Study Desk

He went into the house of God, took the bread offered to God, ate it, and gave it also to his men. Yet it is against our Law for anyone except the priests to eat that bread."

At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God.

Jesus looked at his disciples and said, "Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!

No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked.

"Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you.

Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you."

They all were filled with fear and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said; "God has come to save his people!"

For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.'

I tell you," Jesus added, "John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John."

Some time later Jesus traveled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him,

and he answered, "The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.

"This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God.

Jesus said to them all, "My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Jesus and his disciples sailed on over to the territory of Gerasa, which is across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long time this man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home, but spent his time in the burial caves. When he saw Jesus, he gave a loud cry, threw himself down at his feet, and shouted, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God! What do you want with me? I beg you, don't punish me!"

"Go back home and tell what God has done for you." The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him.

Then he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick,

When the crowds heard about it, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed it.

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Kingdom of God."

All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God. The people were still marveling at everything Jesus was doing, when he said to his disciples,