Study Desk

John answered all of them: "I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees. "Go away from me, Lord," he said, "for I am a sinful man."

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it."

One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: "Who do the crowds say I am?"

"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.'

Finally he came to his senses and said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'

The son declared, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

So he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.'

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'God, I thank You that I am not like the other men-swindlers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector.

His master replied, 'You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

And Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Jesus answered, "See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.