Study Desk

Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance.

So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one."

So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.

The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him.

They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep.

The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The Jewish people still tell each other this story.

They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.

From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake.

Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.

As soon as Jesus left the meeting place with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew.

And when they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!"

But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So they made a hole in the roof above him and let the man down in front of everyone.

Right away, Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, "Why are you thinking such things?

The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and other sinners had become followers of Jesus, and they were also guests at the dinner.

Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were Pharisees, and they saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors. So they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"