Study Desk

Well, not all of them. The religious code keepers and teachers heard Jesus but they refused to listen. They wouldn't be baptized by John and so they didn't get the great promise God had planned for them.

They are like the fans in the stands while the cowboys stand in the arena and talk to them. The cowboys say to them, 'We rode the rough stock for you and got bucked off, but you didn't cheer because you wanted to see us rope. We roped fast and quick, but you didn't clap because no one got bucked off.'

"John didn't drink alcohol and often went without food so he could pray, but y'all said he was evil.

But then God's Top Hand comes having a beer with outlaws and whores but y'all say, 'He's a pig and a drunk and he hangs out with lowlifes.'

Then Jesus turned to the woman, but spoke to Simon. "You see this girl? I came here as your guest, but you didn't offer me a rag to wipe the trail dust from my boots, but she cleaned them with her tears and her hair.

You didn't offer me anything, but she has put special perfume on my feet.

Other seed fell next to some rocks where there wasn't much dirt. The seed took root quickly in the shallow soil, but they withered quickly because there was nowhere for the roots to go.

Other seed fell among the cactus and thistles. They sprouted, but were choked out by the thorns.

He told them, "The secret of the Boss's outfit has been given to you. But for the sake of everyone else, I teach with stories. They look, but cannot see. They hear, but they cannot understand. If they could see and understand, they would turn to me and be forgiven."

The seed that fell on the road stands for those who hear the good news, but Satan convinces 'em not to listen.

The seed in the rocks stands for those who love the good news and immediately act like it changes their whole world. But they don't last long because it was all emotion and no faith. They wither quickly when faced with any kind of adversity.

The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear God's good news, but the words that could save them are choked out by worry, lusting after money, and the desire for materialistic things.

Then he added, "Don't let what I'm saying go in one ear and out the other. The closer you listen the more you'll start getting—and when you start getting it, you'll be given even more. But if you ignore the things I say, you'll end up losing more than you started with."

Then Jesus's mom and brothers came to see him, but they couldn't get close because of the big crowd.

People came running and the first thing they saw was Jesus sitting there talking to the now clothed man who had been possessed, but this time he was in his right mind.

Word spread quickly around the Gerasenes about what happened, but the people were afraid and begged Jesus to leave the area.

the former demon-possessed man asked to ride with him, but Jesus told him to go home.

But Jesus replied, "I felt the healing power leave me. Someone touched me on purpose."

Everyone was bawling and squalling, but Jesus said, "Why are y'all carryin' on like this? She's just sleeping."

But Jesus had the last laugh when he walked over, held her hand, and said, "Get up, little lady."