Study Desk

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.

because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

"I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them," the devil said, "because they are mine to give to anyone I please.

And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'"

Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?"

Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,

Amazed, the people exclaimed, "What authority and power this man's words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!"

Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.

Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!

And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, "We have seen amazing things today!"

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."

But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon.