Preparation for the Mission of Jesus

Chapter 1

Beginning of the Good News. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

It is written in the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”

Hence, John the Baptist appeared in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

People from the entire Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him, and as they confessed their sins they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John was clothed in a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food consisted of locusts and wild honey.

And this was the message he proclaimed: “One who is far more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy even to stoop down and loosen the straps of his sandals.

Jesus Is Baptized by John. At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And as he was coming up out of the water, he beheld the heavens break open and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

Jesus Is Tempted in the Desert. The Spirit immediately drove him out into the desert.

He remained there for forty days, during which time he was tempted by Satan. He lived there among the wild beasts, while the angels ministered to him.

Is Jesus the Messiah?

First Testimonies of the Messiah’s Mission

Jesus Inaugurates His Mission. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying,

“The time of fulfillment has arrived, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The First Disciples. As Jesus was walking along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

As he proceeded farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They also were in a boat mending their nets.

Immediately, he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers and followed him.

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon. They journeyed to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus immediately entered the synagogue and began to instruct the people.

They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

In that synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he shrieked,

“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.”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry emerged from him.

The people were all amazed, and they began to ask one another, “What is this? It must be a new kind of teaching! With authority he gives commands even to unclean spirits, and they obey him!”