Blog

We are doing a series of the bible itself on the whole new testament for people in other countries not allowed to have a bible but can have it online. This is also for people a way to get to the bible on thier coffee or lunch breaks. Once this is done we will comment on the important parts of the bible at the end, and do more of things for the bible to give you a better understanding of the bible. This will take a couple of months to do for you so you will have a better understanding of the bible and what it means.

15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,

15:2 Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They dont wash their hands before they eat!

15:3 Jesus replied, And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

15:4 For God said, Honor your father and mother and Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

15:5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is devoted to God,

15:6 they are not to honor their father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

15:7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

15:8 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

15:9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

15:10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, Listen and understand.

15:11 What goes into someones mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

15:12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?

15:13 He replied, Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.

15:14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

15:15 Peter said, Explain the parable to us.

15:16 Are you still so dull? Jesus asked them.

15:17 Dont you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?

15:18 But the things that come out of a persons mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughtsmurder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

15:20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.

15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

15:22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.

15:23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.

15:24 He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.

15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. Lord, help me! she said.

15:26 He replied, It is not right to take the childrens bread and toss it to the dogs.

15:27 Yes it is, Lord, she said. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.

15:28 Then Jesus said to her, Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed at that moment.

15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

15:30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

15:31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.

15:33 His disciples answered, Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?

15:34 How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked. Seven, they replied, and a few small fish.

15:35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.

15:36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.

15:37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

15:38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.

15:39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Matthew chapter 16 NIV version;

16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

16:2 He replied, When evening comes, you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,

16:3 and in the morning, Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Jesus then left them and went away.

16:5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.

16:6 Be careful, Jesus said to them. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

16:7 They discussed this among themselves and said, It is because we didnt bring any bread.

16:8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

16:9 Do you still not understand? Dont you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

16:11 How is it you dont understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

16:12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is?

16:14 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

16:15 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am?

16:16 Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

16:17 Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

16:20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you!

16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.

16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

16:25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fathers glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

16:28 Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew chapter 17 NIV version

17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

17:2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

17:4 Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three sheltersone for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.

17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!

17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

17:7 But Jesus came and touched them. Get up, he said. Dont be afraid.

17:8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, Dont tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.

17:10 The disciples asked him, Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?

17:11 Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.

17:12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.

17:13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.

17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son, he said. He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

17:16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.

17:17 You unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.

17:18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, Why couldnt we drive it out?

17:20 He replied, Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

17:21 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.

17:22 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life. And the disciples were filled with grief.

17:23 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, Doesnt your teacher pay the temple tax?

17:24 Yes, he does, he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. What do you think, Simon? he asked. From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxesfrom their own children or from others?

17:25 From others, Peter answered. Then the children are exempt, Jesus said to him.

17:26 But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.

Matthew chapter 18 NIV version

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

18:2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

18:3 And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

18:4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

18:5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

18:6 If anyone causes one of these little onesthose who believe in meto stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

18:9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

18:10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

18:11 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

18:12 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

18:13 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

18:14 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

18:15 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

18:16 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18:17 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

18:18 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

18:19 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

18:20 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?

18:21 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

18:22 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

18:23 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.

18:24 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

18:25 At this the servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything.

18:26 The servants master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

18:27 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. Pay back what you owe me! he demanded.

18:28 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.

18:29 But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

18:30 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

18:31 Then the master called the servant in. You wicked servant, he said, I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

18:32 Shouldnt you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?

18:33 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

18:34 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

Matthew chapter 19 NIV version

19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.

19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

19:3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?

19:4 Havent you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,

19:5 and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?

19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

19:7 Why then, they asked, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?

19:8 Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.

19:10 The disciples said to him, If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.

19:11 Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by othersand there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.

19:13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

19:14 Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

19:15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

19:16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?

19:17 Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.

19:18 Which ones? he inquired. Jesus replied,  You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,

19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.

19:20 All these I have kept, the young man said. What do I still lack?

19:21 Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, Who then can be saved?

19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

19:27 Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?

