Mark

11I am going to tell you the good news about Jesus, the Messiah. He is the Son of God.2This story began as Isaiah, who spoke for God, wrote that it would:

“Listen, I am sending my messenger ahead of you.

He will make things ready for when you come.

3In the desolate place, someone will be calling out {to the people}:

‘Prepare yourselves to receive the Lord!

Make yourselves ready for when he comes!’”

4Now there was a man whose name was John. He baptized people in a desolate area. He proclaimed that people should allow him to baptize them. That would show that they were going to stop doing what was wrong. That way, God would forgive their sins.5Many people who lived in the region of Judea and many people who lived in the city of Jerusalem often went to listen to John. Many of these people agreed that they had sinned. Then, John baptized them in the Jordan River.6John wore rough clothes that he made out of camel’s hair. He fastened around his waist a belt that he made from animal skin. He ate grasshoppers and honey that he found in that desolate area. 7He often preached, “Soon you will see someone else who is greater than I am. It is not appropriate for me even to kneel down and help him take off his sandals.8I use water to baptize you. However, he will give you the Holy Spirit, which will be like baptizing you.”

9Now while John was preaching and baptizing people, Jesus traveled from the town of Nazareth, which was in the region of Galilee. {He arrived where John was} and had John baptize him in the Jordan River.10As soon as John baptized him, Jesus waded out of the Jordan River. Then, he saw God opening the way from heaven. He saw that the Holy Spirit, who looked like a small bird, was descending {from heaven} to him.11Then God spoke from heaven, “You are my Son, the one whom I love dearly. What you do pleases me.” 12As soon as that happened, the Holy Spirit sent Jesus into a desolate area. 13Jesus stayed for 40 days in that desolate area with the animals that lived there. During that time, Satan tried to make Jesus sin. Also, angels took care of Jesus.

14Later, after {King Herod Antipas} arrested John, Jesus traveled {back} to the region of Galilee. There, he preached the good news from God.15He declared, “This is the moment when God is about to establish his kingdom here. Stop doing what is wrong! Trust the good news!”

16One day, Jesus was walking next to the Sea of Galilee. He saw {a man whose name was} Simon and that man’s {younger} brother, {whose name was} Andrew. They earned money by catching and selling fish. {When Jesus saw them,} they were using nets to try to catch fish.17Jesus told them, “Come with me and be my apprentices. I will teach you how to gather people {to be my apprentices}, just as you have been gathering fish.”18As soon as {Jesus said that}, they stopped working. They went with him and were his apprentices.

19Then Jesus walked a short distance {next to the sea}. He saw {a man whose name was} James and that man’s {younger} brother, {whose name was} John. They were sons of {a man whose name was} Zebedee. {When Jesus saw them,} they were preparing their fishing tools in a boat.20As soon as he saw them, Jesus commanded them, {“Come with me and be my apprentices.”} They got out of the boat and left Zebedee their father with the workers they had hired. They went with Jesus and were his apprentices.

21Jesus, along with Peter, Andrew, James, and John, went to the town of Capernaum. As soon as it was the Jewish day of rest, Jesus visited the Jewish meeting place and instructed {the people who were there}.22The way that Jesus taught impressed {the people who were there}. {It impressed them} because Jesus did not teach as the teachers of the Jewish law did. Rather, he taught them like someone whom God had authorized to do so. 23As Jesus was instructing people in the Jewish meeting place, a man whom a demon controlled was there. He shouted,24“Jesus from the town of Nazareth, leave us alone! You must be here to punish us. I realize who you are. You are the special one whom God has set apart!”

25Then Jesus commanded the demon to stop {controlling the man}. He said, “Be quiet. Leave that man!”26The demon shook the man violently and shouted loudly. Then, it left the man.

27{What Jesus had done} impressed all {the people who were in the Jewish meeting place}, and they talked about it with each other. They said, “{What he does} is amazing! He teaches new things as someone whom God has authorized {to do so}. He tells the demons what to do, and they do what he says!”28And so, throughout the whole region of Galilee, people kept talking about what Jesus had done.

29As soon as {Jesus forced the demon out of the man}, he left the Jewish meeting place. He, along with Simon, Andrew, James, and John, went to Simon and Andrew’s home.30Meanwhile, Simon’s mother-in-law was resting in bed because she had a fever. As soon as {Jesus arrived}, the people there told him that she was sick.31So, Jesus went to her. He took her hand and helped her stand up. Then, she recovered from the fever and offered Jesus and his disciples some food.

32When it was late in the evening, people brought to Jesus many men and women who were sick or whom demons controlled.33In fact, almost everybody in the town of Capernaum assembled outside the door of {Simon and Andrew’s home}.34Jesus cured many people who were sick in many different ways. He also forced demons out of many people. Further, because the demons realized that Jesus was {the Messiah}, he did not allow them to say anything.

35Jesus woke up early the next morning, before sunrise. He left {the house} and walked to a place where no one lived. He prayed {to God} there.36{When they realized that Jesus was gone}, Simon and other people with him urgently searched for Jesus.37When they found Jesus, they told him, “Almost everybody {in the town of Capernaum} is trying to find you. {We think that you should return there with us.}”

38Jesus replied, “{I will not return with you.} I need to do what I am here to do. So, we need to visit other towns in this area. That way, I can preach {the good news} in those places too.”39So Jesus and his apprentices visited all the towns in the region of Galilee. Jesus preached {the good news} in the Jewish meeting places. Also, he forced demons out of people.

40One day, a man who had a skin disease approached Jesus. He bowed down before Jesus and urged him, “{Please heal me!} I know that you can heal me if you want to do so.”

41Jesus pitied the man. So, he stretched out his hand and touched the man. Jesus told him, “I want {to heal you}, and I heal you now!”42At that time, Jesus cured the man. He no longer had the skin disease!

43As soon as {he healed the man}, Jesus commanded him to leave. As he was leaving, Jesus sternly told him,44“Do not tell anyone what just happened. Instead, go and show yourself to a priest {so that he can examine you and see that you no longer have the skin disease}. Also, present what Moses required you to offer to become ceremonially clean again. This will prove to the community {that you no longer have the skin disease}.” 45However, after the man left, he frequently told people about how Jesus had healed him. As a result, people from many different places kept approaching Jesus. So, Jesus could no longer walk into any town publicly. Instead, he stayed outside {the towns} in places where no one lived.

21Sometime later, Jesus returned to the town of Capernaum. Then, people learned that he was in a certain house.2So, very many people assembled there. {There were so many of them} that there was no room for them inside the house or even outside the door. Jesus preached the good news to them. 3Then some people arrived {at the house} where Jesus was. Four of them were carrying a man who could not move.4However, because of how many people were there, they could not carry the man close to Jesus. So, they went up on the flat roof of the house and dug a hole through it. Then, they lowered the man down as he was lying on his sleeping pad. 5Jesus perceived that these people believed {that he could heal the man}. So, he said to the man who could not move, “Young man, I forgive you for your sins!”

6Now some teachers of the Jewish law were there. They were thinking to themselves, 7“This man should not be saying that {he forgives sins}. The only one who can forgive sins is God. So, he is insulting God!”

8As soon as {they thought that}, Jesus realized what they were thinking to themselves. He told them, “You should not be thinking to yourselves that {I cannot forgive sins}.9You may think that it is easy to claim to forgive this man who cannot move for his sins{, since it is difficult to prove whether this has happened}. Similarly, you may think that it is difficult to tell {this man who cannot move} to stand up, carry his sleeping pad, and walk around{, since it is easy to prove whether this has happened}. 10However, I want you to know that God has authorized me, the Son of Man, to forgive people on earth for their sins.” So, he said to the man who could not move,11“Here is what I want you to do: stand up, carry your sleeping pad, and go home!”

12Then the man stood up! As soon as {he did that}, he carried his sleeping pad and left. Everyone saw him {do those things}, and it impressed all of them. They praised God and declared that they had never seen anything like that before.

13Then Jesus returned to the area next to the Sea of Galilee. A large group of people approached him, and he instructed them.14As Jesus was walking along, he noticed a man whose name was Levi. He was the son of a man whose name was Alphaeus. Levi was sitting in the booth {where the people came to pay him the taxes that the government required}. Jesus said to him, “Come with me and be my apprentice!” So, Levi stood up and went with him as his apprentice. 15Later, Jesus was feasting in Levi’s home. Many people who collected taxes and other sinful people feasted with Jesus and his apprentices. All these people went with Jesus as his apprentices.

16Then, some Pharisees who taught the Jewish law noticed that Jesus was eating food with sinful people and people who collected taxes. They told Jesus’ apprentices, “He should not be feasting with people who collect taxes and other sinful people.”

17Jesus learned what they said. He told them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Rather, people who are sick need a doctor. I am here not to invite those who think they are righteous to come to me. Rather, {I invite} those who know that they have sinned {to come to me}.”

18One day, the Pharisees and the apprentices of John the Baptizer were abstaining from eating in order to please God. Meanwhile, some people visited Jesus. They asked him, “The apprentices of John the Baptizer and the apprentices of the Pharisees are abstaining from eating in order to please God. However, your apprentices do not do so. Why not?”

19Jesus answered, “The friends of the bridegroom do not abstain from eating while the wedding celebration is still going on. Indeed, they continue to eat as long as the wedding celebration continues. 20However, someday the bridegroom will no longer be with his friends. Then they will abstain from eating.

21People do not attach a piece of unshrunken cloth on old clothing in order to mend a hole. However, suppose {that they did}. {When they washed the garment,} the new piece of cloth would shrink and completely rip out of the old clothing. As a result, the hole would become even bigger! 22Similarly, people do not put fresh wine into old skin bags {to store it}. However, suppose {that they did}. The fresh wine {would ferment and expand} and tear open the skin bags. That would ruin the wine and the skin bags. So, in contrast, people put fresh wine into new skin bags.”

23Later, Jesus {and his apprentices} were walking through grain fields during one of the Jewish days of rest. As the apprentices were walking along, they picked some grain {and ate it}.24So, some Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! Your apprentices should not be working on a Jewish day of rest. Our law forbids us to do that.”

25Jesus replied, “Consider the story in the Scriptures about what King David did when he and the men who were with him became very hungry but did not have any food.26As you know, David entered the sacred tent while Abiathar was the ruling priest. He ate some of the bread that had been on display before God, and he had the men who were with him eat some of it too. He did that even though the law allowed only the priests to eat that bread.”

27Then Jesus told the Pharisees, “God did not create humans because of the Jewish day of rest. Rather, he created the Jewish day of rest because of humans.28So then, I, the Son of Man, can decide {what is right for people to do} even during the Jewish day of rest!”

31Then Jesus again visited the Jewish meeting place there. A certain man also was there. He could not move his hand.2Since it was the Jewish day of rest, {the Pharisees who were there} focused on Jesus to see whether he would cure the man. They wanted to accuse Jesus {of disobeying the laws about not working on the Sabbath}. 3Then Jesus told the man who could not move his hand, “Stand here in front of everyone!” {So, the man stood there.}

4Then Jesus told the Pharisees, “You know that the laws that God gave Moses allow people to do what is good and to rescue people on Jewish days of rest. They do not allow people to do what is wrong and to kill people {on Jewish days of rest}.” However, the Pharisees did not respond to him.

