Mark.4.30

"How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use?

Mark.4.30

Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?

Mark.4.30

Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

Mark.4.30

Jesus asked, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?

Mark.4.31

It's like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go,

Mark.4.31

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.

Mark.4.31

It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

Mark.4.31

It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of the smallest of seeds,

Mark.4.32

yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it."

Mark.4.32

Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Mark.4.32

but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."

Mark.4.32

it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can come and find shelter."

Mark.4.33

With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity.

Mark.4.33

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.

Mark.4.33

And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

Mark.4.33

He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand.

Mark.4.34

He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.

Mark.4.34

He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Mark.4.34

But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Mark.4.34

In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning to them.

Mark.4.35

Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side."

Mark.4.35

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

Mark.4.35

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

Mark.4.35

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

Mark.4.36

They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along.

Mark.4.36

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

Mark.4.36

Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

Mark.4.36

He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

Mark.4.37

A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.

Mark.4.37

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

Mark.4.37

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

Mark.4.37

But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water.

Mark.4.38

And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"

Mark.4.38

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Mark.4.38

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Mark.4.38

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you even care that we are going to drown?"

Mark.4.39

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.

Mark.4.39

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark.4.39

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Mark.4.39

When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

Mark.4.40

Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"

Mark.4.40

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Mark.4.40

But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Mark.4.40

And he asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?"

Mark.4.41

They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!"

Mark.4.41

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Mark.4.41

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Mark.4.41

And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, "Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?"

Mark.5.1

They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes.

Mark.5.1

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.

Mark.5.1

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

Mark.5.1

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes.

Mark.5.2

As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him.

Mark.5.2

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

Mark.5.2

And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Mark.5.2

Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him.

Mark.5.3

He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him--he couldn't be chained, couldn't be tied down.

Mark.5.3

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.

Mark.5.3

who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

Mark.5.3

This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain.

Mark.5.4

He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him.

Mark.5.4

For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

Mark.5.4

because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

Mark.5.4

Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him.

Mark.5.5

Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones.

Mark.5.5

Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

Mark.5.5

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Mark.5.5

All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones.

Mark.5.6

When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him--

Mark.5.6

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

Mark.5.6

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

Mark.5.6

When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before him.

Mark.5.7

then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!"

Mark.5.7

He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"

Mark.5.7

And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."

Mark.5.7

He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God's sake, don't torture me!"

Mark.5.8

(Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!")

Mark.5.8

For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Mark.5.8

For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"

Mark.5.8

For Jesus had already said to the spirit, "Come out of the man, you evil spirit."

Mark.5.9

Jesus asked him, "Tell me your name." He replied, "My name is Mob. I'm a rioting mob."

Mark.5.9

Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

Mark.5.9

Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

Mark.5.9

Then Jesus asked, "What is your name?" And the spirit replied, "Legion, because there are many of us here inside this man."

Mark.5.10

Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country.

Mark.5.10

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

Mark.5.10

Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Mark.5.10

Then the spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

Mark.5.11

A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill.

Mark.5.11

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.

Mark.5.11

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

Mark.5.11

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.

Mark.5.12

The demons begged him, "Send us to the pigs so we can live in them."

Mark.5.12

The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."

Mark.5.12

So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."

Mark.5.12

"Send us into those pigs," the evil spirits begged.

Mark.5.13

Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.

Mark.5.13

He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Mark.5.13

And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

Mark.5.13

Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned.

Mark.5.14

Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened.

Mark.5.14

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

Mark.5.14

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

Mark.5.14

The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves.

Mark.5.15

They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.

Mark.5.15

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Mark.5.15

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Mark.5.15

A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane.

Mark.5.16

Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

Mark.5.16

Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well.

Mark.5.16

And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.

Mark.5.16

Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone about it,

Mark.5.17

At first they were in awe--and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.

Mark.5.17

Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Mark.5.17

Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

Mark.5.17

and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

Mark.5.18

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along,

Mark.5.18

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

Mark.5.18

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

Mark.5.18

When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too.

Mark.5.19

but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. Tell them your story--what the Master did, how he had mercy on you."

Mark.5.19

Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Mark.5.19

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

Mark.5.19

But Jesus said, "No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been."

Mark.5.20

The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

Mark.5.20

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Mark.5.20

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Mark.5.20

So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.