19:28 Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

19:30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Matthew Chapter 20 NIV version

20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

20:3 About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

20:4 He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.

20:5 So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.

20:6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?

20:7 Because no one has hired us, they answered. He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard.

20:8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.

20:9 The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.

20:10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.

20:11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.

20:12 These who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.

20:13 But he answered one of them, I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didnt you agree to work for a denarius?

20:14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.

20:15 Dont I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?

20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

20:17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them,

20:18 We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death

20:19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!

20:20 Then the mother of Zebedees sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

20:21 What is it you want? he asked. She said, Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.

20:22 You dont know what you are asking, Jesus said to them. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? We can, they answered.

20:23 Jesus said to them, You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.

20:24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

20:25 Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

20:26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

20:27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave

20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

20:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

20:30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!

20:31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!

20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. What do you want me to do for you? he asked.

20:33 Lord, they answered, we want our sight.

20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew Chapter 21 NIV version

21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

21:2 saying to them, Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.

21:3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.

21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

21:5 Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

21:10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, Who is this?

21:11 The crowds answered, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

21:12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

21:13 It is written, he said to them,  My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.

21:14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were indignant.

21:16 Do you hear what these children are saying? they asked him. Yes, replied Jesus, have you never read,  From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?

21:17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

21:18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.

21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, May you never bear fruit again! Immediately the tree withered.

21:20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. How did the fig tree wither so quickly? they asked.

21:21 Jesus replied, Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.

21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. By what authority are you doing these things? they asked. And who gave you this authority?

21:24 Jesus replied, I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

21:25 Johns baptismwhere did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin? They discussed it among themselves and said, If we say, From heaven, he will ask, Then why didnt you believe him?

21:26 But if we say, Of human originwe are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.

21:27 So they answered Jesus, We dont know. Then he said, Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

21:28 What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard.

21:29 I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

21:30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, I will, sir, but he did not go.

21:31 Which of the two did what his father wanted? The first, they answered. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

21:33 Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.

21:34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

21:35 The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

21:36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.

21:37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. They will respect my son, he said.

21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, This is the heir. Come, lets kill him and take his inheritance.

21:39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

21:40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

21:41 He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, they replied, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.

21:42 Jesus said to them, Have you never read in the Scriptures:  The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

21:44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.

21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus parables, they knew he was talking about them.

21:46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

Matthew chapter 22 NIV version

22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

22:3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

22:4 Then he sent some more servants and said, Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.

22:5 But they paid no attention and went offone to his field, another to his business.

22:6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

22:7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

22:8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.

22:9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.

22:10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

22:11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

22:12 He asked, How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend? The man was speechless.

22:13 Then the king told the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

22:14 For many are invited, but few are chosen.

22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.

22:16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. Teacher, they said, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You arent swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.

22:17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?

22:18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?

22:19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax. They brought him a denarius,

22:20 and he asked them, Whose image is this? And whose inscription?

22:21 Caesars, they replied. Then he said to them, So give back to Caesar what is Caesars, and to God what is Gods.

22:22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

22:24 Teacher, they said, Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

22:26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.

22:27 Finally, the woman died.

22:28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?

22:29 Jesus replied, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

22:31 But about the resurrection of the deadhave you not read what God said to you,

22:32 I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.

22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

22:35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

22:36 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?

22:37 Jesus replied:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

22:39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

22:40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

22:42 What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? The son of David, they replied.

22:43 He said to them, How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord? For he says,

22:44 The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.

22:45 If then David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?

22:46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew chapter 23 NIV version

23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

23:2 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat.

23:3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

23:4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other peoples shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

23:5 Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;

23:6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

23:7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by others.

23:8 But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

23:9 And do not call anyone on earth father, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

23:10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

23:13 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in peoples faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

23:14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

23:15 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.

23:16 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

23:17 You also say, If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.

23:18 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

23:19 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

23:20 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.

23:21 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by Gods throne and by the one who sits on it.

23:22 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesmint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the lawjustice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

23:23 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

23:24 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

23:25 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

23:26 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.

23:27 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

23:28 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.

23:29 And you say, If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.

23:30 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

23:31 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

23:32 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

23:33 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.

23:34 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

23:35 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

23:36 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

23:37 Look, your house is left to you desolate.

23:38 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew chapter 24 NIV version

24:1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.

24:2 Do you see all these things? he asked. Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.

24:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. Tell us, they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

24:4 Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you.

24:5 For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Messiah, and will deceive many.

24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

24:8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

24:9 Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

24:11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

24:13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

24:15 So when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniellet the reader understand

24:16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

24:17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.

24:18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

24:19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

24:20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until nowand never to be equaled again.

24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

24:23 At that time if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Messiah! or, There he is! do not believe it.

24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

24:25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

24:26 So if anyone tells you, There he is, out in the wilderness, do not go out; or, Here he is, in the inner rooms, do not believe it.

24:27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

24:29 Immediately after the distress of those days  the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

24:30 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

24:32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

24:33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

24:36 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

24:38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

24:39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

24:40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

24:41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

24:46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

24:47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

24:48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, My master is staying away a long time,

24:49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.

24:50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.

24:51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew chapter 25 NIV version

25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

25:4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

25:5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

25:6 At midnight the cry rang out: Heres the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!

25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.

25:9 No, they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.

25:10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

25:11 Later the others also came. Lord, Lord, they said, open the door for us!

25:12 But he replied, Truly I tell you, I dont know you.

25:13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

25:14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

25:15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

25:16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

25:17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

25:18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his masters money.

25:19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

25:20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. Master, he said, you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.

25:21 His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness!

25:22 The man with two bags of gold also came. Master, he said, you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.

25:23 His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness!

25:24 Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. Master, he said, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25:25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.

25:26 His master replied, You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

25:27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

25:28 So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

25:29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

25:32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

25:36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

25:38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

25:39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

25:40 The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

25:43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.

25:44 They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?

25:45 He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

25:46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

Matthew chapter 26 NIV version

26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,

26:2 As you know, the Passover is two days awayand the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.

26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

26:4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

26:5 But not during the festival, they said, or there may be a riot among the people.

26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

26:8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. Why this waste? they asked.

26:9 This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.

26:10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

26:12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

26:14 Then one of the Twelvethe one called Judas Iscariotwent to the chief priests

26:15 and asked, What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you? So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.

26:16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

26:17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

26:18 He replied, Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.

26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

26:21 And while they were eating, he said, Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.

26:22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, Surely you dont mean me, Lord?

26:23 Jesus replied, The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.

26:24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.

26:25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, Surely you dont mean me, Rabbi? Jesus answered, You have said so.

26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body.

26:27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you.

26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

26:29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom.

26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

26:31 Then Jesus told them, This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:  I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

26:32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

26:33 Peter replied, Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.

26:34 Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.

26:35 But Peter declared, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the other disciples said the same.

26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray.

26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

26:38 Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.

26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.

26:40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldnt you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter.

26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.

26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

26:45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

26:46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

26:47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

26:48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.

26:49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Greetings, Rabbi! and kissed him.

26:50 Jesus replied, Do what you came for, friend. Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

26:51 With that, one of Jesus companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

26:52 Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

26:53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

26:54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?

26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.

26:56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

26:57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

26:58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

26:60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

26:61 and declared, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.

26:62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?

26:63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.

26:64 You have said so, Jesus replied. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

26:66 What do you think? He is worthy of death, they answered.

26:67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him

26:68 and said, Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?

26:69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. You also were with Jesus of Galilee, she said.

26:70 But he denied it before them all. I dont know what youre talking about, he said.

26:71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.

26:72 He denied it again, with an oath: I dont know the man!

26:73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.

26:74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, I dont know the man! Immediately a rooster crowed.

26:75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. And he went outside.

Matthew chapter 27 NIV version

27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.

27:2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

27:4 I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? they replied. Thats your responsibility.

27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

27:6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.

27:7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potters field as a burial place for foreigners.

27:8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,

27:10 and they used them to buy the potters field, as the Lord commanded me.

27:11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? You have said so, Jesus replied.

27:12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

27:13 Then Pilate asked him, Dont you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?

27:14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single chargeto the great amazement of the governor.

27:15 Now it was the governors custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.

27:16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.

27:17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?

27:18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judges seat, his wife sent him this message: Dont have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.

27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

27:21 Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered.

27:22 What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify him!

27:23 Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him!

27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this mans blood, he said. It is your responsibility!

27:25 All the people answered, His blood is on us and on our children!

27:26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

27:27 Then the governors soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.

27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

27:29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. Hail, king of the Jews! they said.

27:30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

27:31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

27:32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

27:33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull).

27:34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

27:36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

27:37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

27:38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

27:39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads

27:40 and saying, You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!

27:41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.

27:42 He saved others, they said, but he cant save himself! Hes the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

27:43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, I am the Son of God.

27:44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

27:45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.

27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?).

27:47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, Hes calling Elijah.

27:48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

27:49 The rest said, Now leave him alone. Lets see if Elijah comes to save him.

27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split

27:52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

27:53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

27:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, Surely he was the Son of God!

27:55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.

27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedees sons.

27:57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

27:58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

27:59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

27:60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

27:61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

27:63 Sir, they said, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, After three days I will rise again.

27:64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.

27:65 Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.

27:66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew chapter 28 NIV version

28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

28:4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

28:5 The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.

28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

28:10 Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

28:12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,

28:13 telling them, You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.

28:14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.

28:15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Closing Prayer; Heavenly Father, we pray that we may see you with fresh eyes as we read the precious story of Christ’s birth. May we love you with a deeper love as our understanding of You grows. Thank You that You are living in us and that one day we will see You face to face and know as we are known. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

The book of Mark chapter 1:

1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,

1:2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way

1:3 a voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

1:4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

1:6 John wore clothing made of camels hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

1:7 And this was his message: After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

1:10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

1:11 And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

1:12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

1:13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

1:15 The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!

1:16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

1:17 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people.

1:18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

1:19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

1:20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

1:21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

1:23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,

1:24 What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God!

1:25 Be quiet! said Jesus sternly. Come out of him!

1:26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

1:27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, What is this? A new teachingand with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.

1:28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

1:29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

1:30 Simons mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.

1:31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

1:32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.

1:33 The whole town gathered at the door,

1:34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

1:36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,

1:37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: Everyone is looking for you!

1:38 Jesus replied, Let us go somewhere elseto the nearby villagesso I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

1:39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, If you are willing, you can make me clean.

1:41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said. Be clean!

1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

1:43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

1:44 See that you dont tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.

1:45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Mark chapter 2 NIV version

2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.

2:2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

2:3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.

2:4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.

2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven.

2:6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,

2:7 Why does this fellow talk like that? Hes blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

2:8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, Why are you thinking these things?

2:9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up, take your mat and walk?

2:10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the man,

2:11 I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.

2:12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, We have never seen anything like this!

2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

2:14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

2:15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levis house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

2:16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

2:18 Now Johns disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, How is it that Johns disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?

2:19 Jesus answered, How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.

2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.

2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.

2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

2:24 The Pharisees said to him, Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?

2:25 He answered, Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

2:26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.

2:27 Then he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

2:28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Mark chapter 3 NIV version

3:1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.

3:2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

3:3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, Stand up in front of everyone.

3:4 Then Jesus asked them, Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they remained silent.

3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

3:6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

3:7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.

3:8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

3:9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.

3:10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

3:11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, You are the Son of God.

3:12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

3:14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

3:16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),

3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means sons of thunder),

3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot

3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.

3:21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, He is out of his mind.

3:22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.

3:23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: How can Satan drive out Satan?

3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

3:26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

3:27 In fact, no one can enter a strong mans house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong mans house.

