“ 13  Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around Him, and He taught them. 14  As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed Jesus. 15  And as Jesus sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples — for there were many who followed Jesus. 16  When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that Jesus was

“ 1  When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. 2  So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and He was speaking the Word to them. 3  Then some people came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4  And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which t

“ 40  A leper came to Jesus begging Him, and kneeling He said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41  Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42  Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43  After sternly warning him Jesus sent him away at once, 44  saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses com

“ 35  In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36  And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37  When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38  He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39  And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out de

“ 29  As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30  Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31  He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32  That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33  And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34  And he cured many who

“ 21  They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. 22  They were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23  Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24  and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ 25  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out

“ 16  As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake — for they were fishermen. 17  And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fish for people.’ 18  And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19  As He went a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20  Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat wi

“ 12  And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. 13  He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on Him. 14  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15  and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news’” Mark 1:12-14 . Notice that Mark includes a very brief reference to the tempta

After spending some weeks with you in the Psalms, I am turning to Mark’s Gospel. I want to invite you to join me in some daily reflections on Mark’s Gospel. On February 18, Ash Wednesday, I will step back from Mark, and lead us through some thoughts and prayers during Lent. After Easter Sunday I will return to Mark and finish it together with you. So let’s begin this day with the beginning of Mark’s Gospels. “ 1  The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

“ 1  Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary;     praise him in his mighty firmament!  2  Praise him for his mighty deeds;     praise him according to his surpassing greatness!  3  Praise him with trumpet sound;     praise him with lute and harp!  4  Praise him with tambourine and dance;     praise him with strings and pipe!  5  Praise him with clanging cymbals;     praise him with loud clashing cymbals!  6  Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the

“ 1  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures for ever. 2  O give thanks to the God of gods,     for his steadfast love endures for ever. 3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords,     for his steadfast love endures for ever” Psalm 136:1-3 . There is a single Hebrew word that is used in this psalm, the word hesed ! It translates into English: the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. So in this psalm and in many others, the word h