Mark – Gospel 1 – The Gospel of Jesus Christ
April 14, 2009 by Administrator
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The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is said in the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold! I send my messenger before thy face; He shall prepare thy way.’ 3 ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ 4 And in fulfillment of this, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.
5 The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 John was clad in clothing of camels’ hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; 7 And he proclaimed: “There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 Now about that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him, 11 And from the heavens came a voice: “Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight.” 12 Immediately afterwards the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness; 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels ministered to him.
14 After John had been committed to prison, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God: 15 “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the gospel.” 16 As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 “Come and follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They left their nets at once, and followed him. 19 Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah’s son, and his brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Jesus at once called them, and they left their father Zebediah in the boat with the crew, and went after him. 21 And they walked into Capernaum.
On the next Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the teachers of the law. 23 Now there was in their synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out: 24 “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!” 25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit: “Be silent! Come out from him.” 26 The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud cry came out from him.
27 And they were all so amazed that they kept asking: “What is this? Strange teaching indeed! He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!” 28 And the fame of Jesus spread at once in all directions, through the whole neighborhood of Galilee. 29 As soon as they had come out from the synagogue, they went, with James and John, into the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. 31 Jesus went up to her and, grasping her hand, raised her up; the fever left her, and she began to wait upon them.
32 In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons; 33 And the whole city was gathered round the door. 34 Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.
35 In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus rose and went out, and, going to a lonely spot, there began to pray. 36 But Simon and his companions hastened after him; 37 And, when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 But Jesus said to them: “Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns near, that I may make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came.”
39 And he went about making his proclamation in their synagogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons. 40 One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help. “If only you are willing,” he said, “you are able to make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying as he did so: “I am willing; become clean.”
42 Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean; 43 And then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, and said to him: 44 “Be careful not to say anything to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.” 45 The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and spread the story so widely that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction.
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 2.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 3 – Satan Can’t Drive Out Satan
April 14, 2009 by Administrator
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On another occasion Jesus went in to a synagogue, where there was a man whose hand was withered. 2 And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him.
3 Stand out in the middle, Jesus said to the man with the withered hand; 4 And to the people he said: Is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath? Or harm? To save a life, or destroy it? 5 As they remained silent, Jesus looked round at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man: Stretch out your hand. The man stretched it out; and his hand had become sound. 6 Immediately on leaving the Synagogue, the Pharisees and the Herodians united in laying a plot against Jesus, to put him to death.
7 Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, followed by a great number of people from Galilee. 8 And a great number, hearing of all that he was doing, came to him from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Edom, from beyond the Jordan, and from the country round Tyre and Sidon. 9 So Jesus told his disciples to keep a small boat close by, for fear the crowd should crush him. 10 For he had cured many of them, and so people kept crowding upon him, that all who were afflicted might touch him.
11 The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out: You are the Son of God! 12 But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known. 13 And Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his messengers, to preach, 15 And with power to drive out demons.
16 So he appointed the twelve: Peter (which was the name that Jesus gave to Simon), 17 James, the son of Zebediah, and his brother John (whom he surnamed Boanerges, meaning the sons of thunder), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 19 And Judas Iscariot, the man that betrayed him. 20 Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food.
21 When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind. 22 And the teachers of the law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: He has the devil in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Beelzebub, their chief. 23 So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; 25 And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. 26 So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last; his end has come!
27 No one who has got into a strong mans house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will they plunder his house. 28 I tell you that men will be forgiven everything: their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; 29 but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin. 30 This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. 32 There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him: Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you. 33 Who is my mother? and my brothers? was his reply. 34 Then he looked around on the people sitting in a circle round him, and said: Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 4.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 4 – Parable of Mustard Seed
April 14, 2009 by Administrator
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Jesus again began to teach by the sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the sea, while all the people were on the shore at the waters edge. 2 Then he taught them many truths in parables; and in the course of his teaching he said to them: 3 Listen! The sower went out to sow; 4 And while sowing, some of the seed fell along the path; and the birds came, and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and, having no depth of soil, sprang up at once; 6 But, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, having no root, withered away. 7 Some of the seed fell among brambles; but the brambles shot up and completely choked it, and it yielded no return. 8 Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold. 9 And Jesus said: Let anyone who has ears to hear with hear.
