commitment to God's purpose.
John's ministry prepares the way, and Jesus then appears at the Jordan River to be baptized, where the heavens are opened, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him, and a voice from heaven identifies Him as God's beloved Son.
Immediately afterward, Jesus enters the wilderness for forty days of testing by Satan, demonstrating that His ministry begins with spiritual confrontation and faithful obedience rather than comfort or popularity.
After John is arrested, Jesus begins preaching in Galilee with a concise message announcing that God's kingdom has drawn near and calling people to repent and believe the good news.
Jesus then calls Simon and Andrew, followed by James and John, and their immediate decision to leave their fishing work demonstrates the urgency and authority of His call to discipleship.
In Capernaum, Jesus teaches in the synagogue with an authority that astonishes the people, and His authority is immediately demonstrated when He commands an unclean spirit to leave a possessed man.
The people recognize that Jesus' teaching is different because His words are accompanied by direct authority over spiritual evil, and news about Him rapidly spreads throughout Galilee.
Jesus then enters Simon Peter's home and heals Peter's mother-in-law, after which crowds gather at the house once the Sabbath has ended, bringing sick and demon-possessed people to Him.
Jesus heals many and drives out many demons, demonstrating that His ministry is not merely a program of teaching but a visible announcement that God's kingdom is confronting sickness, suffering, and spiritual oppression.
Despite the enormous demand for His attention, Jesus rises before dawn and goes to a solitary place to pray, showing that private communion with God remains essential even when public ministry becomes increasingly demanding.
When the disciples tell Jesus that everyone is looking for Him, He refuses to allow popularity to determine His direction and instead explains that He must go to other towns to preach, because proclaiming God's message is central to the purpose of His mission.
The chapter concludes with Jesus healing a man suffering from a serious skin disease, an especially meaningful act because such conditions could lead to social and religious exclusion.
Jesus reaches out and touches the man, demonstrates compassion toward someone who would normally be avoided, and immediately restores him to health, while also instructing him to show himself to the priest so that his restoration can be officially recognized.
The healed man, however, spreads the news widely, causing Jesus' reputation to become so great that He can no longer enter towns openly and must remain in isolated places while crowds continue coming to Him.
Mark 1 therefore establishes several major themes that will continue throughout the Gospel: Jesus' divine identity, the arrival of God's kingdom, the authority of His teaching, His power over evil, His compassion toward suffering people, the calling of disciples, and His dependence upon prayer.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus arrives with God's authority and begins announcing God's kingdom through powerful teaching, spiritual victory, healing, and a call to repentance and discipleship.
Mark 1 ultimately presents Jesus as the powerful and compassionate Son of God whose authority is immediately visible in both His words and His actions, while His example shows that even extraordinary public ministry must remain grounded in prayer, obedience, compassion, and complete commitment to God's purpose.