5So Jesus stared at them angrily. Because they stubbornly refused to listen to him, he became very sad. Then Jesus commanded the man, “Extend the hand {that you cannot move}!” The man extended his hand, and he could move it again.6Then the Pharisees left {the Jewish meeting place}. As soon as {they left}, they met with some people who supported King Herod. Together, they started planning how they could kill Jesus.

7Jesus and his apprentices went back to the Sea of Galilee. Very many people from the region of Galilee went with him. Also, there were more people from the region of Judea,8from the city of Jerusalem, from the region of Idumea, from the east side of the Jordan River, and from the regions around the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Because they learned about all the things that Jesus was doing, all these many people went to where he was. 9-10Further, because Jesus cured many people, many other people who were sick pushed forward in order to touch him. So, Jesus told his apprentices to prepare a boat for him {to get into}. That way, all those people would not crush him. 11Also, when demons saw Jesus, they caused the people whom they controlled to kneel down in front of Jesus and yell, “You are the Son of God!”12Jesus frequently commanded the demons strongly that they should not tell people about him.

13Then Jesus went up on a hill. He told the apprentices whom he chose to come to him there. They joined him on the hill.14He chose 12 men to be his closest apprentices and to proclaim {the good news}. He called them his representatives.15He also authorized them to force demons out of people. 16Here are the 12 representatives that Jesus chose. He chose Simon, whom he called Peter. 17He chose James, Zebedee’s son, and John, James’ {younger} brother. He called the two of them Boanerges, which means “men who are like thunder.”18He chose Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (who was Alphaeus’ son), Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot.19Finally, he chose Judas Iscariot. He was the one who helped Jesus’ enemies arrest him.

20Then Jesus {and his apprentices} entered a certain house. A large group of people again assembled there. There were so many people that Jesus and his apprentices did not have enough time even to eat food.21Jesus’ relatives heard about what was happening. They thought that Jesus was insane. So, they traveled {from the town of Nazareth to where Jesus was} to force him to return with them.

22Now some teachers of the Jewish law arrived from Jerusalem. They were telling people, “Beelzebul controls this man. In fact, it is the leader of the demons who enables him to force demons out of people!”

23So Jesus told the people there to come to him. He used stories to teach them. He said, “Satan does not enable people to force out his own demons!24Suppose that the people in one nation fight against each other. That nation will not last.25Further, suppose that the people in one household fight against each other. That household will not last. 26Similarly, suppose that Satan and his demons fight against one another. Satan would soon cease to rule over the demons!27Here is what is really true: before thieves can break into the home of a strong man and take his belongings, they must first tie up the strong man. After that, they can take the belongings from his home. 28God will forgive many people who sin in many ways or who frequently insult {God or others}. What I have said is true.29However, God will not ever forgive people who insult the Holy Spirit. They will always be guilty because of how they sinned.”

30{Jesus spoke those things} because the scribes had said, “A demon controls this man!”

31Then Jesus’ mother and his {younger} brothers arrived. They waited outside {the house where he was}. They asked someone to go in and ask him to come out to them.32A large group of people were sitting with Jesus. They told him, “Your mother and your {younger} brothers are waiting for you outside.”

33Jesus replied, “I will tell you whom I consider to be my mother and my brothers.”

34Then Jesus looked at the people who were sitting with him. He declared, “These are the people whom I consider to be my mother and my brothers!35In fact, when a person does what God wants, I consider that person to be my brother or sister or mother.”

41Sometime later, Jesus again started to instruct people while he was next to the Sea of Galilee. A very large group of people assembled to hear him. Because {there were so many people}, he got into a boat on the sea and sat down {to teach}. All the people stood on the shore, by the water.2Jesus began to use stories to instruct them about many things. As he was instructing them, he said, 3“Listen to this: a farmer began to plant some grain seeds4As he was scattering them over the soil, some of the seeds fell on the path. Then some birds flew down and ate those seeds up.5Other seeds fell on shallow soil on top of a layer of rocks. Because they were growing in shallow soil, the seeds sprouted very quickly. 6Then, the sun shone on the new plants and dried them up. Then, because they did not have good roots, the plants died.7Other seeds fell onto an area full of thorny plants. These thorny plants grew quickly and crowded out the grain plants. So, the grain plants did not produce a crop. 8Finally, other seeds fell on fertile soil. They grew quickly, and they produced a crop. Some plants produced 30 {grains of wheat each}, others produced 60 {grains each}, and others produced 100 {grains each}.”

9Then Jesus told them, “You should think carefully about what you just heard me say!”

10Later, when no one else was with them, Jesus’ 12 representatives and some other apprentices asked Jesus to explain the stories he had told. 11He replied, “God has revealed to you hidden things about his kingdom. However, I use only stories to instruct people who are not my apprentices.12That way, {just as you can read in the Scriptures,}

‘They will look at things, but they will not really see them.

They will hear things, but they will not learn from them.

Otherwise, they would stop doing what is wrong, and God would forgive them.’”

13Then Jesus told his apprentices, “Unless you realize what that story means, you will not be able to realize what any of the other stories {that I tell} mean.14{In the story that I told you,} the seeds that the farmer planted represent the good news.15Some people are like the seeds that fell on the path. They hear the good news. However, as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and makes them forget the message that they heard. 16Other people are like the seeds that fell on shallow soil on top of a layer of rocks. When they hear the good news, they rejoice and quickly believe it.17However, they are like plants without good roots, which do not live very long. In fact, when bad things happen or when people hurt them because they accepted the good news, they quickly stop believing it. 18Other people are like the seeds that fell onto an area full of thorny plants. They hear the good news.19However, they continue to focus on things in this world. They try to become rich, even though being rich is not as helpful as they think it will be. Also, they desire many other things. When they do those things, it makes the good news ineffective, just as thorny plants crowd out the good plants and keep them from producing a crop.20Finally, other people are like the seeds that fell on fertile soil. When they hear the good news, they believe it. They are like the plants that produced a crop. Some plants produced 30 {grains of wheat each}, others produced 60 {grains each}, and others produced 100 {grains each}.”

21Then he told the people who were there, “People do not bring an oil lamp {into a house} in order to cover it with a basket or a bench. Instead, they put it on a lampstand {so that it shines brightly}.22Here is what I mean: some things are secret, but that is only because God will {eventually} let everyone know about them.23You should think carefully about what you just heard me say!”

24Then he told the people who were there, “Make sure that you are listening carefully {to what I tell you}. How carefully you listen is how much God will enable you to learn and understand.25God will reveal even more to people who already know some things {about the good news}. However, God will cause people who know very little {about the good news} to know nothing about it at all.”

26Then Jesus said, “Here is what God’s kingdom is like: a farmer planted some seeds.27During a period of many days, those seeds started to grow. The farmer did not really know how they grew.28The plants grew out of the ground on their own. First, the stalks grew. Then, the parts where the seeds would appear grew. Finally, the grain seeds grew in that part.29As soon as the plants produced grain, it was time to harvest it. So, the farmer told people to cut down the plants and collect the grain.”

30Then Jesus said, “I would like us to consider together what God’s kingdom is like. I will use a story to make sure that we all understand it.31Here is what it is like: someone plants a tiny mustard seed in the ground. This kind of seed is smaller than every other kind of seed in the world.32Once someone plants it, the seed {sprouts and} grows quickly. The plant becomes bigger than every other kind of plant that people grow. It has big branches. In fact, birds can land in the shade it creates and make nests there.”

33Jesus used many stories like these to teach the good news to the people who were there. He taught them as much as they could understand.34He taught them by using stories only. Later, when no one else was with them, he told his apprentices what all the stories meant.

35When it was evening on the same day, Jesus told his apprentices, “Let us go {by boat} to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.”36Since Jesus was already in the boat, the apprentices sailed away with Jesus from the large group of people. Other people sailed with them in other boats.37Then there was a powerful windstorm! High waves were splashing into the boat and quickly filling it up with water.

38Meanwhile, Jesus was in the back part of the boat. He was asleep, with his head on a pillow. The apprentices woke him up and told him, “Instructor! We are going to die. You should be paying attention!”

39Then Jesus got up. He scolded the wind. He told the water, “Become still!” The wind stopped blowing, and everything became calm. 40Then Jesus told his apprentices, “You should not be so afraid. You should be trusting God by now!”

41The apprentices became very afraid. They kept asking each other, “Who could Jesus be? The wind and the water do what he says!”

51Then Jesus and his apprentices arrived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, in the region where the Gerasene people lived.2As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man whom a demon controlled came up to him. This man had come from the burial caves. 3In fact, he lived in the burial caves. The people who lived nearby could not tie him up, not even with {metal} chains.4In the past, they had frequently tied him up with {metal} chains and bonds. However, he always snapped the {metal} chains and broke apart the bonds. He was so strong that nobody could overpower him. 5All day long, this man would yell and hurt himself with rocks while he wandered around among the burial caves and the hills.

6{After Jesus arrived,} this man saw him from far away. He ran to where Jesus was and knelt before him. 7-8Then Jesus said, “You demon, leave this man!”

Then the demon shouted loudly. It said, “Jesus, Son of the greatest God, leave me alone! I want you to have God guarantee that you will not make me suffer.”

9Then Jesus asked the man, “What do people call you?”

He replied, “People call me ‘Thousands.’ {They call me that} because there are many of us demons in this man.”10Then the demon repeatedly urged Jesus not to make the many demons leave that area.

11While all that was happening, a large herd of pigs was grazing nearby on a hillside.12The demons urged Jesus, “{When you force us out of this man,} please allow us to go to those pigs. That way, we can control them.”

13Jesus allowed them to do that. So, the demons left the man and began to control the pigs. Then, the herd of pigs rushed down the steep bank into the Sea of Galilee! There were about 2,000 of them, and they drowned there in the sea.

14Then those who were taking care of the pigs ran away. They told all the people who lived around them {about what they had seen}. Those people went to see what had happened.15When they arrived where Jesus was, they saw the man whom the thousands of demons had controlled. He was sitting down, he had clothes on, and he was thinking normally. So, {they realized how powerful Jesus must be, and} they became afraid. 16The people who had seen what Jesus did explained everything to the people who had just arrived. They told them about what Jesus did for the man whom the demons had controlled. They also told them what happened to the pigs.17Then the people who were there started to urge Jesus to leave their area.

18While Jesus was entering the boat {to leave}, the man whom the demons had controlled urged Jesus to allow him to go with Jesus as his apprentice. 19However, Jesus did not allow the man {to go with him}. Instead, he told him, “Go home to your friends and family. Tell them about everything that the Lord {God} has done for you and how he has helped you.”20So, the man traveled around the region of the Ten Towns. He told people how much Jesus had done for him. {What the man said} impressed all the people {who heard it}.

21Meanwhile, Jesus {and his apprentices} sailed in a boat back to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stayed next to the Sea of Galilee, and a large group of people assembled near him.22Then, a certain man arrived. He was a leader of the Jewish meeting place there. His name was Jairus. When he saw Jesus, Jairus knelt before him.23He urged Jesus repeatedly, “My young daughter is about to die. Please come {with me} and touch her. That way, you will rescue her, and she will stay alive.”

24So Jesus {and his apprentices} left with Jairus {to go to his house}.

