St Marks Gospel in Worldwide English

Jesus teaches about sending away a wife

1. Jesus left that place and went through the country of Judea on the other side of the Jordan river. Many people came to him there again. He taught them as he always did.
2. The Pharisees came to him and asked, `Is it right for a man to send his wife away from him?' They asked this to test Jesus.
3. Jesus answered, `What law did Moses give you?'
4. They said, `Moses allowed a man to write a paper to show that he does not want her any more. Then he may send her away.'
5. Jesus said to them, `Moses wrote that law because your hearts are so hard.
6. From the time God first made people, he made them man and woman.
7. That is why a man must leave his father and mother and stay with his wife.
8. The two of them will be like one person. So they are not two people any more, but they are one person.
9. Man must not separate what God has joined together.'
10. When they were in the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.
11. So Jesus said, `If any man sends away his wife and marries another woman, he commits adultery against her. [He takes another woman who is not his wife.]
12. If a woman sends away her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.'

    Jesus blesses children

13. They brought children to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hands on them. The disciples tried to stop the people.
14. When Jesus saw what the disciples did, he did not like it. He said, `Let the children come to me. Do not try to stop them.
15. I tell you the truth. If anyone does not believe in the kingdom of God like a child, he will never go in.'
16. Jesus took the children up in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.

    The rich young man

17. Jesus started on the way again. A man came running and kneeled down before him. He said, `Good Teacher, what must I do so that I will live for ever?'
18. Jesus said, `Why do you call me good? Only God is good.
19. You know the laws: "Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not tell lies. Do not cheat. Respect your father and your mother." '
20. The man answered Jesus. He said, `Teacher, I have kept all those laws since I was a boy.'
21. Jesus looked at him. He loved him. He said, `You need one thing more. Go home. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor people. You will be rich in heaven. So be ready to carry your own cross and come with me.'
22. When the young man heard that, he was sad, because he was very rich. So he went away.
23. Then Jesus looked around at his disciples and said to them, `It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.'
24. The disciples were surprised at his words. But Jesus said again, `Children, it is very hard for people who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.
25. It is easier for a big animal to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
26. They were very much surprised. They said, `Then who can be saved?'
27. Jesus looked at them and said, `Men cannot do it but God can, because God can do anything.'
28. Peter began to speak and said to him, `See, we have left all things and have come with you.'
29. Jesus said, `I tell you the truth. If any man has left his house, or his brothers, or his sisters, his mother, or his father, or his children, or farms, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,
30. he will receive his pay in this life. He will have a hundred times as many houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and farms. He will have trouble also. But in the next world he will live for ever.
31. But many people who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first.'

    Jesus talks again about his death

32. Jesus and his disciples were on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in front of them. The disciples were surprised. And the people who came behind were afraid. He took the twelve disciples and began to tell them what was going to happen to him.
33. He said, `We are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will judge him and say he must die. They will give him over to rulers who are not Jews.
34. They will make fun of him. They will spit on him. They will beat him and kill him. After three days, he will rise again.'

    What James and John wanted

35. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said, `Master, we want you to do for us anything we ask you.'
36. Jesus said, `What do you want me to do for you?'
37. They said, `Let one of us sit at your right side and one at your left side when you rule.'
38. But Jesus said, `You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup that I will drink from? Can you go through the big trouble that I will go through?'
39. `Yes,' they said. `We can.' Then Jesus said to them, `You will drink what I drink and you will have trouble the way I will have.
40. But I cannot choose who will sit at my right hand or at my left. It has been planned who will sit there.'
41. When the other ten disciples heard about it, they were angry with James and John.
42. Jesus called them and said, `You know the people who rule over countries make their people obey them. The great will tell the others what to do.
43. But that is not the way it is among you. Anyone among you who wants to be great must help the others.
44. Anyone among you who wants to be first shall be a servant to the others.
45. The Son of Man did not come to have others help him. But he came to help others. He came to give his life to make many people free.'

    Jesus makes the blind man to see

46. Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples left Jericho, many people followed him. A blind man named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. He was begging for money.
47. He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing. So he shouted, `Jesus, Son of David! Help me!'
48. Many people said, `Be quiet!' But he shouted louder, `Son of David! Help me!
49. Jesus stopped and said, `Call him.' They called the blind man and said to him, `Be glad! Come, get up! He is calling you.'
50. The man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.
51. Jesus said, `What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, `Teacher, I want to see.'
52. Jesus said, `Go home. Because you believe in me, your faith has made you well.' Right then he was able to see. He followed Jesus on the road.

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