The Gospel Part 14

The Lord said, Those of this generation are like children sitting in the marketplace, and, calling one to another, saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He has a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.

One of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and sat down. When a woman in the city, who was a sinner, heard that Jesus ate at the Pharisee's house, she came with an alabaster box of ointment and stood behind Him at His feet. She was weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and wipe them with her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

When the Pharisee who invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is that touches Him. She is a sinner. Then Jesus turned and said, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he said, Master, say on.

Jesus began, There was a creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred coins, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose it would be he whom he forgave most. Jesus said, Thou has rightly judged.

Jesus turned to the woman, and said to Simon, See this woman? When I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.

When I entered your house, you gave me no kiss. But this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil. But this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.

So I say to thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Jesus said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. Those who sat at supper with Him began to wonder, Who is this that forgives sins also? Then Jesus said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.

8 Afterward, He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of G.o.d, and the twelve were with Him. A woman, Mary called Magdalene, who had been healed of evil spirits and out of whom went seven devils; and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward, Chuza; and Susanna; and many others provided for and ministered to Him.

When people from many towns were gathered together, He told them a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell by the wayside. It was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Some of the seed fell upon rock. As soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. Some of the seed fell among thorns.

The thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. Other seed fell on good ground. It sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold. Then He finished by saying, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

His disciples asked Him, What might this parable mean? He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of G.o.d. But, to others, it is given in parables that looking, they might not see, and hearing, they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of G.o.d. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then the devil comes and takes the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. They have no root. For a while they believe but in time of temptation they fall away.

The seed which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, they go forth. But they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life; and they bring no fruit to perfection. The seed on the good ground are they, who with an honest and good heart, have heard the word. They keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.

No man, when he has lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed. Instead he sets it on a candlestick so those who enter in may see the light. Nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest and nothing is hidden that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed how ye hear: for whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.

Then His mother and His brothers came but could not get near Him through the press of the mult.i.tude. Someone said to Him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand outside desiring to see thee. Jesus said to all those gathered, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of G.o.d, and do it.

Now it came to pa.s.s. Jesus went into a s.h.i.+p with His disciples. He said, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. They launched forth. As they sailed Jesus fell asleep. There came a windstorm on the lake. The s.h.i.+p filled up with water, and they were in jeopardy. They came and woke Him and said, Master, master, we perish. Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the raging water. The storm ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, Where is your faith? They wondered, What kind of man is this! He even commands the winds and water and they obey Him.

They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. Outside the city, a man who had devils for a long time approached Him. He wore no clothes and had no house but lived in the tombs. Oftentimes he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; but he broke the bands, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. With a loud voice the man said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of G.o.d most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. Then Jesus asked him, What is thy name? He said it was Legion, because many devils were entered into him.

They besought Jesus not to command them to go out into the nearby deep water.

There was a herd of swine feeding on the mountain. The devils besought Jesus to let them enter into the swine. Jesus allowed them. When the devils went out of the man and entered the swine the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.

When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled into the city and told what happened. Many went out to see what was done. They came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the devils departed. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. The people were afraid. Those who saw it explained how the man possessed with the devils was healed. Then the whole mult.i.tude of the country around the Gadarenes besought Jesus to leave.

Jesus went back to the boat. The man who had been possessed by the devils asked to go with Him. But Jesus sent him away. He said, Return to thine own house and show the great things G.o.d has done for thee. The man went his way and told the whole city the great things Jesus had done.

It came to pa.s.s that Jesus returned and the people gladly received Him.

They were all waiting for Him. There came a man named Jairus. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and besought Him to come to his house. His only daughter, about twelve years of age, lay dying. As Jesus started out, the people thronged Him.

A woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years and who had spent all her living on physicians who were unable to heal her, came up behind Him, and touched the border of His garment. Immediately her issue of blood ceased. Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and those with him said, Master, the mult.i.tude throng thee and press thee, and you ask, Who touched me? Jesus said, Somebody has touched me for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

When the woman felt she could not hide, she came trembling and, falling down before Him, she declared to Him before all the people why she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. Jesus said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort. Thy faith has made thee whole. Go in peace.