A large group of people went with them, and they were almost crushing Jesus. 25Now there was a woman {in the crowd} who had been suffering for 12 years from a disease that caused continual bleeding.26{During those 12 years,} she had spent all the money that she had to pay for doctors. However, these doctors only hurt her more. So, she did not get any better. Instead, she actually became more sick.27-28When she learned what Jesus had done, she thought, “Just touching Jesus’ clothing will cure me.” So, in the large group of people, she approached Jesus from behind. She touched his robe. 29As soon as {she did that,} her bleeding stopped. She could feel inside herself that she was no longer sick.

30As soon as {she touched his robe}, Jesus recognized that someone had benefited from how powerful he was. So, in the middle of the large group of people, he spun around and asked, “Which of you touched my clothing?”

31His apprentices replied, “Look at the large group of people that is almost crushing you! {Probably many people have touched you.} So, it does not make sense to ask who touched you.”

32However, Jesus kept trying to see the person who had touched his clothes. 33Then the woman came up to Jesus. She realized what had happened, and she shook because she was afraid. She knelt before Jesus and told him exactly what had happened.34Jesus replied, “Young woman, because you believed {that I could heal you}, you are now well. Now go on your way, and may God make you peaceful. You will not be sick in that way again.”

35While Jesus was still talking {with that woman}, some messengers arrived from the house of Jairus, the leader of the Jewish meeting place. They told Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. You should not continue to ask the instructor to help.”

36Jesus listened to what the messengers said. Then, he told Jairus, “You should stop being afraid! You just need to trust {that I can help your daughter}.”

37Then Jesus took only Peter, James, and James’ {younger} brother John with him. He did not allow anyone else to come with them. 38Then they arrived at the house of Jairus, the leader of the Jewish meeting place. Jesus noticed that the people there were making a lot of noise. They were crying very sorrowfully.39Then Jesus went into the house. He told the people there, “You should not be making much noise and crying sorrowfully! The young woman is not dead! She is only sleeping.”40The people made fun of him {for saying that}.

However, Jesus made all of them leave {the house}. Then, he went to where the young woman was. He took with him the young woman’s father and mother as well as Peter, James, and John. 41Jesus took hold of the young woman’s hand. He said to her, “Talitha koum!” That means, “Young woman, I tell you to get up!” 42As soon as {Jesus said that}, the young woman {became alive again,} stood up, and walked around (in fact, she was 12 years old). That greatly impressed everyone who was there.43Jesus ordered them firmly, “Do not tell anyone about what I have done here!” Also, he told them to serve the young woman some food to eat.

61After that, Jesus left {the city of Capernaum}. He traveled to {the city of Nazareth,} where he had grown up. His apprentices went with him.2When it was the Jewish day of rest, he started to instruct the people there when they gathered in the Jewish meeting place. What they heard him say impressed the many people {who were there}. They said {to each other}, “We do not know how this man is able to do what he does. We do not know how he is so wise and does such powerful things.3He is just a woodworker! He is Mary’s son, and he is an {older} brother to James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. His {younger} sisters live here in our town.” So, these people rejected Jesus.

4So, Jesus told them, “The only ones who do not respect people who speak for God are those from where they grew up, their clans, and their own families.”

5Jesus could do very few powerful things in that place. He only touched a few people who were sick and cured them.6How little the people trusted him surprised Jesus. After that, Jesus traveled through the small towns in that area, and he instructed the people there.

7One day, Jesus told his 12 representatives to come to him. {He told them that} he was going to have them travel around in groups of two. He authorized them {to force} demons {out of people}.8-9He told them to wear sandals and to bring a walking stick. However, he instructed them not to pack anything else to bring with them, including food, a traveler’s bag, money, or an extra shirt. 10He also told them, “When someone welcomes you into their home, continue to stay there until you leave that area.11Whenever people in a certain place do not welcome you or listen to you, you should leave {that place}. As you are going, shake the dust from that place off your feet to warn them {that God will punish them}.”

12Then Jesus’ 12 representatives left {to travel around}. They preached that people should stop doing what was wrong.13They forced demons out of many people. They put olive oil on many people who were sick. Then, they cured them.

14By this time, Jesus had become famous. So, King Herod Antipas{, the ruler over the region of Galilee,} heard {people talking} about him. Some people declared, “God has made John the Baptizer alive again {as Jesus}, and that is why he does these powerful things.”

15Other people declared, “He is the prophet Elijah{, who has returned to us}.”

Other people declared, “He is a person who speaks for God, just like one of the people who spoke for God long ago.”

16King Herod Antipas listened {to those people}. Then he declared, “I had someone cut John the Baptizer’s head off! However, God must have made him alive again {as Jesus}.”

17-18{Herod said that because John had already died.} Here is how that happened: Herod married Herodias, who had previously been the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. John the Baptizer told Herod, “Our law forbids you to marry Herodias, your sister-in-law.” So, Herod told his soldiers to go and arrest John. They tied him up and put him in jail. 19-20Herodias was so upset with John that she wanted to have someone execute him. However, Herod realized that God had set John apart and that John did what was right. So, Herod was afraid {to do anything to John}. Also, he prevented Herodias from doing what she wanted {to John}. Whenever Herod listened to John, he was not sure how to respond, but he enjoyed listening to him.

21Then, one day, Herodias realized that she might be able {to have someone execute John}. It was Herod’s birthday, and he had invited his important officials, some military commanders, and the most important people in the region of Galilee to feast with him.22{While they were feasting}, Herod’s stepdaughter, the daughter of Herodias, came in. She danced for Herod and his guests, and they greatly enjoyed {her dancing}. So, King Herod told her, “I will give you whatever you request!” 23Further, he solemnly promised, “You can even ask for half of what I rule over. I will still give you whatever you request!”

24So, the young woman left {that place and went to her mother, Herodias}. She asked her mother, “What should I request?”

Her mother replied, “Request {that someone cut off} John the Baptizer’s head {and give it to you}.”

25As soon as {her mother said that,} the young woman hurried back to King Herod. She told him, “I want {you to cut off} John the Baptizer’s head right now and bring it to me on a plate!”

26King Herod was sad {about what she asked for}. However, because he had solemnly promised in front of all his guests {to give her what she asked for}, he decided to do what she requested.27So, King Herod told a soldier to go to {the jail} where John was{, cut off his head,} and bring his head back. The soldier left and cut off John’s head while he was in jail. 28Then, the soldier put John’s head on a plate and gave it to the young woman. She {left and} gave it to her mother{, Herodias}.29When John’s apprentices learned {what had happened}, they went to the jail. They took John’s dead body and buried it.

30As for Jesus’ representatives, they returned to Jesus {from where they had traveled}. They told him about everything that they had done and everything that they had instructed people about.31Now people were arriving and leaving {where they were} all the time. In fact, they did not even have enough time to eat food. So, Jesus told his representatives, “Come to a place where no one lives and where no one else will be with us. Then, you can rest some!”

32So, they sailed in a boat to a place where no one lived and where no one else would be with them. 33Now people noticed them sailing away. Many of those people realized {that it was Jesus and his apprentices}. So, they left all their towns and ran to where {Jesus and his apprentices were sailing}. They got there before Jesus and his apprentices did!34When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large group of people. He noticed that they were like sheep who did not have a sheepherder {to lead them and to take care of them}. So, he pitied them and started to instruct them about many things.

35When it was already late in the day, the apprentices approached Jesus. They said to him, “This is a place where no one lives, and it is already late in the day.36So, please tell these people to walk to the places that are near us, where they can buy food to eat.”

37Jesus replied, “I want you to provide them with food to eat!”

They responded, “Surely you do not want us to go and spend 200 coins to buy enough loaves of bread to provide these people with food!”

38Then Jesus asked his apprentices, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Find out!”

Once they had found out {how many they had}, they told Jesus, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”

39Then Jesus told all the people who were there to sit down in groups on the fresh grass {that was growing on the ground}.40So, they sat down in groups. Some groups had 100 people, and some groups had 50 people.41He picked up the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Then he thanked God for the food. After that, he tore the bread into pieces and gave the pieces to his apprentices. That way, they could serve them to the people who were there. He similarly {had his apprentices} serve the two fish to everyone {who was there}. 42Everyone ate {the bread and the fish}, and they all had enough to eat.43Then the apprentices gathered what was left of the bread and fish. They filled 12 large containers {with the leftovers}!44There were about 5,000 men who ate the bread and fish.

45As soon as {everyone finished eating}, Jesus had his apprentices get into a boat and sail without him across {the Sea of Galilee} to the town of Bethsaida. He stayed behind to tell the large group of people to go home.46After he said goodbye to the people who were there, he walked to the top of a hill to pray {to God}.47When it became dark, the apprentices were in the boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Meanwhile, Jesus was on the hill by himself. 48Now the wind was blowing from where the apprentices wanted to go, so they were struggling to row {the boat across the Sea of Galilee}. Jesus noticed that. So, soon before morning, he joined them. He was walking on top of the Sea of Galilee! He planned to walk right past them. 49-50When the apprentices saw Jesus walking on top of the Sea of Galilee, it disturbed them. {They did not know that it was Jesus, so} they thought that he must be a dangerous spiritual being. So, they shouted loudly.

However, as soon as {they shouted loudly}, Jesus told them, “Do not worry! I am {Jesus}. Stop being afraid!” 51Then Jesus joined the apprentices in the boat. At that moment, the wind stopped blowing. {When that happened,} it impressed them greatly.52{They reacted that way} because they did not realize what it meant {when Jesus fed the large group of people with} the loaves of bread. In fact, they stubbornly refused to understand it.

53After Jesus and his apprentices finished sailing across the Sea of Galilee, they landed on the shore in the region of Gennesaret. They tied the boat there.54As soon as they got out of the boat, people realized that Jesus was there. 55Those people hurried to all the places within that region. Whenever people {in those places} learned that Jesus was in a specific place, they started to bring there on sleeping pads many other people who were sick. 56Jesus visited many villages, towns, and farms. Wherever he visited, people put those who were sick in the open areas. These people who were sick asked Jesus to allow them just to touch the hem of his robe. Everyone who did so became healthy.

71After that, some Pharisees and some teachers of the Jewish law arrived from the city of Jerusalem. They assembled where Jesus was. 2Then, they noticed that some of Jesus’ apprentices did not cleanse their hands before eating food. So, their hands were unclean {when they ate the food}.3{The Pharisees and the teachers of the Jewish law noticed that} because most Jewish people, and especially the Pharisees, always cleanse their hands in a special way before they eat food. That is the teaching that they received from their ancestors.

4Also, {when they come home} from the open areas in their towns, they always cleanse themselves before they eat food. They have many other similar teachings. {For example,} they cleanse many different kinds of dishes and containers.5So, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Jewish law told Jesus, “Your apprentices have unclean hands when they eat food. They are disobeying the teachings we received from our ancestors. They should not do that!”

6Jesus replied, “Isaiah {the prophet} was right when God spoke through him about you. You say that you obey God, but you really do not! Here is what Isaiah wrote:

‘You people treat me respectfully when you talk,

but you do not really care about me.

7When you worship me, it is useless.

{That is because} you use only what humans have commanded to instruct others.’

8You carefully obey human teachings, but you ignore the laws that God gave us.”

