Mark 2:13-17

13 When Jesus went out again, be - side the lake, a crowd came to him, and he taught them.

14 As he walked along, he saw a tax collector sitting in his office. This was Levi, the son of Alpheus. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” And Levi got up and followed him.

15 And it so happened that, when Jesus was eating in Levi’s house, tax collectors and sinners sat with him and his disciples; there were a lot of them, and they used to follow Jesus.

16 But Pharisees, men educated in the law, when they saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does your master eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 Jesus heard them, and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 1:14-20

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.

15 He said, “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News.”

16 As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake 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 At once, they abandoned their nets and followed him.

19 Jesus went a little farther on, and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets.

20 Immediately, Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

Mark 2:1-12

1 After some days, Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was in the house,

2 so many people gathered, that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the word to them,

3 some people brought to him a paralyzed man.

4 The four men who carried him couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat.

5 When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now, some teachers of the law, who were sitting there, wondered with - in themselves,

7 “How can he speak like this, insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?”

8 At once, Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking, and asked, “Why do you wonder?

9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your mat and walk?’

10 But now you shall know, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” And he said to the paralytic,

11 “Stand up, take up your mat and go home.”

12 The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised God, saying, “Never have we seen anything like this!”

Matthew 3:13-17

13 At that time, Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to prevent him, and said, “How is it, you come to me? I should be baptized by you!”

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be like that for now; so that we may fulfill the right order.” John agreed.

16 As soon as he was baptized, Jesus came up out of the water. All at once, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God come down, like a dove, and rest upon him.

17 At the same time, a voice from heaven was heard, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he is my Chosen One.”

Mark 1:40-45

40 A leper came to Jesus and begged him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”

41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to; be clean.”

42 The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean.

43 As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him,

44 “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest; and for the cleansing, bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way, you will give to them your testimony.”

45 However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in the rural areas, people came to him from everywhere.

John 3:22-30

22 After this, Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed there with them and baptized.

23 John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized.

24 This happened before John was put in prison.

25 Now John’s disciples had been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing,

26 so they came to John and said, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing, and all are going to him.”

27 John answered, “No one can receive anything, except what has been given to him from heaven.

28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

29 Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom’s voice. My joy is now full.

30 It is necessary that he increase, but that I decrease.

Mark 1:29-39

29 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and An drew, with James and John.

30 As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about her.

31 Jesus went to her and, taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening, at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits:

33 the whole town was pressing around the door.

34 Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.

35 Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lonely place where he prayed.

36 Simon and the others went out also, searching for him;

37 and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Let us go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came.”

39 So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee; he also cast out demons.

Luke 5:12-16

12 One day, in another town, a man came to Jesus covered with leprosy. On seeing Jesus, the man bowed down to the ground, and said, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

13 Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched the man and said, “Yes, I want to. Be clean.” In an instant, the leprosy left him.

14 Then Jesus instructed him, “Tell this to no one. But go, and show yourself to the priest. Make an offering for your healing, as Moses prescribed; that will serve as evidence for them.” 

15 But the news about Jesus spread all the more; and large crowds came to him, to listen and to be healed of their sickness.

16 As for Jesus, he would often withdraw to solitary places and pray.

Mark 1:21-28

21 They went into the town of Capernaum and Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

22 The people were astonished at the way he taught, for he spoke as one having authority, and not like the teachers of the law. 

23 It happened that, a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue,

24 and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: you are the Holy One of God.”

25 Then Jesus faced him and said with authority, “Be silent, and come out of this man!”

26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him.

27 All the people were astonished, and they wondered, “What is this? With what authority he preaches! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him!”

28 And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.

Luke 4:14-22

14 Jesus acted with the power of the Spirit; and on his return to Galilee, the news about him spread throughout all that territory.

15 He began teaching in the synagogues of the Jews and everyone praised him. 

16 When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as he usually did.

17 He stood up to read, and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me, to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives; and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed;

19 and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy.”

20 Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 Then he said to them, “Today, these prophetic words come true, even as you listen.”

22 All agreed with him, and were lost in wonder, while he spoke of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, “Who is this but Joseph’s Son?”