The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Then, after John had been thrown into prison, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming God's Good News.

"The time has fully come," He said, "and the Kingdom of God is close at hand: repent, and believe this Good News.

"What have you to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--God's Holy One."

"Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns," He replied, "that I may proclaim my Message there also; because for that purpose I came from God."

"Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?"

The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

how he entered the house of God in the High-priesthood of Abiathar, and ate the Presented Loaves--which none but the priests are allowed to eat--and gave some to his men also?"

Then He asked them, "Are we allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? to save a life, or to destroy one?" They remained silent.

And the foul spirits, whenever they saw Him, threw themselves down at His feet, screaming out: "You are the Son of God."

"Here are my mother and my brothers. For wherever there is one who has been obedient to God, there is my brother--my sister--and my mother."

But some of the seed falls into good ground, and gives a return: it comes up and increases, and yields thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold."

"To you," He replied, "has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;

Those, on the other hand, who have received the seed on the good ground, are all who hear the Message and welcome it, and yield a return of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold."

Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground:

Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?

So they got away from the crowd, and took Him--as He was--in the boat; and other boats accompanied Him.

crying out in a loud voice, "What hast Thou to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? In God's name I implore Thee not to torment me."

Then He said to them, "Come away, all of you, to a quiet place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, so that they had no time even for meals.

and when they come from market they will not eat without bathing first; and they have a good many other customs which they have received traditionally and cling to, such as the rinsing of cups and pots and of bronze utensils, and the washing of beds.)

"You neglect God's Commandment: you hold fast to men's traditions."

"Praiseworthy indeed!" He added, "to set at nought God's Commandment in order to observe your own traditions!

But *you* say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God)

thus nullifying God's precept by your tradition which you have handed down. And many things of that kind you do."

"Where can we possibly get bread here in this remote place to satisfy such a crowd?" answered His disciples.

But turning round and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Adversary," He said, "for your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's."

For whoever is bent on securing his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, will secure it.

He went on to say, "In solemn truth I tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God already come in power."

If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.

Or if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life crippled, than remain in possession of both your feet and be thrown into Gehenna.

Or if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God half-blind than remain in possession of two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna,

Salt is a good thing, but if the salt should become tasteless, what will you use to give it saltness? Have salt within you and live at peace with one another."

but from the beginning of the creation the rule was, 'Male and female did God make them.

What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate."

Jesus, however, on seeing this, was moved to indignation, and said to them, "Let the little children come to me: do not hinder them; for to those who are childlike the Kingdom of God belongs.

In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any possibility enter it."

As He went out to resume His journey, there came a man running up to Him, who knelt at His feet and asked, "Good Rabbi, what am I to do in order to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

"Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no one truly good except One--that is, God.

Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!"

The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however, said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!

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

Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

"In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News,

Then many spread their outer garments to carpet the road, and others leafy branches which they had cut down in the fields;

while those who led the way and those who followed kept shouting "God save Him!" Blessed be He who comes in the Lord's name.

Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our forefather David! God in the highest Heavens save Him!"

Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God.

So they came to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you are a truthful man and you do not fear any one; for you do not recognize human distinctions, but teach God's way truly. Is it allowable to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

"What is Caesar's," replied Jesus, "pay to Caesar--and what is God's, pay to God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him.

"Is not this the cause of your error," replied Jesus--"your ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God?

But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?'

He is not the God of dead, but of living men. You are in grave error."

"The chief Commandment," replied Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;

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

Perceiving that the Scribe had answered wisely Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one from that time forward ventured to put any question to Him.

But the proclamation of the Good News must be carried to all the Gentiles before the End comes.

For those will be times of suffering the like of which has never been from the first creation of God's world until now, and assuredly never will be again;

and but for the fact that the Lord has cut short those days, no one would escape; but for the sake of His own People whom He has chosen for Himself He has cut short the days.

For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying signs and prodigies with a view to lead astray--if indeed that were possible--even God's own People.

And I solemnly tell you that wherever in the whole world the Good News shall be proclaimed, this which she has done shall also be told in remembrance of her."

So the disciples went out and came to the city, and found everything just as He had told them; and they got the Passover ready.

I solemnly tell you that never again will I taste the produce of the vine till I shall drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God."

Meanwhile the High Priests and the entire Sanhedrin were endeavouring to get evidence against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but could find none;

But at three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

And when the Centurion who stood in front of the cross saw that He was dead, he exclaimed, "This man was indeed God's Son."

Joseph of Arimathaea came, a highly respected member of the Council, who himself also was living in expectation of the Kingdom of God. He summoned up courage to go in to see Pilate and beg for the body of Jesus.

Then He said to them, "Go the whole world over, and proclaim the Good News to all mankind.

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