Mark 1:35–45

Spreading the Good News in Galilee—Matthew 4:23–25; Luke 4:42–44

³⁵In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray. ³⁶Simon and his friends searched for him. ³⁷When they found him, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 

³⁸Jesus said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread ⸤the Good News⸥ in them also. This is why I have come.” 

³⁹So he went to spread ⸤the Good News⸥ in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people. 

Jesus Cures a Man with a Skin Disease—Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–14

⁴⁰Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “If you’re willing, you can make me clean.”^b

⁴¹Jesus felt sorry for him, reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!” 

⁴²Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean. 

⁴³Jesus sent him away at once and warned him, ⁴⁴“Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.” 

⁴⁵When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.