(25) The lost sheep

 

Jesus continued with his teaching,

 

"If a shepherd has 100 sheep, and 1 wanders away and is lost,

What will he do?

Won't he leave the 99 others and go out into the hills

to search for the lost one?

And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it

more than over the 99 that didn't wander away.

In the same way, it is not my heavely Father's will that

even one of these little ones should perish."

(24) The neighbor

 

One day a man asked Jesus,

"Who is my neighbor?"

 

Jesus replied with an illustration,

"A Jewish man was traveling on a trip and he was attacked by bandits.

They stripped him, beat him up, and left him half dead on the road.

 

Some time later,

A Jewish priest came along but passed the man,

A temple assistant walked over and looked at him

but he also passed by on the other side.

 

Then a disliked Samaritan came along and when he saw the man,

he felt deep pity.

the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine.

Then he took to an inn, where he took care of him.

 

Now which of these 3 would you say

was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?

Jesus asked.

 

The man replied,

"The one who took care of the man."

 

Then Jesus told him,

"Yes, now go and do the same."

 

(23) Jesus' glory

 

Jesus took Peter, James, and James and led them up a high mountain.

As the disciples watched, Jesus' appearance changed

so that his face shone like the sun,

and his clothing became white.

 

Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

 

Peter shouted out,

"This is wonderful! Jesus, If you want me to,

I will make 3 shrines, for you and for Moses and Elijah."

 

Then a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said,

"This is my beloved Son, Listen to him."

The disciples were scared so they fell down on the ground.

 

Jesus came over and touched them,

"Get up, don't be afraid."

 

When they looked up, they saw only Jesus with them.

And Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what they have seen

until he's raised from the dead."

(22) Peter says Jesus is the Messiah

 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea,

he asked his disciples,

"Who do people say I am?"

 

"Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah,, and

others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets"

They replied.

 

Then Jesus asked them again,

"Who do you say I am?"

 

Peter answered,

"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

 

Jesus replied,

"You are blessed, because my Father in Heaven

has revealed this to you.

You did not learn this from any human being.

Now I say to you that you are Peter, and

upon this very rock I will build my church,

and all the powers of evil will not conquer it."

 

Then Jesus warned them not to tell anyone

that he was the Messiah.

(21) Jesus walks on water

 

Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and

cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the people home.

 

and then Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray.

 

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land,

for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

 

About 3 o'clock in the morning,

Jesus came to them, walking on the water.

The disciples thought he was a ghost when they saw Jesus.

But Jesus spoke to them,

"It's alright, I am here! Don't be afraid."

 

Then Peter called to him,

"If its really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water"

"All right, come." Jesus said to Peter.

 

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water toward Jesus.

But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified

and began to sink.

 

Instantly, Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him.

"You don't have much faith.

Why did you doubt me?"

Jesus said to Peter.

 

And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

(20) Jesus feeds 5,000 people

 

Jesus went off to a remote area to be alone.

But the people heard where he was going and

followed from many villages.

When Jesus saw the large crowd,

and he had compassion n them and healed their sick.

 

That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said,

"It is getting late, we should send the crowd away

so they can go to the villages and

buy food for themselves."

 

But Jesus told them'

"That's not necessary, you feed them."

 

"We can't." they replied.

"We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish!"

 

"Bring them to me." Jesus said.

 

Then Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, looked up heaven,

and asked God's blessing on the food.

 

Jesus broke the loaves into pieces, and

gave some bread and fish to each disciple,

and the disciples gave them to the people.

 

They all ate as much as they wanted,

and there were 12 baskets of leftovers.

 

 

(19) The 12 disciples

 

Jesus called his 12 disicples together and sent them out

with authority to cast out evil spirits.

 

He told them to take nothing with them except a walking stick,

no food, no money, no bag.

 

Sothe disicples went out,

telling all they met to turn from their sins.

They cast out many evil spirits,

and healed many sick people,

anonting them with olive oil.

(18) Nazareth rejects Jesus

 

When Jesus was done telling these parables,

he then left that part of the country.

 

He returned to Nazareth, his hometown.

 

As Jesus was teaching to the crowd in the synagogue,

the people were amazed and said,

"Where does he get his wisdom and his miracles?

He's just a carpenter's son,

and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers.

What makes him so special and great?"

 

The people were offended and rejected Jesus and his teachings.

 

Then Jesus told them,

"A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown

and among his own family."

 

Jesus did only a few miracles there

because of their unbelief.

(17) The parable of the sower

 

Jesus went down to the shore,

and a large crowd soon gathered to listen to his teachings.

 

He told many stories such as this one:

 

"A farmer went out to plant some see.

 

Some fell on a footpath,

and birds came and ate them.

 

Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock.

The plants sprang up quickly,

but they soon wilted under the hot sun

and died because the roots had no nourishment.

 

Other seeds fell among thorns

that shot up and choked out the tender blades.