9Further, Jesus told them, “You easily stop obeying the laws that God gave us in order to obey the teachings that you received. You should not be good at doing that!10For example, Moses gave this law: 'Treat your parents respectfully.’ {He} also {gave this law}: ‘Execute anyone who insults his or her parents.’ 11However, you tell people that they can say to their parents, ‘I designated as Corban everything that I could have used to provide for you.’ (That means that they gave it to God.)12Then, you allow them to stop helping their parents.13In that way, you use what you learned and teach to ignore what God commanded. There are many things that you do that are like that.”

14Then Jesus again told the large group of people to come to him. He told them, “You all should listen to what I {am about to say} and learn {from it}.15Whatever people eat cannot make them unclean. Rather, it is what people do and say that makes them unclean.16[You should think carefully about what you just heard me say!]”

17Later, Jesus went into a house {with his apprentices}, away from the large group of people. Then, the apprentices asked him to explain the example {he had given}.18Jesus answered, “So, you too have not yet learned what I mean. You should know that whatever people eat cannot make them unclean.19In fact, what people eat does not become part of what they think. Rather, it simply goes into their stomachs. Eventually, their bodies expel what they ate into toilets.” So, {Jesus was implying that} no food is unclean.

20Then Jesus told them, “It is what people do and say that makes them unclean. 21In fact, it is because of what people think and care about that they think wrong things. They have improper sex, steal things, and kill others.22They are sexually unfaithful to their spouses, want more than they need, and do what is evil. They trick others, fail to restrain themselves, and are jealous. They say bad things {about God or others}, think too highly of themselves, and are foolish.23People do and say those wicked things, and that makes them unclean.”

24After that, Jesus {and his apprentices} left the region of Gennesaret. They traveled to the areas near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus tried to keep people from learning where he was staying. However, people soon found out where he was.25In fact, as soon as {he arrived}, a certain woman learned about him. A demon was controlling this woman’s young daughter. So, she walked to where Jesus was and knelt before him.26It is important to know that this woman was not Jewish. Instead, her ancestors were people from the regions of Syria and Phoenicia. {While she was kneeling before Jesus,} she begged him to force the demon out of her daughter.

27Jesus told her, “Suppose that someone takes food for children and gives it to dogs instead. That is not appropriate! So, the children should eat before {the dogs do}. {That is why I am not helping you.}”

28The woman replied, “My Lord, what you say is correct. However, dogs lying nearby do eat leftovers from the children’s food. {What I am asking you to do is like those leftovers.}”

29Jesus replied, “Because of what you have said, {I will do what you asked}. You can go home. {I have forced} the demon to stop controlling your daughter.”

30So, the woman went home. She saw that her daughter was resting. The demon had stopped controlling her.

31Then, Jesus {and his apprentices} left the areas near the city of Tyre. They walked through the areas near the city of Sidon and eventually arrived near the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Ten Towns.32Then, people led to Jesus a man who could not hear and who could not speak well. They urged Jesus to {heal him by} touching him. 33So, Jesus brought the man to a place where no one from the large group of people was with them. He stuck one of his fingers into each of the man’s ears. Then, he spit and touched the man’s tongue.34Next, Jesus groaned as he prayed to God. Then he told the man, “Ephphatha!” That means, “Open up!”35After that, the man could hear. Also, Jesus had corrected what was wrong with his mouth, so he could speak properly.

36After that, Jesus ordered the people {who were nearby} not to tell anyone {about what he had done}. However, every time he ordered them {not to do so}, they told even more people {about what he had done}.37When people learned what Jesus had done, it greatly impressed them. They declared, “Everything that he does is good! He enables people who could not hear to hear. He enables people who could not speak to speak.”

81Sometime later, there was again a large group of people {near Jesus}, and they did not have any food to eat. So, Jesus told his apprentices to come to him. He told them,2“I pity the large group of people. They have already spent three days with me, and they do not have any food to eat.3Further, suppose that I tell them to go home while they are hungry. Some of them live far away from here. They would pass out while they are walking home.”

4His apprentices replied, “In this place where no one lives, no one has enough food for these people to have enough to eat!”

5Then Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have with you?”

They replied, “We have with us seven loaves of bread.”

6Then Jesus told the large group of people to sit down on the ground. He picked up the seven loaves of bread. Then he thanked God for the food. After that, he tore the bread into pieces and gave the pieces to his apprentices. That way, they could serve them to the large group of people, which they did. 7The apprentices also had some little fish. So, Jesus thanked God for these fish and told the apprentices to serve them too {to the large group of people}.8The people ate {the food}, and they had enough to eat. Then the apprentices gathered the food that was left. {They filled} seven large containers!9About 4,000 people were there. Then Jesus told them to go home.10As soon as {he told them that}, Jesus and his apprentices climbed into a boat. They sailed to the region of Dalmanutha.

11Some Pharisees came to Jesus and started to debate with him. They wanted to investigate him, so they asked him to perform a miracle that showed that God had sent him.12Jesus groaned to himself. Then he said, “You people who are alive right now should not ask me to perform a miracle {that proves that God sent me}. I will never do that kind of miracle for you people! What I have said is true.”

13Then Jesus went away from the Pharisees. He {and his apprentices} again entered a boat and sailed to the other side {of the Sea of Galilee}. 14Now the apprentices had not remembered to pack any food. In fact, the only food that they had in the boat was one loaf of bread.15{While they were sailing,} Jesus ordered the apprentices, “Make sure that you guard against the yeast that the Pharisees use and the yeast that Herod uses.”

16Then the apprentices told each other that they had very little food.

17Jesus realized {what they were saying to each other}. He told them, “You should not be telling each other that you have very little food. You should already realize {what I can do}! However, you stubbornly refuse to understand it. 18You look at things, but you do not really see them. You hear things, but you do not really listen. You should remember {what I have done}!19When I tore five loaves of bread into pieces and used them to feed 5,000 people, you gathered what was left of the food. How many large containers did you fill {with the leftovers}?”

The apprentices replied, “{We filled} 12 {large containers}.”

20{Then Jesus asked,} “Again, when {I tore} seven {loaves of bread into pieces} and used them to feed 4,000 people, you gathered the food that was left. How many large containers did you fill?”

The apprentices replied, “{We filled} seven {large containers}.”

21Then Jesus told his apprentices, “You should already realize {what I can do}!”

22After that, Jesus and his apprentices arrived at the town of Bethsaida. The people there took a blind man to Jesus. They urged Jesus to {heal the man} by touching him.23So, Jesus took one of the blind man’s hands. He brought the blind man outside the town. Then Jesus spat saliva onto the man’s eyes, and Jesus touched him. After that, he asked the man, “Can you see anything?”

24So, the man looked around. He said, “{Yes,} I can see people! They look like trees, but I can tell that they are walking around.”

25After that, Jesus again touched the blind man’s eyes. When the man looked around carefully, he could see everything properly. Jesus had cured him!26Jesus commanded the man, “Do not go into the town {of Bethsaida}!” Then he told the man to go home.

27After that, Jesus and his apprentices left {the town of Bethsaida} and walked toward the small towns near the city of Caesarea Philippi. While they were walking, Jesus asked his apprentices, “Who do people say that I really am?”

28The apprentices replied, “People say that you are one of the prophets {who has come back to life}. {More specifically,} some people say that you are John the Baptizer. Other people say that you are the prophet Elijah.”

29Then Jesus asked them, “As for you, who do you say that I really am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah!”

30Then Jesus ordered the apprentices not to tell anyone who he really was.

31After that, Jesus started to instruct his apprentices about what had to happen to him, the Son of Man. People would hurt him very much. The Jewish leaders, the ruling priests, and the teachers of the Jewish law would refuse to listen to him. Then, people would kill him. Three days after he died, he would live again.32Jesus told that to them clearly. Then Peter spoke to Jesus privately. He started to scold him.

33Jesus turned around and looked at his {other} apprentices. Then he scolded Peter, “Do not try to stop me. You are behaving as Satan does! You are thinking about what humans care about instead of thinking about what God cares about.”

34Then Jesus told his apprentices and the large group of people to come to him. He told them, “People who want to come with me and be my apprentices must refuse to do what they want to do. They must be willing to suffer or die as if they were carrying their own crosses when they come with me as my apprentices. 35{That is} because people who are willing to do anything to stay alive will not truly live. However, people who are willing to die because they are my apprentices and because they believe the good news will truly live.36Suppose that some people acquire everything they could possibly want. However, they can no longer truly live. That is not worth it!37In fact, people cannot acquire anything that is as valuable as truly living. 38The men and women who are alive right now sin often and do not remain faithful. As they live among those men and women, some people consider it shameful to say that they believe in me and what I say. Then I, the Son of Man, will consider it shameful to say that those people belong to me. That will happen when I return with the angels whom God has set apart. At that time, I will be as glorious as God my Father.”

91Then Jesus told his apprentices and the large group of people, “Some of you who are here with me will definitely see God powerfully establish his kingdom before you die. What I have said is true!”

2Six days later, Jesus climbed up a tall mountain. He had Peter, James, and John go with him. No one else was with them. Then, the three apprentices saw Jesus change how he appeared.3His clothes became very bright white. They were whiter than anyone on earth could make them by bleaching them. 4After that, Elijah and Moses{, who were prophets from long ago,} appeared to the three apprentices! These prophets were speaking to Jesus.

5Peter responded by saying to Jesus, “Teacher, it is appropriate for all of us to be here. We should build three shelters. You, Moses, and Elijah can each use one.”6{Peter said that} because he and the other two apprentices were extremely afraid. So, he did not know how to respond {to what he saw}.

7Then a cloud covered all of them! God spoke from the cloud, “This man is my Son, the one whom I love dearly. Do what he says.”

8When the three apprentices looked around, suddenly, the only person whom they still saw with them was Jesus.

9While they were walking down the mountain, Jesus told them that they should not tell anyone about what they had just seen until he, the Son of Man, had become alive again.10So they did not tell others about what had happened. However, they talked with each other about what it meant when Jesus said that he would become alive again.

11Then those three apprentices asked Jesus, “The teachers of the Jewish law tell us that the prophet Elijah has to be here before {the Messiah gets here}. Are they right about that?”

12Jesus replied, “{Yes, the prophet} Elijah must be here before {the Messiah gets here}. He will make everything as it should be. However, consider this: {the prophets} wrote in the Scriptures that people would reject me, the Son of Man, and hurt me very much. 13{That makes sense only because of} what I am about to tell you. {The prophet} Elijah has already been here. Further, people treated him badly, just as {the prophets} wrote in the Scriptures about him.”

14Then Jesus and those three apprentices arrived where the other apprentices were. They saw a large group of people around the other apprentices. Some teachers of the Jewish laws were debating with them. 15As soon as {Jesus arrived}, the large group of people noticed him, and it surprised them very much. So, they hurried to him and said hello to him.

16Then Jesus asked his apprentices, “What are you debating with the teachers of the Jewish law?”

17A man in the large group of people replied, “Instructor, I came here to you with my son {so that you would heal him}. A demon controls him and keeps him from speaking. 18Whenever the demon chooses, it makes my son fall down. Then, my son drools, grinds his teeth together, and becomes rigid. I asked your apprentices to force the demon out of him. However, they could not {do it}.”

19Jesus replied to them, “You people who are alive right now do not believe! It is hard for me to live here with you. It is difficult for me to be patient with you.” {Then he said to them,} “Bring the man’s son to me!”

20So, some people brought the man’s son to Jesus. As soon as the demon noticed Jesus, it shook the man’s son violently. He fell down and writhed around as he drooled.

