Study Desk

Jesus swung up in the saddle and said, "Let's make a big circle into the surrounding country so I can tell people the good news. That's why my Dad sent me."

So Jesus and his cowboys rode all through Galilee where Jesus gave clinics in the churches and cast out many a demon along the way.

But that fellow couldn't keep quiet about the great thing Jesus had done for him. Word spread around so quickly that Jesus couldn't even come into town because of the mobs of people that came to him. Because of this, he camped way out where it was hard to find him, but people still came to find him from all parts of the region.

So many people gathered at the house Jesus was at that there was no longer any room to stand, not even by the door. But Jesus preached the good news to all who were there and could hear him.

These guys were so adamant about getting their friend to Jesus that they climbed up on the roof and dug out the section right above where he was talking. They lowered their friend on a stretcher right down in front of him. Jesus smiled and admired their boldness and their faith.

Quick as a cow kick, Jesus knew exactly what these so called "religious experts" were thinking. He decided to clear the air. He asked them, "Why are your thoughts so screwed up with what I just did?

But just so you know that God's Top Hand has the authority on earth to forget sins . . ." He turned to the paralyzed man and said,

There were so many people, he told his cowboys to stack some hay up so the crowd wouldn't mash him.

He had healed so many people with various ailments that all kinds of sick people were trying to touch him.

He chose twelve cowboys to ride with him so he could teach them his ways and they could show others. He also gave them the power to

Jesus rode back home and there were so many people needing him that there wasn't even time enough to grab a sandwich.

So Jesus called them all around and told them stories. "How can the devil cast out the devil?

so this old saying would come true, '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.'"

Then Jesus posed a question to them, "Would you light a lamp and then stick it in your bedroll? Of course not. A lamp is lifted up high so its light can shine far.

So they found a boat, leaving all the crowds behind.

After a second, he said, "Why are y'all so scared? Don't you have faith in me?"

So the guy went off and told everyone his story and all who heard it were amazed.

He pleaded with Jesus, "My daughter is near dead. Come and put your hand on her so she will live."

They began making fun of him so he put them all out on the porch. He went into the girl's room with her mom and dad, as well as the three cowboys who'd come with him.

He was amazed at how blind all these people he knew so well were. He stayed around that part of the country though and taught among the ranches and cow towns.