Mark 1:23-45

Just then a man with an unclean  spirit  was in their synagogue.  He cried out, “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy  us? I know who you are — the Holy  One of God! ”  Jesus rebuked  him saying, “Be silent,   and come out of him! ” And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,  shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. They were all amazed,  and so they began to ask  each other, “What is this? A new teaching  with authority!  , He commands even the unclean  spirits,  and they obey him.” At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.  As  soon as they left the synagogue,  they went into Simon  and Andrew’s  house  with James  and John.  Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.  The fever  left her,  and she began to serve  them.  When  evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick  and demon-possessed.  The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed  many who were sick with various diseases  and drove out  many demons.  And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  Very  early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;  and there he was praying.  Simon  and his companions searched for him, and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach   there too. This is why I have come.” He went into all of Galilee,  preaching in their synagogues  and driving out demons. Then  a man with leprosy  , came to him and, on his knees,  , begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Moved with compassion,  , Jesus reached out his hand and touched  him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy  left him, and he was made clean. Then he sternly warned  him and sent him away  at once, telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;   but go and show   yourself to the priest,   and offer   what Moses commanded for your cleansing,   as a testimony   to them.”   Yet he went out and began to proclaim  it widely and to spread the news,  with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.