3:28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,

3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.

3:30 He said this because they were saying, He has an impure spirit.

3:31 Then Jesus mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.

3:32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.

3:33 Who are my mother and my brothers? he asked.

3:34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, Here are my mother and my brothers!

3:35 Whoever does Gods will is my brother and sister and mother.

Mark chapter 4 NIV version

4:1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the waters edge.

4:2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:

4:3 Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

4:4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

4:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

4:6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.

4:9 Then Jesus said, Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

4:10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

4:11 He told them, The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

4:12 so that,  they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!

4:13 Then Jesus said to them, Dont you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

4:14 The farmer sows the word.

4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

4:16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

4:17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

4:18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;

4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a cropsome thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.

4:21 He said to them, Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, dont you put it on its stand?

4:22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.

4:24 Consider carefully what you hear, he continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to youand even more.

4:25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

4:26 He also said, This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.

4:27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

4:28 All by itself the soil produces grainfirst the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

4:29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.

4:30 Again he said, What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?

4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.

4:32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.

4:33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.

4:34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, Let us go over to the other side.

4:36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

4:37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

4:38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, Teacher, dont you care if we drown?

4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

4:40 He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

4:41 They were terrified and asked each ot

Matthew chapter 5 NIV version

5:1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.

5:2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

5:3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

5:4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

5:5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

5:7 He shouted at the top of his voice, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In Gods name dont torture me!

5:8 For Jesus had said to him, Come out of this man, you impure spirit!

5:9 Then Jesus asked him, What is your name? My name is Legion, he replied, for we are many.

5:10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

5:11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.

5:12 The demons begged Jesus, Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.

5:13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

5:16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed manand told about the pigs as well.

5:17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

5:18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

5:19 Jesus did not let him, but said, Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

5:21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.

5:22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.

5:23 He pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.

5:24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

5:28 because she thought, If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.

5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched my clothes?

5:31 You see the people crowding against you, his disciples answered, and yet you can ask, Who touched me?

5:32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

5:34 He said to her, Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.

5:35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. Your daughter is dead, they said. Why bother the teacher anymore?

5:36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, Dont be afraid; just believe.

5:37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

5:38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

5:39 He went in and said to them, Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.

5:40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the childs father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.

5:41 He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha koum! (which means Little girl, I say to you, get up!).

5:42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

5:43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark chapter 6 NIV version;

6:1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.

6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. Where did this man get these things? they asked. Whats this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?

6:3 Isnt this the carpenter? Isnt this Marys son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Arent his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.

6:4 Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.

6:5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

6:6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Jesus Sends Out the TwelveThen Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

6:8 These were his instructions: Take nothing for the journey except a staffno bread, no bag, no money in your belts.

6:9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.

6:10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.

6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.

6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus name had become well known. Some were saying, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.

6:15 Others said, He is Elijah. And still others claimed, He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.

6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!

6:17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philips wife, whom he had married.

6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brothers wife.

6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

6:21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, Ask me for anything you want, and Ill give it to you.

6:23 And he promised her with an oath, Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.

6:24 She went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask for? The head of John the Baptist, she answered.

6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

6:26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

6:27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring Johns head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

6:28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

6:29 On hearing of this, Johns disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

6:33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. This is a remote place, they said, and its already very late.

6:36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.

6:37 But he answered, You give them something to eat. They said to him, That would take more than half a years wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?

6:38 How many loaves do you have? he asked. Go and see. When they found out, they said, Fiveand two fish.

6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,

6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

6:44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

6:45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

6:46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

6:47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.

6:48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

6:50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, Take courage! It is I. Dont be afraid.

6:51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.

6:55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

6:56 And wherever he wentinto villages, towns or countrysidethey placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Mark chapter 7 NIV version

8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,

8:2 I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.

8:4 His disciples answered, But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?

8:5 How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked. Seven, they replied.

8:6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.

8:7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.

8:8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

8:9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away,

8:10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

8:11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.

8:12 He sighed deeply and said, Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.

