Study Desk

and went back to his hometown. He taught in the synagogue, and those who heard him were amazed. "Where did he get such wisdom?" they asked. "And what about his miracles?

Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother, and aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers?

Aren't all his sisters living here? Where did he get all this?"

And so they rejected him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown and by his own family."

"He is really John the Baptist, who has come back to life," he told his officials. "That is why he has this power to perform miracles."

For Herod had earlier ordered John's arrest, and he had him tied up and put in prison. He had done this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

The king was sad, but because of the promise he had made in front of all his guests he gave orders that her wish be granted.

John's disciples came, carried away his body, and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed their sick.

That evening his disciples came to him and said, "It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves."

They begged him to let the sick at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well.

But Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples came to him and begged him, "Send her away! She is following us and making all this noise!"

At this the woman came and fell at his feet. "Help me, sir!" she said.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away without feeding them, for they might faint on their way home."

Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, "I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life."

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.

For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds.

As they looked on, a change came over Jesus: his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white.