10 Afterwards, when he was alone, his followers and the twelve asked him about his parables; 11 And he said: To you the hidden truth of the kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those on the outside, teaching takes the form of parables, 12 That though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; and though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; lest some day they should turn and be forgiven. 13 He then went on to ask them: Do you not know the meaning of this parable? Then how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The sower sows the message.
15 The people meant by the seed that falls along the path are those where the message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the message that has been sown in them. 16 So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the message, at once accept it joyfully; 17 But, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the message, they fall away at once.
18 Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the message, 19 But the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. 20 But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.
21 And Jesus said to them: Is a candle brought to be put under a blanket or under a couch, instead of being put on candlestick? 22 Nothing is hidden unless some day it comes to light, nor was anything ever kept hidden but that it should some day come into the light of day. 23 Let all who have ears to hear with hear.
24 Take care what you listen to, said Jesus. The measure you mete will be meted out to you, and more will be added for you. 25 For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 26 Jesus also said: This is what the kingdom of God is like: like a farmer who has scattered seed on the ground, 27 And then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is shooting up and growing, he knows not how. 28 The ground bears the crop of itself: first the blade, then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear; 29 But, as soon as the crop is ready, immediately he puts in the sickle because harvest has come.
30 Jesus also said: To what can we liken the kingdom of God? 31 By what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard-seed. This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds, 32 Yet, when sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even the wild birds can roost in its shelter. 33 With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his message, as far as they were able to receive it; 34 And to them he never used to speak except in parables; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything.
35 In the evening of the same day, Jesus said to them: Let us go across. 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A violent squall came on, and the waves kept crashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling. 38 Jesus was in the stern asleep upon the cushion; and the disciples roused him and cried: Teacher! Is it nothing to you that we are lost?
39 Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: Hush! Be still! Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed. 40 Why are you so timid? he exclaimed. Have you no faith yet? 41 But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another: Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 5.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 5 – My Name is Legion
April 14, 2009 by Administrator
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And they came to the other side of the seathe country of the Gerasenes; 2 And, as soon as Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit, 3 And who made his home in the tombs. No one had ever been able to secure him, even with a chain; 4 For, though he had many times been left secured with fetters and chains, he had snapped the chains and broken the fetters to pieces, and no one could master him. 5 Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones.
6 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to the ground before him, 7 Shrieking out in a loud voice: What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the most high God? For Gods sake do not torment me! 8 For Jesus had said: Come out from the man, you foul spirit. 9 And he asked him: What is your name? My name, he said, is legion, for there are many of us; 10 and he begged Jesus again and again not to send them away out of that country.
11 There was a large drove of pigs close by, feeding on the hill-side. 12 And the spirits begged Jesus: Send us into the pigs, that we may take possession of them. 13 Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into the pigs; and the droveabout two thousand in numberrushed down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea. 14 On this the men who tended them ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round; and the people went to see what had happened.
15 When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mindthe very man who had had the legion in himand they were awe-struck. 16 Then those who had seen it related to them all that had happened to the possessed man, as well as about the pigs; 17 Upon which they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the possessed man begged him to let him stay with him. 19 But Jesus refused. Go back to your home, to your own people, he said, and tell them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how he took pity on you. 20 So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of the ten towns all that Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
21 By the time Jesus had re-crossed in the boat to the opposite shore, a great number of people had gathered to meet him, and were standing by the sea. 22 And one of the presidents of the synagogue, whose name was Jaeirus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet with repeated entreaties. 23 My little daughter, he said, is at the point of death; I beg you to come and place your hands on her, that her life may be spared. 24 So Jesus went with him. A great number of people followed Jesus, and kept pressing round him.
25 Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had suffered from hemorrhage, 26 And undergone much at the hands of many doctors, (spending all she had without obtaining any relief, but, on the contrary, growing worse), 27 Heard about Jesus, came behind in the crowd, and touched his cloak. 28 If I can only touch his clothes, she said, I shall get well! 29 At once the mischief was stopped, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. 30 Jesus at once became aware of the power that had gone out from him, and, turning round in the crowd, he said: Who touched my clothes?
31 You see the people pressing round you, exclaimed his disciples, and yet you say: Who touched me? 32 But Jesus looked about to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 Daughter, he said, your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you; be whole from your sickness.
35 Before he had finished speaking, some people from the house of the president of the synagogue came and said: Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the teacher further? 36 But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the president of the synagogue: Do not be afraid; only have faith. 37 And he allowed no one to accompany him, except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
38 Presently they reached the presidents house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion: people weeping and wailing incessantly. 39 Why this confusion and weeping? he said on entering. The little child is not dead; she is asleep. 40 They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the childs father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying.
41 Taking her hand, Jesus said to her: Taleitha, koum!which means little girl, I am speaking to you: rise! 42 The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement; 43 But Jesus repeatedly cautioned them not to let anyone know of it, and told them to give her something to eat.
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 6.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 7 – Moses’ & God’s Commandments
March 20, 2009 by Administrator
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One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. 2 They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands defiled, by which they meant unwashed. 3 For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. 4 When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans.
5 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law asked Jesus this question: How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands? 6 His answer was: It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words: This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; 7 But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.
8 You neglect Gods commandments and hold to the traditions of men. 9 Wisely do you set aside Gods commandments, he exclaimed, to keep your own traditions! 10 For while Moses said Honor thy father and thy mother, and Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death, 11 You say: If a man says to his father or mother: Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban (which means Given to God), 12 Why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother! 13 In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.
14 Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. There is nothing external to you, which by going into you that can defile you; but the things that come out from you are the things that defile you. 16 Those who have ears let them hear. 17 When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 What, do even you understand so little! exclaimed Jesus. Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can defile him, 19 Because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?in saying this Jesus pronounced all food clean. 20 It is what comes out from a man, he added, that defiles him, 21 For it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts: unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, 22 Greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly; 23 All these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man.
24 On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice. 25 For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet. 26 The woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 Let the children be satisfied first, answered Jesus. For it is not fair to take the childrens food, and throw it to dogs. 28 Yes, Master, she replied; even the dogs under the table do feed on the childrens crumbs. 29 For saying that, he answered, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter. 30 The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the ten towns. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the mans ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to the man: Ephphatha! which means Be opened. 35 The mans ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
36 Jesus insisted upon their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known, 37 And a profound impression was made upon the people. He has done everything well! they exclaimed. He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 8.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 8 – Miracle of Loaves & Fishes
March 20, 2009 by Administrator
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About that time, when there was again a great crowd of people who had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: 2 My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; 3 And if I send them away to their homes hungry, they will break down on the way; and some of them have come a long distance. 4 Where will it be possible, his disciples answered, to get sufficient bread for these people in this lonely place?
5 How many loaves have you? he asked. Seven, they answered. 6 Jesus told the crowd to sit down upon the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve out; and they served them out to the crowd. 7 They had also a few small fish; and, after he had said the blessing, he told the disciples to serve out these as well. 8 The people had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left. 9 There were about four thousand people. Then Jesus dismissed them.
10 Immediately afterwards, getting into the boat with his disciples, Jesus went to the district of Dalmanutha. 11 Here the Pharisees came out, and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for some sign from the heavens, to test him. 12 Sighing deeply, Jesus said: Why does this generation ask for a sign? I tell you, no sign shall be given it. 13 So he left them to themselves, and, getting into the boat again, went away to the opposite shore.
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread with them, one loaf being all that they had in the boat. 15 So Jesus gave them this warning. Take care, he said, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. 16 They began talking to one another about their being short of bread. 17 And, noticing this, Jesus said to them: Why are you talking about your being short of bread? Do not you yet see or understand? Are your minds still so slow to comprehend?
