As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove.

“Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

“The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground;

It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.

He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.

But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet—like one of the prophets.”

So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.

When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)

He looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.”

Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.”

I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.