While He yet spoke, there came a messenger from the ruler of the synagogue's house. He said, Thy daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Master. But when Jesus heard it, He said, Fear not. Only believe and she shall be made whole.

When He got to the house, He allowed no one to go in, except Peter, James, John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. All wept but He said, Weep not. She is not dead, but sleeps. Those gathered outside laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and said, Maid, arise.

Her spirit returned and she arose straightway. Then He told them to give her food. Her parents were astonished, but He charged them that they tell no one what was done.

9 Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of G.o.d, and to heal the sick. Jesus said to them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither take two coats.

Whatever house ye enter, abide and depart from there. Whoever will not receive you, when ye leave that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them. They departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod, the tetrarch, heard about all this. He was perplexed because some people said it was John the Baptist risen from the dead; and some said Elias had appeared. Others said that one of the prophets of old was risen again. Herod said, I have beheaded John so who is this of whom I hear so much? He wanted to see Him.

When they returned, the apostles told Jesus all that they had done. He took them and went into a private desert place that belonged to the city of Bethsaida. But people soon found out and followed Him. Jesus received them. He spoke to them of the kingdom of G.o.d and healed those who had need of healing.

When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, Send the mult.i.tude away so they may go into the towns and country nearby to find lodging and get food.

But He said to them, Give ye them to eat. They answered, We have no more than five loaves and two fish unless we go and buy meat for all these people, about five thousand men.

He said to His disciples, Have them sit down in groups of fifty. Then He took the five loaves and two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the mult.i.tude. They all ate and were full. And twelve baskets of fragmants that remained were taken up.

It came to pa.s.s, as Jesus was alone praying, His disciples were nearby and He asked them, Whom do the people say that I am? They answered and said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, one of the prophets of old is risen again.

He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Peter spoke up and said, The Christ of G.o.d. Jesus charged them to tell no one of this. He said, The Son of man must suffer many things; and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; and be slain; and be raised on the third day.

Then He said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Whoever will save his life shall lose it. Whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man shall also be ashamed of him when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. I tell you, there are some standing here now, who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of G.o.d.

About eight days after these sayings, He took Peter, John, and James and went up into a mountain to pray. As He prayed, His whole appearance was altered. His raiment was white and glistering. And there talked with Him two men, Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Peter and those with him became heavy with sleep. When they awoke, they saw His glory and the two men that stood with Him. Later, as they departed from Him, Peter, not knowing what to say, said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

But while Peter spoke, a cloud overshadowed them and they became afraid. Then there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son. Hear Him. When the voice was past, Jesus was alone. They kept it close and told no man any of those things which they had seen.

The next day, when they came down from the hill, many people met Him. A man in the group cried out, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son.

He is my only child. A spirit takes him and, suddenly, he cries out. It tears and bruises him so that he foams and hardly departs from him. I besought thy disciples to cast him out but they could not.

Jesus said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son here. As the boy approached, the devil threw him down and tore him. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit. He healed the child and delivered him again to his father.

All were amazed at the mighty power of G.o.d. Jesus said to His disciples, Let these words sink down into your ears: The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this. It was hid from them that they did not perceive it and they feared asking Him about the saying.

Then there arose a discussion among them about which of them should be the greatest. Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set the child next to Him. He said, Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me. Whoever shall receive me, receives Him that sent me: for he that is least among you all shall be great.

John said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name. We forbad him because he does not follow with us. Jesus said to him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

And it came to pa.s.s, when the time came that Jesus should be received up, He stedfastly set His face toward Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead and they entered into a village of the Samaritans to make a way for Him. But they did not receive Him because He was heading to Jerusalem.

When His disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, if you will, command that we send fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did? Jesus turned and rebuked them. He said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

As they went along, a man said, Lord, I will follow wherever you go.

Jesus replied, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head. To another, Jesus said, Follow me. But the man said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead but you go and preach the kingdom of G.o.d.