The Readable Bible: Mark

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The Gospel of Mark

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The Readable Bible

The Gospel of Mark

Jesus Is the Christ

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

e Readable Bible: Mark

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

e Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of ve hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to e Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from e Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from e Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

Reader

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Before You Read

The Gospel of Mark

Glossary

The Jewish Calendar

Familiar Verses in Mark

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

People in Mark 52

The Herod Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Festivals of the Lord 55

Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . .

Illustration: The Temple in Jerusalem 58

Note on Time References in the New Testament . . . .

. . . . . .

The Jewish Day 59 Weights and Measures in the Gospels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Note on Quotations of Old Testament Scripture

Note on Dates of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Note on Spurious Text 61

Translation Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Format and Presentation Notes

Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted

The Gospel of Mark

Part 1. Jesus’ Early Ministry

John the Baptist 1

and Temptation of Jesus

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Locations in Mark

Drives Out an Unclean Spirit

Heals

Prays Alone

at

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy

Part 2. Jesus Becomes Controversial

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Jesus Calls Levi

Jesus Is Asked About Fasting

New Wine Belongs in New Wineskins

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Sabbath Miracle Controversy

Crowds Follow Jesus

Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles

A Divided House Will Not Stand

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

Parable of the Sower

.

Mark 2

Mark 3

5

5

6

Why Jesus Spoke in Parables 7

Parable of the Sower Explained

A Lamp on a Stand 8 Measure for Measure

Parable of the Growing Seed 8

Parable of the Mustard Seed .

Jesus Calms the Storm

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter

Jesus Heals a Hemorrhaging Woman

Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter (continued)

Prophet Without Honor

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Herod’s Anxiety; John the Baptist Beheaded

5

6

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

Jesus Walks on the Water

Mark 7

Scripture Versus Tradition of the Elders 14

Uncleanness Comes from Within

Jesus Heals a Gentile

Jesus Cures a Man’s Hearing and Speech

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

No Sign Will Be Given

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

Mark 8

16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Peter’s Confession That Jesus Is the Messiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Life Is Found in Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Mark 9

The Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Jesus Predicts His Death Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whoever Serves Is Greatest . . . .

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

The Seriousness of Sin . . .

Divorce

Jesus Embraces the Little Children

Part 3. Jesus Heads Toward Jerusalem

10

19

19

Possessions and Eternal Life 21

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

James and John’s Request

Jesus Gives Bartimaeus Sight

Jesus Enters Jerusalem Triumphantly

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

11

Part

in

About the Messiah

Against Self-Centered Teachers

The Widow’s Offering

Signs of the End of the Age

13

1 There Will Be Suffering 28

2. False Prophets Will Rise Up

3 The Universe Will Be Disrupted 28

4. How Jesus Will Return

28

Lesson from the Fig Tree 28 Believers Should Keep Alert

14

A Plot to Kill Jesus .

Jesus Anointed at Bethany 29

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus

Part 5. Passion Week

The Last Supper

Jesus Predicts Judas’ Betrayal

Jesus Establishes the Lord’s Supper

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

In the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus Prays

Jesus Arrested

Map: Jesus’ Last Two Days

Note: Where Did Jesus Walk? Where Was He Taken?

Table: Jesus’ Last Two Days

Jesus’

Jesus Before Pilate

Mock

Crucifixion

Jesus’ Burial

Part 6. Jesus’ Resurrection

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!)

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

We are not sure when Mark became a follower of Christ Many scholars believe he was the “young man” who followed Jesus after his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane and who fled naked when they grabbed his garment. After Jesus rose again, Mark became Peter’s disciple and scribe, and he later wrote down what Peter had said. They became so close that Peter referred to him as “my son ” And when an angel of the Lord rescued Peter from prison, the first place he went was Mark’s family home. Since Mark traveled on missionary journeys with Paul, we can be sure he heard a lot of stories about Jesus from him When Paul was in jail in Rome, he asked his disciple Timothy to bring Mark to him as “he is useful to me in my ministry.”

Mark

• saw the living Jesus,

• saw the despair of the apostles when Jesus’ body was in the tomb,

• saw the joy of the apostles who knew the resurrected Jesus, and

• helped bring about the expansion of the early church.

So it is not surprising that his record of Jesus’ life emphasizes what Jesus did, not what he said. Mark’s Gospel is a story of action, miracles, and power. His Jesus was the God-Man who moved in Mark’s own life, who took one who fled and made him into one who risked all. Jesus changed Mark two thousand years ago just like he changes all who come to him today

Before You Read

Before reading the text, please browse the glossary. You will find interesting information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important information regarding the words “Jesus” and “Christ ”

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text Text enclosed in brackets is spurious—not in the oldest, most reliable manuscripts Read “Note on Spurious Text” in the back of the book for more information

Read lists in the text from top to bottom in the first column then the next column.

