Study Desk

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They said, "Seven loaves and a few small fish."

They all ate and were filled. They picked up seven baskets full of pieces of bread and fish after the people finished eating.

The proud religious law-keepers and a religious group of people who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Jesus. They asked Him to show something special from heaven. They wanted to trap Jesus.

They started to think about it among themselves and said, "He said this because we forgot to bring bread."

Then they understood that it was not the yeast of bread that He was talking about. But He was talking about the teaching of the proud religious law-keepers and of the other religious group of people.

They said, "Some say You are John the Baptist and some say Elijah and others say Jeremiah or one of the early preachers."

When the followers heard this, they got down on the ground on their faces and were very much afraid.

But I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not know him. They did to him whatever they wanted to do. In the same way the Son of Man will suffer from them also."

When they came to many people, a man came up to Jesus and got on his knees. He said,

"When his other servants saw what had happened, they were very sorry. They came and told the king all that was done.

He said to them, ‘You go to my grape-field and work also. Whatever is right, I will pay you.' And they went.

They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.' He said, ‘Go to my grape-field and work. Whatever is right, I will pay you.'

"Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the religious leaders and to the teachers of the Law. They will say that He must be put to death.

They will hand Him over to the people who do not know God. They will make fun of Him and will beat Him. They will nail Him to a cross. Three days later He will be raised to life."

Jesus had loving-pity on them and put His hands on their eyes. At once they could see, and they followed Jesus.

They were near Jerusalem and had come to the town of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers on ahead.

They brought the donkey and her young one. They put their clothes on the donkey and Jesus sat on them.

The religious leaders of the Jews and the teachers of the Law saw the great things He did. They heard the children calling in the house of God and saying, "Greatest One! Son of David!" The leaders were very angry.

They said to Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes, have you not read the writings, ‘Even little children and babies will honor Him'?"

The followers saw it and were surprised and wondered. They said, "How did the fig tree dry up so fast?"