8:13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

8:14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.

8:15 Be careful, Jesus warned them. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.

8:16 They discussed this with one another and said, It is because we have no bread.

8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

8:18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And dont you remember?

8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? Twelve, they replied.

8:20 And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? They answered, Seven.

8:21 He said to them, Do you still not understand?

8:22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the mans eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, Do you see anything?

8:24 He looked up and said, I see people; they look like trees walking around.

8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the mans eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

8:26 Jesus sent him home, saying, Dont even go into the village.

8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am?

8:28 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.

8:29 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Messiah.

8:30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

8:32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! he said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.

8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

8:35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

8:37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Fathers glory with the holy angels.

Mark chapter 9 NIV version

10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

10:3 What did Moses command you? he replied.

10:4 They said, Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.

10:5 It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law, Jesus replied.

10:6 But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.

10:7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

10:8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

10:10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.

10:11 He answered, Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

10:12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.

10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.

10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

10:15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

10:16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

10:18 Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is goodexcept God alone.

10:19 You know the commandments: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.

10:20 Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy.

10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

10:22 At this the mans face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

10:26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved?

10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.

10:28 Then Peter spoke up, We have left everything to follow you!

10:29 Truly I tell you, Jesus replied, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel

10:30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fieldsalong with persecutionsand in the age to come eternal life.

10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

10:33 We are going up to Jerusalem, he said, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,

10:34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.

10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.

10:36 What do you want me to do for you? he asked.

10:37 They replied, Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.

10:38 You dont know what you are asking, Jesus said. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?

10:39 We can, they answered. Jesus said to them, You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

10:40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.

10:41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

10:42 Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.

10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

10:48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me!

10:49 Jesus stopped and said, Call him. So they called to the blind man, Cheer up! On your feet! Hes calling you.

10:50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

10:51 What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said, Rabbi, I want to see.

10:52 Go, said Jesus, your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark chapter 11 NIV version

12:1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.

12:2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

12:3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

12:4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully.

12:5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

12:6 He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, They will respect my son.

12:7 But the tenants said to one another, This is the heir. Come, lets kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.

12:8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

12:9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

12:10 Havent you read this passage of Scripture:  The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

12:11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

12:12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

12:13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

12:14 They came to him and said, Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You arent swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?

12:15 Should we pay or shouldnt we? But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. Why are you trying to trap me? he asked. Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.

12:16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, Whose image is this? And whose inscription? Caesars, they replied.

12:17 Then Jesus said to them, Give back to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is Gods. And they were amazed at him.

12:18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

12:19 Teacher, they said, Moses wrote for us that if a mans brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

12:20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.

12:21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.

12:22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.

12:23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?

12:24 Jesus replied, Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

12:25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

12:26 Now about the dead risinghave you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!

12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, Of all the commandments, which is the most important?

12:29 The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

12:31 The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

12:32 Well said, teacher, the man replied. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.

12:33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

12:35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?

12:36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:  The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.

12:37 David himself calls him Lord. How then can he be his son? The large crowd listened to him with delight.

12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

12:40 They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.

12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

12:42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

12:43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

12:44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everythingall she had to live on.

Mark chapter 13 NIV version

13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!

13:2 Do you see all these great buildings? replied Jesus. Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.

13:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,

13:4 Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?

13:5 Jesus said to them: Watch out that no one deceives you.

13:6 Many will come in my name, claiming, I am he, and will deceive many.

13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

13:9 You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

13:10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.

13:13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

13:14 When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belonglet the reader understandthen let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

13:15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out.

13:16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

13:17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

13:18 Pray that this will not take place in winter,

13:19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until nowand never to be equaled again.

13:20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

13:21 At that time if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Messiah! or, Look, there he is! do not believe it.

13:22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

13:23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

13:24 But in those days, following that distress,  the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

13:25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

13:26 At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

13:27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

13:28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

13:29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

13:30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

13:32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

13:33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

13:34 Its like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

13:35 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come backwhether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

13:36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

13:37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!

Mark chapter 14 NIV version

14:1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

14:2 But not during the festival, they said, or the people may riot.

14:3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

14:4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, Why this waste of perfume?

14:5 It could have been sold for more than a years wages and the money given to the poor. And they rebuked her harshly.

14:6 Leave her alone, said Jesus. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

14:7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

14:8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

14:9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

14:11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

14:12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

14:13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14:14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?

14:15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.

14:16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14:17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

14:18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, Truly I tell you, one of you will betray meone who is eating with me.

14:19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, Surely you dont mean me?

14:20 It is one of the Twelve, he replied, one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

14:21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.

14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body.

14:23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

14:24 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them.

14:25 Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

14:26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

14:27 You will all fall away, Jesus told them, for it is written:  I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

14:28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

14:29 Peter declared, Even if all fall away, I will not.

14:30 Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, todayyes, tonightbefore the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.

14:31 But Peter insisted emphatically, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the others said the same.

14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray.

14:33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

14:34 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch.

14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

14:36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.

14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Couldnt you keep watch for one hour?

14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

14:39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.

14:40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

14:42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

14:43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

14:44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.

14:45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi! and kissed him.

14:46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him.

14:47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

14:48 Am I leading a rebellion, said Jesus, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?

14:49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

14:50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

14:51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,

14:52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

14:53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together.

14:54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

14:55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.

14:56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

14:57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:

14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.

14:59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?

14:61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?

14:62 I am, said Jesus. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

14:63 The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked.

14:64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death.

14:65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, Prophesy! And the guards took him and beat him.

14:66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.

14:67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus, she said.

14:68 But he denied it. I dont know or understand what youre talking about, he said, and went out into the entryway.

14:69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, This fellow is one of them.

14:70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.

14:71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, I dont know this man youre talking about.

14:72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times. And he broke down and wept.

Mark chapter 15 NIV version

15:1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

15:2 Are you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate. You have said so, Jesus replied.

15:3 The chief priests accused him of many things.

15:4 So again Pilate asked him, Arent you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.

15:5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

15:6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

15:7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.

15:8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

15:9 Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate,

15:10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

15:12 What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews? Pilate asked them.

15:13 Crucify him! they shouted.

15:14 Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him!

15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

15:16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.

15:17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

15:18 And they began to call out to him, Hail, king of the Jews!

15:19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

15:22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull).

15:23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

15:24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

15:25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

15:26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

15:27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.

15:28 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

15:29 come down from the cross and save yourself !

15:30 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. He saved others, they said, but he cant save himself!

15:31 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

15:32 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

15:33 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?).

15:34 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, Listen, hes calling Elijah.

15:35 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. Now leave him alone. Lets see if Elijah comes to take him down, he said.

15:36 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

15:37 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

15:38 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the Son of God!

15:39 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.

15:40 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

15:41 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,

15:42 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus body.

15:43 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

15:44 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.

15:45 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

15:46 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Mark Chapter 16 NIV version

16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus body.

16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb

16:3 and they asked each other, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?

16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

16:6 Dont be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.

16:8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.

16:10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.

16:11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

16:12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.

16:13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

16:15 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.

16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Closing Prayer; Heavenly Father, thank You that You died for us and that we are saved by Your grace alone, through faith in Christ. Thank You that the moment we believed on Him, We were baptised into the Body of Christ, positioned in Him, and became a member of His mystical Body, the Church. Thank You for the opportunity to proclaim outwardly our spiritual birth and privileged position in Christ by going through the waters of baptism as an open declaration of our change of heart and our trust in Him. Thank You that our old sin nature is chained to the Cross and we have received newness of life. Keep us from fleshly pursuits and keep us pure in Your sight, so that others may see our life and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Prayer of Salvation: Which is how you ask to become a child of Our Heavenly Father. Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and I know you will answer my prayers. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

You can reach us through

email: raynettekweissministries@yahoo.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/raynettekweissministries

Phone: 202-603-1821.