In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is” are equal terms, all with the same strength of command.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Remember, Jesus was and is Jewish. The disciples and the women around him were Jewish. So “Jews” in the text oftentimes refers not to all Jews but only to those who opposed Jesus.

Last of all, each time you sit down to read the good news of Jesus the Messiah, pray Lord,

open my eyes to see Jesus; open my mind to understand Jesus; open my will to obey Jesus; open my emotions to enjoy Jesus; open my whole being to trust that his death paid the price for my sin; and open my soul and spirit to serve Jesus as my Savior, my Lord

The Gospel of Mark

The Good News About Jesus the Messiah as Reported by Mark

Part 1. Jesus’ Early Ministry

Mark 1

John the Baptist

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ,a the Son of God. 2 Just as it is written in the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “Look, I will send my messenger ahead of youb to prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.’

1

4 In fulfillment of this, John appeared baptizing in the Judean wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 It seemed like all the people of the region of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him, confessing their sins and being baptized by him in the Jordan River 6 John was clothed in a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate grasshoppersd and wild honey 7 He was preaching, “He who is mightier than I am is coming after me I’m not even worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals 8 I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came out of heaven: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness for forty days being tempted by Satan He was among the wild animals, and angels were attending to him

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

14 After John was imprisoned,e Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news [of the kingdom] of God 15 and saying, “The time has come! f The kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe the good news.”

16 As he was passing by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew (the brother of Simon) casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen 17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of people ” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him

a Or “Jesus the Messiah.” See “Jesus” and “Christ” in the glossary.

b Literally, “before your face ” See Exodus 23:20; Malachi 3:1

c See Isaiah 40:3

d “Grasshoppers”: normally rendered on English translations as “locusts,” the term for grasshoppers in their swarming stage

e Literally, “was handed over.”

f Literally, “The time is fulfilled ”

19

After going on a little, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat mending nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands and followed him

Jesus Drives Out an Unclean Spirit

21 Then they went to Capernaum, and right away on the Sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught. 22 They were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes.

23 Just then, there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. He cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,a Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God’s Holy One.”

25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” 26 After throwing the man into convulsions, the unclean spirit came out of him, shrieking.b

27 Everyone was amazed and asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching, with authority! He even commands unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 And the news of him quickly spread into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many at Simon and Andrew’s Home

Right after leaving the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, so they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 He went to her and took her hand and raised her up. [Immediately] the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

29

32–33 After sunset,c the whole town gathered at the door as they brought all those who were sick and demon-possessed to Jesus. 34 He healed many sick who had various diseases, and he cast out many demons. He would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was

Jesus Prays Alone

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place and prayed there. 36 Simon and those with him searched for him. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

35

38 Jesus responded, “Let’s go another way to the nearby villages, so I can preach there too That’s what I came to do ”d 39 And he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy

Then a man with leprosy came to Jesus, falling on his knees and begging, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

40

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him. He was cleansed.

43 Then Jesus quickly sent him away, sternly warning him: 44 “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest. And offer the sacrifices that Moses

a Literally, “What to us and to you

b Literally, “having cried out with a loud voice

c Literally, “Evening having come, when the sun went down.”

d Literally, “I have come for this reason

commanded for your cleansing,a as a testimony to them that you have been cleansed ” 45 But instead he went out and began to proclaim his cleansing everywhere, spreading the news so much that Jesus was no longer able to enter a town openly. Rather, he was staying in unpopulated places, yet people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Part 2. Jesus Becomes Controversial

2 Mark Jesus Heals a Paralytic

1 A few days later Jesus entered Capernaum again, and it was reported that he was home 2 So many gathered that there was no room, not even outside the door He was preaching the word to them. 3 Then four men came to him, bringing a paralyzed man they carried. 4 Since they were unable to get near to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug an opening, removing the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some scribes were sitting there thinking about this,b 7 wondering, “Why does he speak like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Jesus knew right away in his spirit what they were thinking within themselves, and he asked them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your cot, and walk’ ? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your cot, and go to your home ”

12 The man immediately got up, took his cot, and walked out in full view of them allc so that they were all amazed and gave glory to God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”

Jesus Calls Levi

13 Jesus went out beside the Sea of Galilee again. And all the crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he went along, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth.d “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later Jesus was eating at Levi’s home Many tax collectors and other sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples (for there were many, and they had followed him) 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”

17 Overhearing them, Jesus told them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick do. I have come not to call the righteous but to call sinners [to repentance]. ”

a See Leviticus 14

b Literally, “reasoning in their hearts.”

c Literally, “walked out before them ”

d “Tax collector’s booth”: This could have been an office where people paid their taxes or a place on a road where customs were collected from merchants entering the region

Jesus Is Asked About Fasting

18 Now when John the Baptist’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, people came to Jesus and asked, “How is it that John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but yours do not?”a

19 Jesus answered, “Can the groomsmenb fast while the bridegroom is still with them? They are not able to fast as long as they have the bridegroom with them 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them. On that day they’ll fast.