 

However, some seeds fell on fertile soil

and produced a crop that was 30, 60, 100 times.

(16) The true family of Jesus

 

As Jesus was speaking to the people,

his mother and brothers were outside,

wanting to talk with him.

 

Someone came to Jesus and told him,

"Your mother and your brothers are outside,

and they want to talk to you."

 

Jesus then asked,

"Who is my mother? who are my brothers?"

 

Jesus pointed to his disciples and said,

"These are my mother and brothers,

anyone who does the will of my Father in Heaven

is my brother and sister and mother!"

(15) Jesus heals a lame man by the pool

 

There was a pool of Bethesda in the city of Jerusalem.

Crowds of sick people - blind,lame, or paralyzed - were there near the pool.

 

One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years.

When Jesus saw him, and knew how long he had been ill,

he asked him,

"Would you lke to get well?"

 

"I can't, sir.

I have no one who can help me into the pool

when the water is stirred up.

Someone else always gets in ahead of me."

the sick man said to Jesus.

 

"Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!"

Jesus told him.

 

Instantly, the man was healed.

 

Jesus also told him,

"Now you are well, so stop sinning, or

something even worse may happen to you."

 

 

(14) A woman at the well

 

Jesus and his disciples came to the Samaritan village.

They were on their way back to Galilee.

 

Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

 

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water,

and Jesus said to her,

"Please, give me a drink."

 

Jesus was alone at the time because his disciples

had gone into the village to buy some food.

 

The woman was surprised,

for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.

"Why are you asking me for a drink? I am a Samaritan woman."

She said to Jesus.

 

"If you knew who I am, you would ask me,

and I would give you living water."

Jesus replied.

 

"But, you don't even have a bucket or rope,

How would you get this living water?"

She asked him.

 

"The water I give will takeaway thirst altogeher.

It becomes a spring within them,

giving them eternal life."

Jesus replied.

 

"Please! give me some of that water!"

 

 

 

(13) Nicodemus visits Jesus by night

 

A Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee,

came to speak with Jesus at night.

 

"Teacher, we know that God has sent you to teach us.

Your micraculous signs are proof that God sent you to us."

Nicodemus said to Jesus.

 

"I assure you, unless you are born again,

you can never see the Kingdom of God."

Jesus replied.

 

"What do you mean?

How can an old man like me be born again?"

Nicodemus asked Jesus.

 

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God

without being born of water and the Spirit."

 

 

 

"

(12) Jesus heals the blind and mute

 

After Jesus left the official's home,

2 blind men followed along behind him, shouting,

"Son of David, have mercy on us!"

 

They went inside the house where Jesus was staying,

and Jesus asked them,

"Do you believe I can make you see?"

 

"Yes! we do!"

 

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said,

"Because of your faith, it will happen."

and suddenly, they could see.

 

Later that day,

some people brought to him a man who couldn't speak

because he was demon possessed.

 

Jesus casted out the demon, and

the man could talk.

 

The crowd was amazed at him,

"Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel."

(11) Jesus heals in response

 

One day Jesus was on his way to the official's home.

He was asked, by the official, to come see his daughter who has just died.

 

As Jesus and his disciples were going,

a woman who had had a hemorrhage for 12 years came up behind him.

 

She touched the fringe of Jesus' robe

for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."

 

Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him,

so he turned around and asked,

"Who touched my clothes?"

 

"Look at this crowd pressing around you.

What do you mean 'who touched me?'"

His disciples said to him.

 

Then the woman came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done.

 

and Jesus said to her,

"Daughter, your faith has made you well."

and the woman was healed at that moment.

(10) Jesus heals a paralyzed man

 

Jesus and his disciples went back to his own town.

 

Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat.

 

Jesus saw their faith, and said to the paralyzed man,

 

"Be encouraged! your sins are forgiven."

 

"He thinks he is God!"

Then some of the teachers of religious law said among themselves.

and Jesus knew what they were thinking,

 

"What are you thinking such evil thoughts?

I will prove that I have the authority on earth to forgive sins."

Then Jesus said to the paralyzed man,

"Stand up, take your mat, and go home, you're healed now."

 

The man jumped up and went home.

The crowd praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

(9) Jesus sends demons into pigs

 

When Jesus and his disciples arrived on the other side of the lake,

a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him.

 

Homeless and naked,

he had lived in a cemetery for a long time.

 

When he saw Jesus,

he fell to the ground before him, screaming,

"Why are you bothering me, Jesus Son of God,

Please, don't torture me, just leave me alone."

The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless pit.

so demons pleaded with Jesus to

let them enter into the pigs.

 

Jesus gave them permission.

 

So the demons came out from the man and entered the pigs,

and the whole herd plunged down into the lake and drowned.

 

Then the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Jesus,

 

But Jesus said,

"No, go back to your family and tell them

every wonderful things God has done for you."

