The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ.

After John had been committed to prison, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God--

"The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the Good News."

"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

Being, however, unable to get him near to Jesus, owing to the crowd, they removed the roofing below which Jesus was; and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.

"Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?"

Which is easier?--to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven'? or to say 'Get up, and take up your mat, and walk about'?

"To you I say, Get up, take up your mat, and return to your home."

The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said: "We have never seen anything like this!"

As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him: "Follow me." Levi got up and followed him.

How he went into the House of God, in the time of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate 'the consecrated bread,' which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well?"

And to the people he said: "Is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath--or harm? to save a life, or destroy it?"

The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out: "You are the Son of God"!

No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house.

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Jesus again began to teach by the Sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the Sea, while all the people were on the shore at the water's edge.

Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold."

And he said: "To you the hidden truth of the Kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables, that--

But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the Message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold."

Jesus also said: "This is what the Kingdom of God is like-- like a man who has scattered seed on the ground,

Jesus also said: "To what can we liken the Kingdom of God?

And, as soon as Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit,

Shrieking out in a loud voice: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God's sake do not torment me!"

"If I can only touch his clothes," she said, "I shall get well!"

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the Synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this?" they said, "and what is this wisdom that has been given him? and these miracles which he is doing?

But they were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat.

And many people saw them going, and recognized them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them.

Immediately afterwards Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, and cross over in advance, in the direction of Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd.

Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. The disciples were utterly amazed,

You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men.

Wisely do you set aside God's commandments," he exclaimed, "to keep your own traditions!

You say 'If a man says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban"' (which means 'Given to God')--

In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things."

Because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?--in saying this Jesus pronounced all food 'clean.'

"Where will it be possible," his disciples answered, "to get sufficient bread for these people in this lonely place?"

Jesus, however, turning round and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter. "Out of my sight, Satan!" he exclaimed. "For you look at things, not as God does, but as man does."

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, will lose his life shall save it.

What good is it to a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

"I tell you," he added, "that some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come in power."

"Rabbi," said Peter, interposing, "it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

If your hand proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into the Pit, into the inextinguishable fire.

If your foot proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the Life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into the Pit.

If your eye proves a snare to you, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the Pit,

Salt is good, but, if the salt should lose its saltiness, what will you use to season it? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another."

But, at the beginning of the Creation, God 'made them male and female.'

What God himself, then, has yoked together man must not separate."

When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "do not hinder them; for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.

I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."

And, as Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to gain Immortal Life?"

"Why do you call me good?" answered Jesus. "No one is good but God.

Then Jesus looked round, and said to his disciples: "How hard it will be for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!"

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again: "My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the Kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

Jesus looked at them, and answered: "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

"I tell you," said Jesus, "there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, on my account and on account of the Good News,

Many of the people kept telling him to be quiet; but the man continued to call out all the louder: "Son of David, take pity on me."

Then Jesus stopped. "Call him," he said. So they called the blind man. "Courage!" they exclaimed. "Get up; he is calling you."

"Go to the village facing you," he said; "and, as soon as you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has ever ridden; untie it, and bring it.

Many of the people spread their cloaks on the road, while some strewed boughs which they had cut from the fields;

And those who led the way, as well as those who followed, kept shouting: "'God save him! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'

Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David! 'God save him from on high!'"

"Have faith in God!" replied Jesus.

These men came to him and said: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of any one, for you pay no regard to a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?

And Jesus replied: "Pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." And they wondered at him.

"Is not the reason of your mistake," answered Jesus, "your ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God?

As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him thus--'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

He is not God of dead men, but of living. You are greatly mistaken."

"The first," answered Jesus, "is--'Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is the one Lord;

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.'

"Wisely answered, Teacher!" exclaimed the Teacher of the Law. "It is true, as you say, that 'there is one God,' and that 'there is no other besides him';

Seeing that he had answered with discernment, Jesus said to him: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." After that no one ventured to question him further.

But the Good News must first be proclaimed to every nation.

And a man on the house-top must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house:

Nor must one who is on his farm turn back to get his cloak.

For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God's creation until now-- and never will again.

And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape; but, for the sake of God's own chosen People, he did limit them.

For false Christs and false Prophets will arise, and display signs and marvels, to lead astray, were it possible, even God's People.

You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have me.

And I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, the Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her."

I tell you that I shall never again drink of the juice of the grape, until that day when I shall drink it new in the Kingdom of God."

One of those who were standing by drew his sword, and struck at the High Priest's servant, and cut off his ear.

Meanwhile the Chief Priest and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any;

But the Chief Priests incited the crowd to get Barabbas released instead.

And, at three, Jesus called out loudly: ??Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani?'" which means 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'

The Roman Officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he expired, exclaimed: "This man must indeed have been 'God's Son'!"

Joseph from Ramah, a Councillor of good position, who was himself living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, came and ventured to go in to see Pilate, and to ask for the body of Jesus.

Joseph, having bought a linen sheet, took Jesus down, and wound the sheet round him, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock; and then rolled a stone up against the entrance of the tomb.

Then he said to them: "Go into all the world, and proclaim the Good News to all creation.

So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God.