And he proclaimed--"There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals.

As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the Sea, for they were fishermen.

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the Teachers of the Law.

Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.

"Be careful not to say anything to any one; but go and show yourself to the Priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."

Hearing this, Jesus said: "It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were keeping a fast, and people came and asked Jesus: "Why is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do not?"

"Look!" the Pharisees said to him, "why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?"

Then Jesus added: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;

But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known.

Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food.

And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last.

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.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and, having no depth of soil, sprang up at once;

You do not know the meaning of this parable!" he went on; "Then how will you understand all the other parables?

And then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is shooting up and growing--he knows not how.

Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones.

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!"

and he begged Jesus again and again not to send them away out of that country.

But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the President of the Synagogue: "Do not be afraid; only have faith."

"Why this confusion and weeping?" he said on entering. "The little child is not dead; she is asleep."

But Jesus repeatedly cautioned them not to let any one know of it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Is not he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters, too, living here among us?" This proved a hindrance to their believing in him;

On which Jesus said: "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relations, and in his own home."

And he could not work any miracle there, beyond placing his hands upon a few infirm persons, and curing them;

He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey- -not even bread, or a bag, or pence in their purse;

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

And if a place does not welcome you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust that is on the soles of your feet, as a protest against them."

So they set out, and proclaimed the need of repentance.

The King was much distressed; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her.

"Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot," he said, "and rest for a while"--for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat.

For all of them saw him, and were terrified. But Jesus at once spoke to them. "Courage!" he said, "it is I; do not be afraid!"

For they had not understood about the loaves, their minds being slow to learn.

(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.

When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).

So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question--"How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?"

Why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother!

"What, do even you understand so little?" exclaimed Jesus. "Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can 'defile' him,

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.'

On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.

"Let the children be satisfied first," answered Jesus. "For it is not fair to take the children's food, and throw it to dogs."

Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,

And, noticing this, Jesus said to them: "Why are you talking about your being short of bread? Do not you yet see or understand? Are your minds still so slow or comprehension?

'Though you have eyes, do you not see? and though you have ears, do you not hear?' Do not you remember,

"Do not you understand now?" he repeated.

Jesus sent him to his home, and said: "Do not go even into the village."

On which Jesus charged them not to say this about him to anyone.

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."

"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."

For he did not know what to say, because they were much afraid.

As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to any one, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.

"Elijah does indeed come first," answered Jesus, "and re-establish everything; and does not Scripture speak, with regard to the Son of Man, of his undergoing much suffering and being utterly despised?

When Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately: "Why could not we drive it out?"

Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish any one to know it,

But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him.

"Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and any one who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his Messenger."

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us."

He who is not against us is for us.

If any one gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he shall assuredly not lose his reward.

where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.'

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."

You know the commandments--'Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honor thy father and thy mother.'"

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

Who will not receive a hundred times as much, even now in the present--houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land--though not without persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, Immortal Life.

"You do not know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? or receive the baptism that I am to receive?"

But as to a seat at my right or at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

And, noticing a fig-tree at a distance in leaf, he went to it to see if by any chance he could find something on it; but, on coming up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

And would not allow any one to carry anything across the Temple Courts.

Then he began to teach. "Does not Scripture say," he asked, "'My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'"

They began arguing together; "If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why then did not you believe him?'

So their answer to Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," replied Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."

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?

Should we pay, or should we not pay?" Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them: "Why are you testing me? Bring me a florin to look at."

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

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

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.

For every one else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had--everything that she had to live on."

"Do you see these great buildings?" asked Jesus. "Not a single stone will be left here upon another, which shall not be thrown down."

And, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must occur; but the end is not yet.

Whenever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you shall say, but say whatever is given you at the moment; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

As soon, however, as you see 'the Foul Desecration' standing where he ought not" (the reader must consider what this means) "then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains;

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

Pray, too, that this may not occur in winter.

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.

And at that time if any one should say to you 'Look, here is the Christ!' 'Look, there he is!', do not believe it;

In those days, after that time of distress, 'the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light,

I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place.

The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

But about 'That Day,' or 'The Hour,' no one knows--not even the angels in Heaven, nor yet the Son--but only the Father.

See that you are on the watch; for you do not know when the time will be.

For they said: "Not during the Festival, for fear of a riot."

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

"Even if every one else falls away," said Peter, "yet I shall not."

"I tell you," answered Jesus, "that you yourself today--yes, this very night--before the cock crows twice, will disown me three times."

"Abba, Father," he said, "all things are possible to thee; take away this cup from me; yet, not what I will, but what thou willest."