New Wine Belongs in New Wineskins

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on a tear in an old garment. If they do, the patch will pull away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear will take place.

21

22 Nor does anyone put new (i.e., unaged) wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined c Rather, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

One Sabbath Jesus was walking through some grain fields, and on the way his disciples began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees were asking him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”d

23

25 He replied, “Haven’t you read what David and his companions did when they were in need and hungry; 26 how in the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence,e which is not lawful to eat, except for priests? And David also gave some to those with him.” 27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for the benefit of f people, not people for the benefit of the Sabbath 28 For this reason, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath ”

Mark 3

Sabbath Miracle Controversy

1 Jesus entered into a synagogue another time, and a man with a crippled hand was there. 2 They were watching Jesus to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath—so they could accuse him of violating the law.

3 Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand in the midst of us.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” But they kept silent. 5 Looking around at them angrily and grieved by their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out, and

a Pharisees fasted regularly, even two times a week (see Luke 18:12).

b Literally, “sons of the bridechamber,” meaning the men who prepared whatever was needed for the room in which the wedding ceremony was held These men, close relatives and best friends of the groom, were similar to today’s groomsmen

c New wineskins have elasticity and can expand as the new wine (unfermented grape juice) ferments, a process that gives off gas

d The law permitted anyone to pick grain when going by fields (Deuteronomy 23:25), but the Pharisees were viewing the picking and threshing (separating the grain from the stalk) as work.

e “Bread of the Presence”: twelve loaves of unleavened bread always kept in the Holy Place in the tabernacle

This particular bread was only to be eaten by the priests. See Leviticus 24:5–9 and 1 Samuel 21:6.

f Literally, “on account of ” Twice in this verse

his hand was restored 6 And after leaving, the Pharisees immediately began to plot a against him with the Herodians—how they might kill Jesus

Crowds Follow Jesus

7–8 Jesus withdrew to the Sea of Galilee with his disciples, and a large crowd (from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon) followed. The great multitude came because they had heard about all that he was doing. 9 So the crowd would not crush him, he told his disciples to keep a small boat ready for him. 10 Jesus had healed so many that those who still had afflictions pressed around him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down in front of him, and the unclean spiritsb cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

12 But he sternly warned them not to spread the news of c who he was.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles

13 Jesus went up a mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.

14 He appointed twelve [whom he named apostles] so that they would be with him, and he could send them out to preach 15 and have the authority to cast out demons

16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter

17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, he called the two of them “Boanerges” (i e , Sons of Thunder)

18 Andrew Philip Bartholomew Matthew Thomas James the son of Alphaeus Thaddaeus

19 Simon the Zealot d Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him

A Divided House Will Not Stand

20 Then Jesus went home,e and again such a large crowd gathered that he and his disciples couldn’t even eat a meal 21 When his family f heard about this, they went to restrain him, saying, “He’s out of his mind.”

22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by g Beelzebul He’s driving out demons by the prince of demons ”

a Literally, “to take counsel ” b Literally, “they ” c Literally, “not to make it known.” d Literally, “the Kananaean,” from the Aramaic term for “zealot ” e Or “Jesus entered a house ” f Literally, “When those belonging to him.” g Literally, “He has ”

23

So Jesus called them to himself and spoke to them in parables, saying, “How can Satan drive out Satan?

24

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand.

25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

26 If Satan rises up against himself (and therefore is divided), he is not able to stand but is coming to an end

27 “No one can enter a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will plunder his house.

28 “I’m telling you the truth: All people’s sins and whatever blasphemies they utter will be forgiven, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent word to him and called him 32 The crowd sitting around him told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 He responded, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 34 Looking at those seated around him, he said, “Look, you are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 4

Parable of the Sower

1 Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while all the crowd stayed at the water’s edge.a 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching he said, 3 “Listen now! A sower went out to sow some seed

4 It happened that some that he sowed fell close beside the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil had no depth 6 When the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

7 Other seed fell among the thornbushes. And the thornbushes grew up and choked them out, and they didn’t produce a crop b

8 But others fell on good soil and grew up, sprouted, and produced—one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundred times more than was sown. ” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear, listen

Why Jesus Spoke in Parables

10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but those on the outside get everything in parables 12 so that they will keep seeing but

a Literally, “the crowd stayed close to the sea and was on the land.”

b Literally, “yield fruit ” And next verse

never perceive, and they will keep hearing but never understand; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.”a

Parable of the Sower Explainedb

13 And he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand any of c the parables?

14 “The one sowing sows the word of God

15 “Where the word is sown, there ared the beside-the-road hearers: When they hear it, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Similarly, there are the sown-on-rocks hearers: When they hear the word, they receive it immediately with joy; 17 but they have no root in themselves, so they are temporary. Then they immediately fall away when persecution or trouble comes because of the word.

18 Others are the sown-among-thorns hearers. These are those who hear the word, 19 but the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 But those sown-on-good-soil hearers hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop: one thirty, one sixty, and one even a hundred times greater than was sown ”

A Lamp on a Stand

21 And Jesus was saying to them, “A lamp isn’t brought into a room so that it might be put under a basket or a bed, is it? Isn’t it brought in to be put on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden except that which will be revealed, nor is anything kept secret except to come into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, listen!”

Measure for Measure

24 Jesus continued, “Consider carefully what you hear: By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you! 25 For whoever has will be given more; and whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Parable of the Growing Seed

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is like this: A man scatters seed on the soil . 27 He sleeps at night and gets up every day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he doesn’t know how it happened . 28 The soil produces the crop by itself— first a leaf, then a head, e then mature grain in the head . 29 And when the crop is ripe, f he immediately sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come ”

a See Isaiah 6:9–10

b See Matthew 13:23 for a table with the parable explanation.

c Or “all ”

d Literally, “these are ” And verse 16

e Or “an ear.” Twice in this verse.

f Literally, “when the crop presents itself ”

Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 And he said, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? Or by what parable should we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground . 32 Yet when sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all your garden plants and develops big branches so that the birds of the air can nest a in its shade . ”

33 Jesus spoke the word of God to them with many of these kinds of parables, as much as they could grasp.b 34 He didn’t talk to them without using a parable. But he explained everything when he was off alone with his own disciples.

Jesus Calms the Storm

35 That day, in the evening, he told his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side (i e , the east side).” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him along just as he was (i.e., in the boat), and other boats were following him. 37 A fierce windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that it was filling up. 38 Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern. They woke him and exclaimed to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?”

39 And when he was awake, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet down! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became perfectly calm . 40 And he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were filled with awe c and asked each other, “Who is this man that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 5

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

1 They arrived at the other (i e , east) side of the sea, the primarily Gentile region of the Gerasenes d 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit came from the cemetery to meet him 3 He was living among the tombs, and nobody had been able to tie him up any longer, not even with chains 4 He had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he broke the chains and the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 He would cry out continually night and day among the tombs and in the mountains, gashing himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran, bowed down before him, 7 and cried out with a loud voice, “Why bother me,e Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, don’t torment me.” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9 And he asked him, “What is your name?”

a Or “perch ”

b Literally, “as they were able to hear ”

c Literally, “were awestruck with great fear.”

d “Region of the Gerasenes”: It appears that the region from Gerasa to Gergesa (a k a Gergasa) was known as the region of the Gerasenes Or “Gerasene” may have been a metaphor for a certain type of Gentile This event probably took place above the cliffs on the shore near Gergesa.

e Literally, “What to you and to me ”

He replied, “My name is Legion, a for we are many ” 10 And he begged Jesus not to send them out of the region

11 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding on a nearby hill 12 And they begged Jesus, “Send us into the pigs Let us go into them ”

13 He gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned. 14 And the herdsmenb ran off and reported this in the city and the countryside, and the people came to see what had happened.

15 When they came to Jesus, they looked at the man who had been demonpossessed—the one who had had the “legion”—sitting down, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid . 16 The witnesses told the whole story to them about what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs . 17 And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region .

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not permit him but told him, “Go to your home, to your people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you ” 20 So the man went to the Decapolis and proclaimed how much Jesus had done for him Everyone was amazed

Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter

21 When Jesus had crossed back to the other side (i.e., the northwest side) in the boat, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed by the sea. 22 And one of the synagogue officials, a man named Jairus, came and saw Jesus and fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded with him earnestly, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 And Jesus went with him, with a large crowd following and pressing in on him. Jairus’ story continues at verse 35

Jesus Heals a Hemorrhaging Woman

25 A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd 26 She had suffered greatly under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had Yet she had benefited in no way but had become worse 27 Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 saying to herself, “If I just touch his cloak, I’ll be made well.” 29 And immediately her bleeding stopped,c and she felt in her body that she was healed from the affliction.

30 Immediately Jesus perceived within himself that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my cloak?”

31 The disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me? ’ ”

32 But Jesus looked all around to see who had done it. 33 And the woman, knowing what had happened to her, frightened and trembling, came and fell down before

a “Legion”: a Roman legion, typically five to six thousand men

b Literally, “And those feeding them.”

c Literally, “her flow of blood dried up ”