So he went and witnessed about the great thing Jesus had done for him.

(8) Jesus calms a storm

 

Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake

with his disciples.

Suddenly, a terrible storm came up,

But Jesus was sleeping.

 

The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting,

"Lord, save us!! We're going to drown!"

 

Jesus answered,

"Why are you afraid? you have little faith!"

 

Then Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and waves,

and suddenly all was calm.

 

The disciples asked each other,

"Who is this? even the wind and waves listen to him!"

(7) Faith of the Roman officer

 

In Capernaum, the highly valued servant of a Roman officer

was sick and near death. so the Roman officer came to Jesus

and pleaded with him,

"Lord, my young servant is in bed, paralyzed, and in great pain,"

 

Jesus said.

"I will come and heal him."

 

Then the officer said,

"Lord, that is not necessary. Just say the word,

and my servant will be healed.

I have my superior officers who command me, and

soldiers under my authority who listen to my command.

I say, 'go' and they go,

I say, 'come' and they come.

So just say the word, and I know my servant will be healed."

 

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.

 

"I tell you the truth, I have not seen faith like this

in all the land of Israel.

Go on home. What you have believed has happened."

and the young servant was healed that same hour.

(6) The sermon on the mountain

 

Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues,

preaching everywhere the Good News about the heaven.

 

One day as the crowds were gathering,

Jesus went up to the mountain with his disciples to teach people.

 

"You are the salt and light of the world.

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see,

so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 

Do for others what you would like them to do for you.

This is a summary of all that is taught in the law.

 

Keep on asking, it will be given to you.

Keep on looking, you will find it.

Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.

 

The gateway to life is small,

and the road is narrow,

only a few ever find it."

 

After Jesus finished teaching,

the people were amazed at his teaching.

 

(5) Jesus turns water into wine

 

Jesus' mother was at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana.

Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.

 

The wine ran out during the celeration,

and Jesus' mother told Jesus about the problem.

"They have no more wine."

 

"My time has not come yet."

Jesus told her.

 

But his mother told the servants,

"Do whatever he tells you."

 

Then Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water.

When the jars were had been filled, Jesus told them

to take some and serve the master of ceremonies.

 

When the master of celeration tasted the water which turned into wine,

he shouted out

"You guys have kept the best wine until now!"

 

This miracle was Jesus' first display of his glory.

and his disciples believed him.

(4) Jesus calls out the disciples

 

One day Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee.

 

He saw 2 brothers fishing with the net.

 

Jesus called out to them,

"Come, be my disciples, and

I will show you how to fish for people!"

 

2 brothers left their nets at once and followed him.

 

Later that day,

 

Jesus saw 2 other brothers sitting in a boat.

 

Jesus called them to come, too.

 

They too left their boat and followed him.

(3) The temptation of Jesus

 

After the baptism, Jesus was led out into the wilderness

by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil.

 

For 40 days and 40 nights he ate nothing

and became very hungry.

 

That's when the Devil came and said to him,

"If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread."

 

Jesus told him,

"No! The Scriptures say,

people need more than bread for their life,

they must feed on every word of God,"

 

Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the temple,

"If you are the Son of God, jump off!

you can order the angels to protect you so your feet don't touch the stone,"

 

Jesus told him,

"No, The Scriptures say, Do not test God!"

 

Devil again took Jesus to the peak of a high mountain and

showed him the nations of the world and their fame and glory.

"I will give it all to you, if you only kneel down and worship me."

 

Jesus told him,

"No! Get out of here! Satan,

The Scriptures say, you must worship God only."'

 

Then the Devil went away.

(2) John the Baptist

 

John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness.

He shouted

"Turn from your sins and turn to God,

the kingdom of heaven is near!"

 

People from Jerusalem came to hear his preach,

and they confessed their sins,

and John baptized them in the Jordan River.

 

"I baptize with water but someone is coming

who is so much greater than I am.

and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

 

Then Jesus went from Galilee o the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

But John did not want to baptize him.

 

"You should baptize me, not the other way around."

John said to Jesus.

 

But Jesus said,

"It must be done, because we must do everything that is right."

so John baptized him.

As Jesus came up out of the water, the heaven opened

and the Spirit of God descended like a dove

and settled on him.

 

And a voice from heaven said,

"This is my beloved son, I am fully pleased with him."

(1) The birth of Jesus

 

Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph.

 

But while she was still a virgin,

she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

 

Joseph, her fiance, being a good man,

decided to break the engagement quietly,

so Mary would not be disgraced publicly.

 

One day, Joseph fell asleep and an angel of God

appeared to him in his dream.

 

"Joseph, don't be afraid to marry Mary.

For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.

and she wil have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,

for he will save his people from their sins,"

 

Joseph did as he was told and took Mary as his wife.

 

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem.

The same night, the wise men came to visit the child

and they fell down before him and worshiped him.

They also gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.