Jesus in the wilderness1Then the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where He had to be subjected to temptation from the devil.2During a period of forty days and nights He fasted, after which He was hungry.3The tempter came to Jesus suggesting: "If You are really God's Son, You could command these stones to become bread, and so satisfy Your hunger."4Jesus replied: "It is written: 'Man is not to live only on bread, but he is to feed on every word that comes from God's mouth.'"5Then the devil took Him in a vision to the holy city, to stand on the highest part of the temple.6"If You are really God's Son," the devil suggested, "You could do something truly spectacular. For if You jumped from here to the ground You know what is written: 'God will command His angels on your behalf. They will catch hold of you in their hands and prevent you from striking a single stone with your foot.'"7Jesus replied: "It is also written: 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test!'"8In another vision, the devil took Jesus to the top of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendour.9"All these I will give You," he lied, "if only You will bow down before me in worship."10Jesus said to him: "Get away from me satan! For it is written, 'You are to worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'"11Defeated, the devil then left Him and angels came to be with Jesus.The calling of the first disciples12Jesus returned to Galilee when He heard that John had been imprisoned; but13He left His home in Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum on the shore of the lake near Zebulun and Naphtali.14-16This fulfilled another prophecy spoken through Isaiah, 'In the area of Zebulun and Naphtali along the Jordan by the way of the sea, in the Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who formerly lived in darkness have seen a great light. On those who lived in the shadow of eternal death, a light has now dawned.'17This marked the beginning of Jesus' preaching. "Repent," He proclaimed, "for now the Kingdom of heaven is within your reach."18When Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee He saw two brothers, Simon known later as Peter and His brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake.19"Come and follow Me," Jesus called to them, "and I will enable you to catch men!"20Immediately they abandoned their nets and followed Jesus.21-22Further on Jesus saw two other brothers, James and John the sons of Zebedee. They were with their father in a boat, preparing their nets. Jesus called them and they immediately left their father in the boat and followed Him.Jesus teaches and heals23Jesus then went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues there, preaching the good news about God's Kingdom. He healed people from every disease and sickness.24So the news of what He was doing spread all over Syria as well. As a result, people were brought to Him suffering from various diseases, often in severe pain. Some were demon possessed, others suffered from seizures or were paralysed. And He healed them all.25Large crowds came not only from Galilee but from the Ten Towns on the far side of the lake, from Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan. They followed Him wherever He went.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)