21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

The boy’s father replied, “{He has been like this} since he was a child. 22The demon also frequently makes him fall into fires and bodies of water in order to kill him. So, if you can do so, please pity us and help us!”

23Jesus replied, “You should not talk about whether I can {help you}. God can do anything for people who trust him!”

24As soon as {Jesus said that}, the boy’s father shouted, “I do trust {God}. Please help me trust {him} more!”

25Then Jesus noticed that a large group of people was quickly assembling. So, he commanded the demon {who was controlling the man’s son} to stop {doing so}. He said, “You demon who are keeping this boy from speaking and hearing, I tell you to stop controlling him! You may not control him again.”

26The demon shouted and shook the boy violently. Then it stopped controlling him. After that, the boy lay so still that he looked like a corpse. In fact, many people said that he was dead. 27However, Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him get up. The boy stood up!

28Later, Jesus entered a house, and only his apprentices were with him. They asked him, “Why could we not force out that demon?”

29Jesus replied, “You can only force this type of demon out by praying and by not eating in order to please God.”

30After Jesus and his apprentices left that area, they traveled through the region of Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone else to know {where he was}. 31{Jesus did not want people to know where they were} because he was instructing his apprentices. He told them, “Somebody will help my enemies arrest me, the Son of Man. They will have people kill me. Then, three days after I die, I will live again.”32However, the apprentices did not understand what Jesus was telling them, and they were afraid to ask him {what he meant}.

33Then Jesus and his apprentices arrived at the town of Capernaum. When they were in the house {where they were staying}, Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about while we were walking here?” 34However, while the apprentices were walking, they had been arguing with each other about which one of them was the most important. So, they did not answer {Jesus}.

35Then Jesus sat down. He called his 12 representatives to come close to him, and then he said to them, “If anyone wants God to consider him to be the most important person of all, he must consider himself to be the least important person of all, and he must serve everyone else.”

36Then Jesus had a young child stand among them. He hugged the child, and he told his apprentices, 37“When people, because they are my apprentices, welcome any young child such as this one here, it is the same as welcoming me. Further, when people welcome me, they are also welcoming {God,} who sent me here.”

38John said to Jesus, “Instructor, we noticed someone who was forcing demons out of people. He claimed that he represented you as he did that. So, we told him to stop doing that, because he was not one of us apprentices.”

39Jesus said, “People will not say bad things about me soon after doing something powerful while they claim to represent me. Because of that, do not tell that man to stop {forcing demons out of people}. 40{I say that} because those who are not opposing us are supporting us. 41As for those who offer you water to drink because they know that you are apprentices of me, the Messiah, God will most certainly reward them. What I have said is true.

42On the other hand, suppose that an insignificant person who trusts me sinned because of certain people. {God will punish those people so severely that} they would prefer to have someone tie a heavy stone around their necks and cast them into the ocean.43Suppose that you sinned because you touched something. You should never do that again, even if you have to chop off your hands to make sure of it! {You should respond that drastically because} it is better for you to truly live without hands than to have both hands but end up in hell, which is like a fire that never goes out.44[In that place maggots feed on the people there forever, and the fires never go out.] 45Suppose that you sinned because you went somewhere. You should never do that again, even if you have to chop off your feet to make sure of it! {You should respond that drastically because} it is better for you to truly live without feet than to have both feet but end up in hell.46[In that place maggots feed on the people there forever, and the fires never go out.]

47Suppose that you sinned because you looked at something. You should never do that again, even if you have to remove your eyes to make sure of it! {You should respond that drastically because} it is better for you to participate in God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have both eyes but end up in hell.48In that place maggots feed on the people there forever, and the fires never go out.

49Indeed, God will treat everyone like an offering that people season and burn.

50Salt is very useful. However, if salt were to stop seasoning food well, you cannot make it season food well again. Be people who make this world better, just as salt makes food better. Also, live peacefully with each other.”

101After that, Jesus {and his apprentices} left the town of Capernaum. They traveled to the region of Judea and to the east side of the Jordan River. Yet again, large groups of people assembled where Jesus was. Jesus instructed them, as he usually did.

2Then some Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him, “Does our law allow a husband to divorce his wife?” {They asked that} in order to investigate him.

3Jesus replied, “What did Moses include in our Law {about this issue}?”

4They answered, “Moses allowed each husband to give {his wife} a document that states that he is divorcing her. Then, he could divorce her.”

5Jesus told them, “Moses knew that you were unwilling to obey. That is why he included {in the Law} what you just said.6However, when God first created everything, {as you can read in the Scriptures}, he created people to be male and female. 7{You can also read in the Scriptures that} that is why men{, when they marry,} no longer live with their parents,8and each husband and wife together become like one person. Consequently, each husband and wife are not like two different people any longer. Rather, they are like one person.9Since that is true, no one should divide people whom God has united.”

10Later, when they were in a house again, the apprentices asked Jesus about what he had said. 11Jesus told them, “When a man divorces his wife and marries another woman, he sins against his first wife by disobeying what God commanded about being sexually faithful to one’s spouse. 12Also, when a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she disobeys what God commanded about being sexually faithful to one’s spouse.”

13Sometime later, some people took young children to Jesus. They wanted him to bless the children by touching them. However, the apprentices told them to stop.14When Jesus noticed {what they were doing}, he was very upset. He told his apprentices, “Allow the young children to come here. Do not stop them! {I say that because} they and people like them are part of God’s kingdom. 15You must be like young children when you welcome God’s kingdom. That is the only way to participate in God’s kingdom. What I have said is true.”16Then Jesus hugged the young children. He blessed them by touching them.

17One day, Jesus was walking along {with his disciples}. A certain person ran to where he was and bowed down before him. He said, “Instructor, you are a good person! What is something that I can do so that I will live with God forever?”

18Jesus replied, “You should not so quickly call me a good person! God is the only one who is good. 19{But to answer your question,} you know what God commanded: Do not murder others. Do not be sexually unfaithful to your spouse. Do not steal things. Do not speak what is untrue. Do not cheat people. Treat your parents respectfully.”

20The man replied, “Instructor, I have obeyed all those things that God commanded ever since I was young.”

21Then, Jesus looked at the man and cared for him. He said to the man, “There is one thing that you have not yet done. Go {home} and sell what you own. Give {that money} to poor people. {If you do that,} God will reward you in heaven. Then, come with me as my apprentice.”

22However, the man was rich {and did not want to lose what he owned}. So, he was upset by what Jesus said. He felt very sad and left. 23Then Jesus looked at his apprentices. He told them, “It is very hard for rich people to participate in God’s kingdom!”

24What Jesus said surprised the apprentices. Jesus responded by saying again, “My dear apprentices, it is very hard to participate in God’s kingdom. 25Large animals like camels cannot fit into very small spaces. However, it is even harder for rich people to participate in God’s kingdom.”

26That greatly surprised the apprentices. They told Jesus, “It must be that God does not actually rescue anyone!”

27Jesus looked directly at his apprentices. He said, “God can do anything! So, people cannot {rescue themselves}, but God can {rescue them}.”

28Peter started to tell Jesus, “We left behind everything we had and went with you as your apprentices!”

29Jesus replied, “What I am about to say is true. Some people leave behind houses, siblings, parents, children, or fields. They do that because they are my apprentices and because they believe the good news. 30God will give those people many times {what they left behind} right now before he renews everything that he has made. {He will give them} houses, siblings, mothers, children, and fields. Also, people will hurt them. Further, God will enable them to live with him forever after he renews everything that he has made.31{At that time,} many people who are important right now will become unimportant. Many people who are unimportant right now will become important.”

32Sometime later, Jesus and his apprentices were walking toward the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them, which impressed them. However, the rest of the people with them were afraid. Then Jesus again spoke to his 12 representatives privately. He started to tell them about what people were going to do to him.33He said, “We are walking toward the city of Jerusalem! There, somebody will help the ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law arrest me, the Son of Man. They will decide that I am guilty and that someone should kill me. They will bring me to the non-Jewish authorities. 34Those people will make fun of me, spit on me {to insult me}, beat me, and execute me. Then, three days after I die, I will live again.”

35After that, Zebedee’s sons, James and John, came to Jesus. They said, “Instructor, we want you to do for us what we are about to request.”

36Jesus replied, “What do you want me to do for you?”

37They answered, “Please promise us that, when you are very great, you will honor us by having one of us sit at your right side and the other one sit at your left side.”

38Jesus replied, “You do not realize what you have actually requested. Are you willing to suffer as I will soon suffer? Are you willing for people to hurt you as they will soon hurt me?”

39They told Jesus, “Yes, we are willing {to do those things}.”

Then Jesus told them, “You will certainly suffer as I will soon suffer. People will certainly hurt you as they will soon hurt me. 40However, I am not the one who chooses whom to honor by having them sit at my right side or at my left side. Rather, God has already chosen who {will sit in those places}.”

41When the ten other apprentices learned {what James and John had requested}, they started to be very upset with them.42So, Jesus told his apprentices to come to him. He said to them, “You understand that the people whom the non-Jews allow to govern them dominate them. Further, important people among them control everyone else. 43You must not behave like that. Rather, when one of you wants to be important, that person must serve the others.44Likewise, when one of you wants to be most important, that person must work for all the others.45{You should behave like that} because I, the Son of Man, am here to serve other people. I am not here so that other people will serve me. Indeed, I am going to die in order to free many people {from their sins}.”

46Then, Jesus and his apprentices arrived at the city of Jericho. When they were leaving the city of Jericho along with a very large group of people, a man who could not see and who often asked others for money was sitting down next to the path. His name was Bartimaeus, and his father’s name was Timaeus. 47He learned that Jesus from the town of Nazareth was there. So he started to shout, “Jesus, you who are a descendant of King David, please help me!”

48Many people were scolding him to keep him quiet. However, he shouted even more loudly, “You who are a descendant of King David, please help me!”

49Then, Jesus stopped walking. He told people, “Tell him to come over here!”

Those people spoke to {Bartimaeus,} the man who could not see. They said, “Do not worry! Jesus wants you to come to him. So, stand up {and go to him}!” 50So Bartimaeus took off his outer garment and jumped up. Then, he hurried to Jesus.

51Jesus asked him, “How would you like me to help you?”

{Bartimaeus,} the man who could not see, replied, “Teacher, I want to be able to see again!”

52Jesus told him, “You can go on your way. Because you believed {that I could heal you}, you are now well.” As soon as {Jesus said that}, Bartimaeus could see again. Then, he began to walk with Jesus.

111After that, Jesus and his apprentices continued to walk toward the city of Jerusalem, and they were getting closer. They were near the Mount of Olives, just outside the villages of Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus told two of his apprentices to go {ahead of them}.2He instructed them, “Enter the village {of Bethphage}, which you see ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey that someone has tethered. It is an animal that no one has ever ridden. Remove the tether {from the young donkey} and lead it to me here.3People might ask you, ‘What are you doing?’ In that case, tell them, ‘The Lord needs this young donkey. As soon as {he finishes using it}, he will return it here.’”

4So the two apprentices left {for the village}. They saw the young donkey standing on the road. Someone had tethered it to the door of a house. They started to remove its tether.

5Some people who were there asked the two apprentices, “Why are you removing the tether from the young donkey?”

6The two apprentices told those people what Jesus had instructed them to say. Then, those people allowed the two apprentices {to take the young donkey}. 7They led the young donkey to Jesus. Then they spread their coats on the young donkey, and Jesus rode on it.8Then, {to honor Jesus,} many people laid their coats down on the path {in front of Jesus}. Other people cut down leafy plants that were growing in nearby farms {and laid them down on the path too}.9People walked in front of Jesus and behind him. They were shouting,

“Praise God!

May God bless him who is here to represent the Lord!

10The kingdom that our ancestor King David ruled is now here again! May God bless it!

May everything in heaven praise God!”

11Then Jesus went into the city of Jerusalem and he visited the temple area. He examined everything that was there. After that, because it was evening, he and his 12 representatives returned to the village of Bethany.

12The following day, when Jesus and his apprentices were leaving the village of Bethany, Jesus became hungry. 13He saw a fig tree further down the path. It had leaves, so he walked to it to pick some figs from it {to eat}. However, when he arrived at the fig tree, it had {no figs but} only leaves. That was because it was not yet the normal time of year when fig trees would produce ripe figs. 14Jesus responded by saying to the fig tree, “No one will eat figs that they pick from you ever again.” The apprentices listened {to him say that}.

15Then Jesus and his apprentices arrived at the city of Jerusalem. Jesus again visited the temple area. Some people were selling and buying things there. He started to force them to leave. Other people were exchanging {regular} money {for special temple money}, and other people were selling small birds {for people to sacrifice}. Jesus flipped over their tables and chairs.16Also, he did not allow people to take items through the temple area. 17Then Jesus instructed those people, “You know that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures, ‘People should say that my temple is a place where all groups of people pray.’ However, you have turned it into ‘a hideout for thieves’!”

18What Jesus taught impressed the large group of people. Because of that, when the ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law learned {what Jesus had said and done}, they became afraid of him. So, they planned how they might have someone execute Jesus.19That evening, Jesus and his apprentices left the city {of Jerusalem and again spent the night in the village of Bethany}.

20The next morning, Jesus and his apprentices walked past {the same fig tree that they had passed the previous morning}. The apprentices noticed that it had completely died.21Then Peter remembered {what Jesus had said to the fig tree}. He told Jesus, “Teacher, look! The fig tree that you cursed has died!”

22Jesus replied by telling his apprentices, “You should trust God!23Suppose that that you trusted that {God} would do what you said, and you were not unsure {that God would do it}. Then, you could tell the hill we are near to leave {this place} and fall into the ocean, and it would happen. What I have said is true. 24Because that is true, here is what I want to tell you. Trust that God will give you whatever you ask him for, and he will give it to you. 25Further, suppose that when you are praying, you remember that someone has offended you. You should forgive them. That way, God your Father, who rules from heaven, will also forgive you when you sin against him.26[However, God your Father, who rules from heaven, will not forgive you when you sin against him as long as you do not forgive {other people}.]”

27After that, Jesus and his apprentices again arrived at the city of Jerusalem. While Jesus was walking around in the temple area, some of the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders approached him. 28They asked him, “In what way did someone authorize you to do what you have done? Who was it that authorized you to do those things?”

29Jesus replied, “I, too, will ask you a question. When you answer it, I will answer your question about the way in which someone authorized me to do what I have done.30Did God authorize John the Baptizer from heaven to baptize people, or did people authorize {him to do that}? Answer that question!”

31Then the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders told each other, “Suppose that we answer that {God authorized John} from heaven. Then, he will tell us that we should have listened to John.32On the other hand, we cannot answer that people {authorized John}.” {They said that because they knew that} the large group of people believed that John had truly spoken for God, which made them afraid of how the large group of people would react.

33So they answered Jesus, “We do not know {who authorized John}.”

Jesus responded, “Because you did not answer my question, I will not tell you the way in which someone authorized me to do what I have done.”

121Then Jesus started to tell a story to the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders. He said, “A certain man planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it {in order to protect it}. He made a stone tank {to collect the grape juice that they would press out of the grapes}. He also built a tower {for someone to sit in to guard his vineyard}. He rented the vineyard to some people who would take care of it, and he left to travel to a different country. 2When it was time {to harvest the grapes}, the man told one of his servants to go to the people who were taking care of the vineyard. He wanted them to give him his share of the grapes that the vineyard had produced.3However, the people who were taking care of the vineyard grabbed the man’s servant. They beat him up and told him to go away without giving him any of the grapes. 4After that, the man told another servant to go to the people who were taking care of the vineyard. However, they beat this servant on the head and insulted him. 5After that, the man told another servant to go {to the people who were taking care of the vineyard}. However, they killed this servant. After that, the man sent many other servants. However, they beat up some of them and killed the others.

6Finally, the man still had only one other person with him, his son, whom he loved very much. So, the man told his son to go to them last of all. He thought that they would treat his son well {and give him his share of the grapes}. 7However, {when} the people who were taking care of the vineyard {saw the man’s son arriving, they} told each other, ‘This man is the one who will inherit the vineyard. We should kill him, and then we can take the vineyard for ourselves.’ 8So, they grabbed the man’s son and murdered him. Then, they dragged his corpse outside the vineyard.

9I will tell you how the man who owned the vineyard will act. He will arrive {at the vineyard}, and he will kill the people who were taking care of the vineyard. Then, he will arrange for other people to take care of it. 10{What I have said fits with} this scripture that you have read:

‘The people who were constructing a building

refused to use a certain stone.

However, that stone is now

the most important one in the building.

11The Lord {God} did that,

and we think it is amazing.’”

12Then the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders realized that Jesus was accusing them when he told that story. Because of that, they wanted to arrest him. However, they were afraid of how the large group of people would react. So, they left where he was {without arresting him}.

13Then, the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders told some of the Pharisees and some people who supported King Herod to go to Jesus. {They instructed them} to try to cause him to make a mistake in what he said.14When they arrived where Jesus was, they said to him, “Instructor, we realize that you say what is true. You do not pay attention to how important or powerful people are. So, you do not care about what other people think. Further, you truthfully instruct people about what God wants them to do. {So, we want to ask you this}: Does our law allow us to pay taxes to the Roman government, or {does it} not {allow that}? Should we pay the taxes, or should we not pay them?”

15However, Jesus realized that they were only pretending to respect him. He replied, “You are trying to make me say something wrong. Hand me a Roman coin so I can examine it.”

16So, someone handed him {a Roman coin}. Then Jesus asked, “Whose picture and name are on this coin?”

They replied, “{It is} the leader of the Roman government’s {picture and name}.”

17Then Jesus told them, “{So then,} give to the Roman government what belongs to it and give to God what belongs to him.”

What Jesus said impressed the Pharisees and the people who supported King Herod.

18After that, some Sadducees approached Jesus. They are a Jewish group that does not believe that God will make people who have died alive again. They asked Jesus,19“Instructor, Moses wrote for us {in the Scriptures} about what should happen when a man with a wife, but no children, dies. When that happens, the dead man’s brother should marry the {dead man’s} wife. When they have a child, they should consider it to be the child of the dead man. 20{So, consider this situation}: there were seven brothers. One brother married a woman, but then he died before he had children.21Then, the second brother {obeyed this law and} married the woman. However, he too died before he had children. The same thing happened to the third brother. 22In this way, each of the seven brothers {married the woman but} died before they had children. Finally, the woman died too.23So, of those brothers, whose wife will she be when God makes people alive again? {We ask} because she got married to all seven brothers {at different times}.”

24Jesus replied, “You do not realize what the Scriptures mean or how powerful God is. Because of that, you believe what is wrong!25Here is what I mean: when God makes people alive again, they will not get married. Instead, they will be like angels who dwell in heaven {and do not get married}. 26Now I will speak about whether God makes people who have died alive again. You have read in the section of the Scriptures that Moses wrote the story about {how God appeared to Moses in a} bush. In that story, God told Moses, ‘I am the God whom Abraham worships, the God whom Isaac worships, and the God whom Jacob worships.’

27It is living people who worship God, not dead people. {So, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who all have died, must become alive again!} So, you have believed many things that are wrong.”

28Then a man who taught the Jewish law approached Jesus. He heard Jesus and the Sadducees debating. He noticed that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer. So, he asked Jesus, “Which of the laws {that God gave us} is the most important?”

29Jesus replied, “Here is the most important law:

‘Listen, you people of Israel! The Lord God whom we worship is the only Lord. 30You must love the Lord, the God whom we worship, with everything that you desire, everything that you do, everything that you think, and everything that you accomplish.’

31Here is the next most important law: ‘You must care for people you know as much as you care for yourselves.’ No other laws are more important than these two laws!”

32The teacher of the Jewish law replied, “That is a good answer, instructor. You are right when you say that God is the only God and that no other gods exist. 33Further, we should love God with everything that we desire, everything that we think, and everything that we accomplish. Also, we should care for people we know as much as we care for ourselves. Doing those things is more important than burning or presenting any offering to God.”

34Jesus realized that the teacher of the Jewish law had responded in a wise way. So, Jesus told him, “You are close to participating in God’s kingdom.” After that, nobody was bold enough to ask him any more questions.

35Then, while Jesus was instructing people in the temple area, he asked a question of his own. He said, “Does it make sense when the teachers of the Jewish law claim that the Messiah must be a descendant of King David? 36{I ask that because} the Holy Spirit caused King David to write that the Lord God said to David’s Lord,

‘Rule with me

while I defeat all of your enemies!’

37So, King David called the Messiah ‘Lord.’ {However, people do not describe their descendants as their lords.} Therefore, how is it possible for the Messiah to be a descendant of King David?”

A very large group of people enjoyed listening to Jesus {say these things}.

38While Jesus was instructing those people, he told them, “Make sure that you do not act like the teachers of the Jewish law. They like to put on long robes and walk around {so they look important}. They also like people to greet them {respectfully} in the open areas of towns. 39They like to sit in the places for important people when they go to the Jewish meeting places or attend feasts.40They steal the property of women whose husbands have died. To make other people think that they are righteous, they pray for a long time. God will punish them very severely.”

41Later, Jesus sat down {in the temple area} in front of the offering boxes that were there. He observed the large group of people drop coins into the boxes. Many wealthy people gave large amounts of money. 42Then a woman whose husband had died and who did not have much money arrived. She dropped {into one of the offering boxes} two small copper coins. Those two coins together were worth only the least valuable Roman coin.

43-44Then Jesus told his apprentices to come to him. He told them, “Most of these people have a lot of money, but they gave only a small part of it. However, this woman, who does not have very much money, has given all the money that she had to pay for the things she needs. So, she has given to God more than what everyone else gave! What I have said is true.”

131After that, Jesus {and his apprentices} left the temple area. {As they were walking,} one of his apprentices said to him, “Instructor, pay attention to how marvelous these huge blocks of stone in the walls are and how beautiful these structures are!”

2Jesus replied, “Look at these impressive structures! Enemies will completely destroy them. They will not leave anything standing.”

3Later, Jesus {and his apprentices} sat down on top of the Mount of Olives in front of the temple. When no one else was with them, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus, 4“Please explain to us when what you have described will happen. Also, {please explain to us} how we can tell when everything that you have described is about to happen.”

5Jesus started to reply, “Make sure that no one deceives you! 6Many people will meet you and say that God has authorized them as he has authorized me. They will say that they are {the Messiah}. {By doing that,} they will deceive many people. 7Whenever people tell you about wars that are happening and about wars that could happen, do not be afraid. Things like that have to happen. However, what I have said about the temple will not yet happen.8Further, groups of people will attack each other. Earthquakes will happen in many places. Many people will not have enough food to eat. Those events are like the first pains a pregnant woman feels when she is going to have a child. They are bad, but many more bad things will still happen after them.

9Make sure that you are ready {for what people will do to you}. They will arrest you and accuse you in front of groups of important people. They will beat you in the Jewish meeting places. Because you are my apprentices, people will accuse you before local rulers and kings. That way, you will tell those rulers {about me}. 10Indeed, my apprentices must preach the good news to all groups of people before {what I have said about the temple will happen}. 11Whenever people arrest you and then accuse you, do not worry about how you will respond. In fact, you will not speak for yourselves. Instead, the Holy Spirit {will speak through you}. So, you should say whatever God reveals to you at that time.12{During this time,} men will have someone arrest their own brothers, and they will ask the judge to execute them. Fathers {will do the same thing} to their own children. Children will rebel against their parents and cause them to die.13Because you are my apprentices, many people will be hostile to you. However, if you persevere {in being my apprentices} while people harm you, God will rescue you.

14At some point, you will realize that the detestable thing that destroys is where it does not belong.” (Anyone who is reading this should know what Jesus meant.) “When you realize that, those of you who are in the region of Judea should escape to the hilly areas nearby.15Those of you who are outside your homes should not go back into your homes to get anything.16Those of you who are working in fields should not go back home to get your coats. 17When what I have described happens, how terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers!18-19People will suffer very severely when what I have described happens. People have not suffered that severely since God created everything up to now, and no one will ever suffer that severely again. So, ask God to keep these things from occurring during the winter season{, when it is difficult to travel}.20Suppose that the Lord {God} were to allow what I have described to continue. In that case, nobody would survive. However, because of the people whom he has chosen {to belong to him}, God will not allow what I have described to continue. 21-22While those things are happening, there will be people who lie when they claim to be the Messiah or to speak for God. They will do amazing miracles. They will try to deceive the people whom God has chosen {to belong to him}, and they will almost succeed in doing so. Therefore, when people tell you that the Messiah is here or there, do not trust {what they say}.23Make sure that you are ready {for what will happen}. I have warned you about this before it happens!

24While what I have described is happening, once people suffer in the ways I have described, God will cause the sun to become dark. The moon will not shine.25Stars will drop down from the sky. God will disrupt the angels in heaven.26After that, people will see me, the Son of Man, arriving by means of clouds. I will be very powerful and great.27After that, I will tell the angels to collect the people whom I have chosen. They will collect them from every place that exists.

28Listen to this story about how fig trees grow. Whenever they begin to produce new branches and leaves, you can tell that it is almost the summer season.29Similarly, whenever you realize that what I have described is happening, you can tell that I will act very soon. 30Most of the people who are alive right now will still be alive when what I have described happens. What I have said is true.31Everything that God has created will eventually change or disappear. However, what I have said will never change or disappear.32However, as for when {I will return to this world}, no human being knows that. The angels who dwell in heaven do not know that. Even I, the Son, do not know that. Only God my Father knows that. 33So, you do not know at what moment I will return to this world. Because of that, you need to make sure that you are ready. You need to focus and pray.34{Here is a story} that illustrates {what I mean}. A man decided to travel to a different country. Before he left home, he authorized each of his servants to do something specific {to manage the household}. Then, he told the man who guarded the house to be ready {for him to return}. 35So then, I am like the man who owned that house. You cannot know at what moment I will return {to this world}. It might be at sunset or at midnight. It might be very early in the morning or after sunrise. Because of that, you need to be ready {at all times}.36Otherwise, when I return {to this world} when you do not expect me, I might discover that you are not ready {for me}. 37I am telling you that you need to be ready {at all times}. In fact, I am telling that to all people!”

141At that time, it was only two days until the Passover festival, which was the first day of the Celebration of Unleavened Bread. The ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law were planning a clever way to arrest Jesus and have people execute him.2{They were planning something clever} because they agreed that they would not act during the festival period. Otherwise, the people who were there in Jerusalem might riot.

3Now Jesus was in the village of Bethany. He was in the home of Simon, who used to have a skin disease. While Jesus was feasting {there}, a woman arrived. She brought with her a stone jar that contained nard, a very valuable, fragrant ointment. She shattered the jar and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head.

4Some of the people there were very upset. {They said} to each other, “She wasted the fragrant ointment!5She could have sold this fragrant ointment for at least 300 coins! Then, she could have given {that money} to poor people.” So, they rebuked her.

6However, Jesus told {those people}, “Stop rebuking this woman. Do not bother her! What she did for me was right.7There will always be poor people with you, so you can help them whenever you want to. However, I will not always be with you.8This woman used what she possessed to do {something for me}. When she poured this ointment on me, she was preparing me ahead of time for when someone buries me.9In every place where my apprentices proclaim the good news, they will also tell what this woman just did. That way, people will remember her. What I have said is true.”

10Then Judas Iscariot visited the ruling priests to talk about helping them arrest Jesus. He was one of the 12 men whom Jesus had chosen to represent him. 11When the ruling priests heard from Judas, they were very happy. They agreed to pay money to Judas {to help them arrest Jesus}. So, Judas tried to find a good time to help {the ruling priests} arrest Jesus.

12Then it was the first day of the Celebration of Unleavened Bread, the time when people slaughter lambs for the Passover festival. Jesus’ apprentices asked him, “Where should we go to set up the meal for the Passover celebration?”

13So, Jesus told two of his apprentices {to prepare everything}. He instructed them, “Enter the city of Jerusalem. There you will encounter a certain man. He will be holding a jar with water in it. Go wherever he does.14When he goes into a house, tell the man who owns the house, ‘Our instructor wants to eat the meal for the Passover celebration with us, his apprentices. He asks you to show us the room that is ready for him.’ 15He will take you to a large room that is upstairs. It will already have everything that we need for preparing and eating a meal. Then, set up the meal for us in that room.”

16So the two apprentices went away and entered the city of Jerusalem. Everything that Jesus had spoken about happened. Then they set up the meal for the Passover celebration. 17When it was evening, Jesus arrived at that house with his 12 representatives.

18Then, they began to feast. As they ate, Jesus told them, “One of you is going to help {my enemies} arrest me. This person is eating with me right now! What I have said is true.”

19The apprentices started to become sad. One after another they told Jesus, “I will not do that!”

20Jesus responded, “One of you 12 men whom I have chosen to represent me {will do that}. It is one of you who is sharing food from this dish with me. 21{I say that} because I, the Son of Man, will die. That is what you can read in the Scriptures about me. Nevertheless, how terrible it will be for the man who helps {my enemies} arrest me, the Son of Man. In fact, that man would be better off if he had never existed.”

22Then, as they ate, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He thanked God {for the loaf of bread}. He tore it into pieces and handed the pieces to the apprentices {to eat}. He said, “This {bread} is my body. Receive it.”

23Then Jesus picked up a cup {of wine}. He thanked God {for the wine}. Then, he handed {the cup of wine} to the apprentices. All of them drank wine from it.

24Then Jesus told them, “This wine is my blood, which inaugurates the agreement {God is making with you}. My blood will flow from my body {when my enemies kill me}. That will help many people. 25I will no longer drink any more wine until the time when I drink it again when we participate together in God’s kingdom. What I have said is true.” 26After they sang a song praising God, Jesus and his apprentices walked to the Mount of Olives.

27Then Jesus told them, “{God had Zechariah} write in the Scriptures,

‘I will kill the one who is like a shepherd.

Then, the people who are like sheep will flee.’

So, all of you will reject me! 28However, once God has made me alive again, I will go ahead of you to the region of Galilee {and meet you there}.”

29Then Peter told Jesus, “Suppose that everyone else rejects you. Despite that, I will never {do that}!”

30Jesus replied, “During this day, tonight, before a male chicken crows two times, you will say three times that you are not my apprentice! What I have said is true.”

31Peter replied strongly, “I will always say that I am your apprentice, even if I die with you because of that!” The rest {of the apprentices} said similar things.

32After that, Jesus and his apprentices walked to a place that people call Gethsemane. He told the apprentices, “Stay here while I pray {to God}.”33Jesus had Peter, James, and John go with him. Then, Jesus started to become very anxious and upset.34He told those three apprentices, “I am so sad that I feel like I am dying. Stay here and stay awake!”

35After saying that, Jesus walked a little further. Then, he kneeled down to pray. He asked God to prevent him from experiencing what was about to happen, if there was any way to do so.36He prayed, “Abba (which means Father), you are able to do anything. Please prevent me from suffering terribly. However, please do what you want to do, not what I want you to do.”

37Then he returned {to the three apprentices}. He discovered that they were asleep. He {woke them up and} told Peter, “Simon, it disappoints me that you were asleep. You could not stay awake for even a short time!38You {men} want to do what I say, but you are not strong enough. Stay awake and pray! That way, nothing can convince you to sin.”

39Then Jesus walked a short distance away a second time. He prayed again what he had prayed previously. 40Then he returned a second time {to the three apprentices}. He discovered that they, because they were so sleepy, had fallen asleep again. They did not know how to respond to him {when he woke them up}.

41{After Jesus walked away and prayed again}, he returned a third time {to the three apprentices}. He {woke them up and} told them, “It disappoints me that you continue to sleep! You have slept enough. The time {when I will suffer} is beginning! Someone is about to help sinful people arrest me, the Son of Man.42Stand up! We are going to leave {this place}. The person who is helping {my enemies} arrest me has arrived!”

43While Jesus was still talking {to the three apprentices}, Judas came. He was one of the 12 men whom Jesus had chosen to represent him. {He brought} with him a large group of people carrying swords and clubs. The ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders had sent them {to arrest Jesus}.

44Previously, Judas, who was helping {Jesus’ enemies} arrest him, told the group of people how they would know which man was Jesus. He instructed them, “The man you should arrest is the one whom I will greet affectionately. Guard him while you take him away.”

45As soon as he arrived, Judas went to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and he greeted Jesus affectionately.46Then the large group of people arrested Jesus.

47One of the men who were there pulled his sword {out of its sheath}. He attacked a man who served the ruling priest, but he {only} cut off that man’s ear.48Jesus responded by saying to the group of people, “You did not need to treat me like a dangerous bandit by arming yourselves with swords and clubs to arrest me.49Each day I was instructing people in the temple area, and you were there. You did not arrest me then! However, {as these things have happened}, what you can read in the Scriptures has come true.” 50Then all {the apprentices} deserted Jesus and ran away. 51Now there was a young man there. He was wearing only one thin garment. He had been walking around with Jesus. The people who arrested Jesus tried to arrest him too. 52However, {he escaped by} slipping out of his garment, and he ran away naked.

53The people who had arrested Jesus took him to {the house where} the ruling priest {lived}. All the ruling priests, the other Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the Jewish law assembled there.54Peter followed Jesus, but he stayed a safe distance away. {He went} into the area just outside {the house where} the ruling priest {lived}. He sat there with the servants near a fire to keep from getting cold.

55The ruling priests and all {the rest of} the Jewish council tried to find something for which they could accuse Jesus. That way, they could have {the Roman authorities} execute him. However, they did not find {anything for which they could accuse him}.56In fact, many people said what was untrue about Jesus. However, these people did not agree about what Jesus had done.

57Then, some other people got up to say what was untrue about Jesus. They declared, 58“We heard him tell people that he would tear down this temple, which humans have built. Then he said that within three days he would construct another temple that God, not humans, would build.” 59However, even these people did not agree about exactly what Jesus had said.

60Then the ruling priest got up in front of everyone. He asked Jesus, “Are you going to reply? How do you respond to what these people have said about you?” 61Despite that, Jesus kept quiet. Then the ruling priest asked him another question. He asked, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of {the God} whom we praise?”

62Jesus replied, “That is who I am. You will see me, the Son of Man, ruling powerfully with God. {You will see me} arriving by means of clouds.”

63When he heard that, the ruling priest was so upset that he ripped his clothes. He said, “We certainly do not need anyone else to say anything about him.64You have heard him insult God! What do you think we should do?” The whole Jewish council agreed that he was guilty and that someone should execute him because of what he had said.

65Then some of them started to spit on Jesus {to insult him}. They covered his eyes and then struck him {with their fists}. They demanded, “Speak for God!” When the servants led Jesus away, they slapped him.

66Meanwhile, Peter was down in the area just outside the {ruling priest’s} house. A female servant, one of the servants who served the ruling priest, was there.67She noticed Peter, who was near a fire to keep from getting cold. She stared at him and declared, “{I can tell that} you were an apprentice of Jesus, that man from the town of Nazareth.”

68However, he told her that he was not Jesus’ apprentice. He said, “I do not at all understand what you are talking about!”

Then Peter left {the area just outside the house and walked} to the place where people entered that area. 69The female servant noticed him again, and she started to tell the people who were there, “This man belongs to {Jesus’} group.”

70However, Peter again said that he was not Jesus’ apprentice. A little later, some people who were there told Peter, “You are from Galilee, {where Jesus is from}. So, you really must belong to {Jesus’} group.”

71Then Peter started to ask God to punish him if he was lying. He solemnly promised, “I have never met the man about whom you are speaking!”

72As soon as he said that, a male chicken crowed for a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. He had said, “Before a male chicken crows two times, you will say three times that you are not my apprentice.” Then Peter became very upset. He cried.

151As soon as it was morning, the entire Jewish council, including the ruling priests, the other Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the Jewish law, planned {what to do with Jesus}. They had their guards tie Jesus up and take him from there to Pilate{, the Roman local ruler}. They wanted Pilate to condemn him.

2Pilate asked Jesus, “Do you claim to be king over the Jewish people?”

Jesus replied, “What you are calling me is right.”

3Then the ruling priests claimed that Jesus had done many bad things. 4After that, Pilate again spoke to Jesus. He said, “Listen to all the bad things they claim that you have done! Are you going to reply?”

5However, Jesus did not respond anymore. How Jesus was acting greatly impressed Pilate.

6It is important to know that during the festival period, Pilate usually set free one person who was in jail. {He set free} whomever the people who were in the city of Jerusalem chose.7It is also important to know that a man whose name was Barabbas was in jail with some other men who had rebelled against the Roman government. While they were rebelling, they had murdered some people.8The large group of people {who were there} approached Pilate. They started to ask him {to set someone free}, as he usually did for them.

9Pilate replied, “Would you like for me to set free for you the man who claims to be king over you Jewish people?” 10{Pilate asked that question} because he realized that the ruling priests had arrested Jesus and brought him to Pilate because they were jealous {of Jesus}.

11However, the ruling priests convinced the large group of people {to ask} Pilate to free Barabbas rather than {Jesus}. 12Then Pilate again replied, “So what do you want me to do with the person whom you claim is king over you Jewish people?”

13The large group of people shouted, “{Have your soldiers} kill him by nailing him to a cross!”

14Pilate replied, “But he has not done anything wrong!”

However, they shouted even louder, “{Have your soldiers} kill him by nailing him to a cross!”

15Pilate decided to do what the large group of people wanted. So, he set Barabbas free. Then, he had his soldiers whip Jesus and take him away to kill him by nailing him to a cross.

16After that, Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the area just outside {Pilate’s palace}. That place was their headquarters. They summoned the rest of the soldiers who were there.17They clothed Jesus with a purple robe{, the kind that kings wear}. Also, they took some branches with thorns and laced them together to make a crown. They put it on Jesus’ head.18Then the soldiers started {to mock him by} saying hello to him. They said, “Greetings, you who claim to be king over the Jewish people!” 19They kept hitting Jesus’ head with a staff. They kept spitting on Jesus {to insult him}. They bowed down in front of him {to pretend} to honor him.20After the soldiers made fun of Jesus, they pulled the purple robe off of him. They put his own clothes back on him. Then, some of the soldiers took him {from there to the place where} they were going to kill him by nailing him to a cross.

21Meanwhile, a man was walking nearby. He had left the farm areas {and was entering the city of Jerusalem}. He was from the city of Cyrene, and his name was Simon. His sons were Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced this man to carry the cross for Jesus. 22The soldiers took Jesus to a place {that people called} Golgotha. That name means “Skull Place.”23The soldiers offered Jesus wine into which they had mixed a resin that people called ‘myrrh.’ However, Jesus refused to drink it.24After nailing Jesus to the cross, the soldiers split up his clothes by gambling for them. They did that to determine which piece of clothing each soldier would get.

25It was nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Jesus to the cross. 26The soldiers wrote on a sign why {they were executing Jesus}. Here is what they wrote: “The king over the Jewish people.”

27The soldiers also nailed two bandits to crosses near Jesus. They put one bandit on one side of Jesus and the other bandit on the other side of Jesus.28[{When those things happened}, what someone wrote in the Scriptures came true: “People considered him to be one of the people who do what is wrong.”]

29The people who walked past Jesus insulted him by shaking their heads {at him}. They said {to him}, “Ha! You said that you could tear down God’s temple and construct it again within three days.30So, rescue yourself by getting down from that cross!”

31Similarly, the ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law made fun of Jesus among themselves. They declared, “He has rescued other people. However, he cannot rescue himself! 32{He claims to be} the Messiah and the king over the people of Israel. So, he should get down now from that cross! That way, when we watch {him do that}, we will accept what he says.” The two men whom the soldiers had nailed to crosses near Jesus also insulted him.

33When it was noon, it became dark in that whole area. {It stayed dark} until three o’clock in the afternoon.34At three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus shouted, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” That means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”

35Some people who were there heard {what Jesus said and misunderstood it}. They declared, “Listen! He is speaking to the prophet Elijah!”

36Then one man quickly went to soak a sponge in sour wine. He attached the sponge to the top of a staff. Then, he held it up to Jesus so that Jesus could suck {the sour wine} from it. Then the man said, “Do not do anything else for him! We should wait to find out whether Elijah appears to help him get down.”37After that, Jesus shouted loudly. Then he stopped breathing and he died. 38And then the drape hanging {in front of the Most Holy Place} in the temple ripped in half; it tore from the top to the bottom.

39There was a Roman officer standing there in front of Jesus. He observed how Jesus stopped breathing and died. He exclaimed, “This man really was God’s Son!” 40{While all that was happening,} some women were there. They observed {what was happening} from farther away. These women included Salome, Mary from the town of Magdala, and Mary who was the mother of young James and Joses. 41When Jesus was in the region of Galilee, these women had gone with him as his apprentices and had taken care of him. Additionally, many other women were there {observing what was happening}. They had walked to the city of Jerusalem with Jesus.

42-43Now there was a man from the city of Arimathea whose name was Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish council, and people respected him. He too was eagerly expecting God’s kingdom. When he arrived {in the city of Jerusalem}, it was Preparation Day, the day before the Jewish day of rest, and the evening had already begun. Because {it was Preparation Day}, this man went boldly to Pilate. He asked Pilate to allow him to take Jesus’ body {to bury it}.44When Pilate heard that Jesus might already be dead, it surprised him. So, he summoned the Roman officer {who was in charge of executing Jesus}. Pilate asked the officer, “Is Jesus already dead?” 45When the officer told Pilate {that Jesus was certainly dead}, Pilate {had his soldiers} give Jesus’ body to Joseph. 46So, Joseph purchased a fresh sheet of cloth. Then, he removed Jesus’ body {from the cross}. He {prepared to bury it by} winding the fresh sheet of cloth around it. Then, Joseph put Jesus’ body into a grave that Joseph’s workers had made by digging into a rock cliff. After that, Joseph rolled a flat stone to block the entrance to the grave.47{While that was happening,} Mary from the town of Magdala and Mary who was the mother of Joses observed where Joseph had placed Jesus’ body.

161When the Jewish day of rest was over, Salome, Mary from the town of Magdala, and Mary, who was the mother of James, purchased fragrant ointments. They planned to visit {Jesus’ grave} and pour the ointments on his body {to finish burying him properly}. 2At dawn on Sunday morning, the three women visited Jesus’ tomb. 3{As they were walking,} they asked each other, “Who will help us by rolling the flat stone to open the entrance to the grave?”

4{When they arrived,} they looked {at the grave} and noticed that someone had already rolled the flat stone {to open the entrance to the grave}. And that flat stone was huge! 5Then, the three women walked into the grave, where they saw a young man. He was wearing a white robe and was sitting down to their right. What they saw startled them!

6The young man told them, “Do not let what you see startle you! {I know that} you are looking for the body of Jesus from the town of Nazareth. He was the one whom soldiers killed by nailing him to a cross. God has made him alive again! He is no longer in this grave. Look at where people placed his body.7Now depart to his apprentices and tell them, especially Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of them to the region of Galilee. {Tell them that} Jesus will meet them there, which is what Jesus already told them.”

8The three women were shaking because what had happened amazed them. So they left the grave and ran away. Because they felt afraid, they did not speak to anyone {about what had happened}.

9[When Jesus lived again early on Sunday morning, Mary from the town of Magdala was the first person to see him. Jesus had forced seven demons out of her. 10She approached Jesus’ apprentices, who were grieving very much. She told them {what she had seen}. 11So, the apprentices learned that Jesus was alive and that Mary had seen him. However, they did not accept what she said.

12Sometime later, two of Jesus’ apprentices were traveling to farm areas. They saw Jesus, although he looked different.13Then, the two apprentices went back {to Jerusalem}. They told the other apprentices what had happened, but the others did not accept what the two apprentices said.

14Sometime later, Jesus revealed himself to his 11 representatives while they were eating. Because they had not accepted it when people told them that they had seen Jesus after God made him alive again, Jesus scolded them. He told them that they should not have stubbornly refused to accept what those people said.

15Then he told them, “Visit every place and proclaim the good news to every person! 16God will rescue all people who trust in me and who have someone baptize them. However, God will punish all people who do not trust in me. 17I will enable those who trust in me to perform miracles. Specifically, they will represent me by forcing demons out {of people}. They will talk in languages that they have not learned. 18They will be able to hold snakes and drink poison without becoming sick or dying. When they touch sick people, it will cure them.”

19After the Lord Jesus said that to his apprentices, God brought him up into heaven. There, Jesus sat down to rule with God {the Father}. 20As for the apprentices, they left {Jerusalem} and proclaimed {the good news} in every place. The Lord {Jesus} helped them and enabled them to perform miracles. That way, people could see that the good news was true. May it be so!]