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John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
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as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
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I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
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At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,
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Jesus Announces the Good News
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
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“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
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Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
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Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,
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“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!”
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The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”
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and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
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Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
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“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
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Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
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Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
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He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
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On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
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Jesus Questioned About Fasting
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
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Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
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Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
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The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
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In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
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So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
