Study Desk

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, "Many Jews will fall and many will rise because of this boy. He will be a sign from God that some will not accept.

They were amazed at his teaching because he spoke with authority.

Demons came out of many people. The demons shouted, "You are the Son of God." But Jesus gave a strong command for the demons not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Everyone was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him. Jesus healed them all.

"People will hate you because you belong to the Son of Man. They will make you leave their group. They will insult you. They will think it is wrong even to say your name. When these things happen, know that great blessings belong to you.

You can be happy then and jump for joy, because you have a great reward in heaven. The ancestors of those people did the same things to the prophets.

"But how bad it will be for you rich people, because you had your easy life.

How bad it will be for you people who are full now, because you will be hungry. How bad it will be for you people who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

"I'm telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful.

They are like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. The floods come, and the water crashes against the house. But the flood cannot move the house, because it was built well.

I know this because I am a man under the authority of other men. And I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,' and he goes. And I tell another soldier, ‘Come,' and he comes. And I say to my servant, ‘Do this,' and my servant obeys me."

I tell you that her many sins are forgiven. This is clear, because she showed great love. People who are forgiven only a little will love only a little."

Jesus said to the woman, "Because you believed, you are saved from your sins. Go in peace."

Other seed fell on rock. It began to grow but then died because it had no water.

Jesus' mother and brothers came to visit him. But they could not get close to him, because there were so many people.

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" The man answered, "Legion." (He said his name was "Legion" because many demons had gone into him.)

All those who lived in the area around Gerasa asked Jesus to go away because they were afraid. So Jesus got into the boat to go back to Galilee.

Jesus said to her, "My daughter, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace."

Everyone was crying and feeling sad because the girl was dead. But Jesus said, "Don't cry. She is not dead. She is only sleeping."

The people laughed at him, because they knew that the girl was dead.