7. John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.
8. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
9. One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.
10. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12. The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness,
13. where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14. Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.
15. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
16. One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
17. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
18. And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.
20. He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
21. Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23. Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting,
24. “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25. Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered.