Jesus Praying Alone Before Daylight
In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus rose and went out, and, going to a lonely spot, there began to pray. But Simon and his companions hastened after him; and, when they found him, they exclaimed:
“Every one is looking for you!”
But Jesus said to them:
“Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns near, that I may make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came.”
And he went about making his proclamation in their Synagogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons.
Cure of a Leper
One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help.
“If only you are willing,” he said, “you are able to make me clean.”
Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out bis hand and touched him, saying as he did so:
“I am willing; become clean.”
Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean; and then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, and said to him:
“Be careful not to say anything to any one; but go and show yourself to the Priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses as evidence of your cure.”
The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and to spread the story so widely that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction.
—Mark.