18 Though you have eyes, do you not see? And though you have ears, do you not hear? Do not you remember, 19 When I broke up the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up? Twelve, they said. 20 And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up? Seven, they said. 21 Do not you understand now? he repeated.
22 They came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to touch him. 23 Taking the blind mans hand, Jesus led him to the outskirts of the village, and, when he had put saliva on the mans eyes, he placed his hands on him, and asked him: Do you see anything? 24 The man looked up, and said: I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees. 25 Then Jesus again placed his hands on the mans eyes; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw everything with perfect distinctness. 26 Jesus sent him to his home, and said: Do not go even into the village.
27 Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the villages round Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples this question: Who do people say that I am? 28 John the Baptist, they answered, but others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets. 29 But you, he asked, who do you say that I am? To this Peter replied: You are the Christ. 30 On which Jesus charged them not to say this about him to anyone.
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and that he must be rejected by the councilors, and the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and be put to death, and rise again after three days. 32 This statement he made openly. But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. 33 Jesus, however, turning round and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter. Out of my sight, Satan! he exclaimed. For you look at things, not as God does, but as man does.
34 Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said: If anyone wishes to walk in my steps, let them renounce self, take up their cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save their lives will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, will lose their lives shall save it. 36 What good is it to you to gain the whole world and forfeit your life? 37 For what could you give that is of equal value with your life? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of them will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his Fathers glory with the holy angels.
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 9.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
Mark – Gospel 9 – The First Must Be Last
March 20, 2009 by Administrator
Filed under Mark
I tell you, he added, that some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the kingdom of God come in power. 2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes, 3 And his clothes became of a more dazzling white than any bleacher in the world could make them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them, in company with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Rabbi, said Peter, interposing, it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 6 For he did not know what to say, because they were much afraid. 7 Then a cloud came down and enveloped them; and from the cloud there came a voice: This is my beloved Son; him you must hear. 8 And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone.
9 As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.10 They seized upon these words and discussed with one another what this rising from the dead meant. 11 How is it, they asked Jesus, that our teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?
12 Elijah does indeed come first, answered Jesus, and re-establish everything; and does not scripture speak, with regard to the Son of Man, of his undergoing much suffering and being utterly despised? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as scripture says of him.
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd round them, and some teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 But, as soon as they saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him.16 What are you arguing about with them? Jesus asked. 17 Teacher, answered a man in the crowd, I brought my son to see you, as he has a dumb spirit in him; 18 And, wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they failed.
19 O faithless generation! exclaimed Jesus. How long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me. 20 They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 How long has he been like this? Jesus asked the boys father.
22 From his childhood, he answered; and it has often thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us! 23 Why say possibly? Jesus replied. Everything is possible for one who has faith. 24 The boys father immediately cried out: I have faith; help my want of faith!
25 But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit: Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again. 26 With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead. 27 But Jesus took his hand, and lifted him; and he stood up. 28 When Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately: Why could not we drive it out? 29 A spirit of this kind, he said, can be driven out only by prayer.
30 Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish anyone to know it, 31 for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them: The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his community, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days. 32 But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him.
33 They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them: What were you discussing on the way? 34 But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said: If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.
36 Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Folding it in his arms, he said to them: 37 Anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his messenger.
38 Teacher, said John, we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us. 39 None of you must prevent the man, answered Jesus, for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me. 40 He who is not against us is for us.
41 If anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he shall assuredly not lose his reward. 42 And, if anyone puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. 43 If your hand proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into the pit, into the inextinguishable fire: 44 Where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 If your foot proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the Life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into the pit: 46 Where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 If your eye proves a snare to you, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the pit: 48 Where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For it is by fire that everyone will be salted. 50 Salt is good, but, if the salt should lose its saltiness, what will you use to season it? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another.
Excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Testament Gospels). A faith book especially suited for Progressive Christianity workshops, Bible Study Groups, Unitarian Christians, and all who seek a richer life.
To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 10.
This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.
