And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him,

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.

Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets.

And they were all so amazed that they kept asking: "What is this? Strange teaching indeed! He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!"

Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her.

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying as he did so: "I am willing; become clean."

"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."

The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and to spread the story so widely, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction.

And so many people collected together, that after a while there was no room for them even round the door; and he began to tell them his Message.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man: "Child, your sins are forgiven."

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."

Jesus went out again to the Sea; and all the people came to him, and he taught them.

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.

When the Teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples: "He is eating in the company of tax- gatherers and outcasts!"

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?"

Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him.

Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the Sea, followed by a great number of people from Galilee.

So Jesus told his disciples to keep a small boat close by, for fear the crowd should crush him.

For he had cured many of them, and so people kept crowding upon him, that all who were afflicted might touch him.

So he appointed the Twelve--Peter (which was the name that Jesus gave to Simon),

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

So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?

So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last--his end has come!

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.

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.

"Listen! The sower went out to sow;

'Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; And though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; Lest some day they should turn and be forgiven.'

So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully;

But, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, they fall away at once.

But the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return.

Yet, when sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even 'the wild birds can roost in its shelter.'"

So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.

A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling.

Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: "Hush! Be still!" Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed.

"Why are you so timid?" he exclaimed. "Have you no faith yet?"

But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another: "Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

And they came to the other side of the Sea--the country of the Gerasenes;

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!"

Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into the pigs; and the drove--about two thousand in number--rushed down the steep slope into the Sea and were drowned in the Sea.

On this the men who tended them ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round; and the people went to see what had happened.

So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and every one was amazed.

By the time Jesus had re-crossed in the boat to the opposite shore, a great number of people had gathered to meet him, and were standing by the Sea.

And one of the Presidents of the Synagogue, whose name was Jaeirus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet with repeated entreaties.

So Jesus went with him. A great number of People followed Jesus, and kept pressing round him.

"You see the people pressing round you," exclaimed his disciples, "and yet you say 'Who touched me?'"

But Jesus looked about to see who had done it.

Presently they reached the President's house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion--people weeping and wailing incessantly.

They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the child's father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying.

The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement;

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

For John had said to Herod--'You have no right to be living with your brother's wife.'

So Herodias was incensed against John, and wanted to put him to death, but was unable to do so,

So she went in as quickly as possible to the King, and made her request. 'I want you,' she said, 'to give me at once, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.'

He immediately dispatched one of his bodyguard, with orders to bring John's head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison,

When John's disciples heard of it, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb.

"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.

So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot.

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.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were 'like sheep without a shepherd'; and he began to teach them many things.

Send the people away, so that they may go to the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat."

"How many loaves have you?" he asked; "Go, and see." When they had found out, they told him: "Five, and two fishes."

When evening fell, the boat was out in the middle of the Sea, and Jesus on the shore alone.

But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;

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!"

So wherever he went--to villages, or towns, or farms--they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well.

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?"

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')--

"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,

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

"Yes, Master," she replied; "even the dogs under the table do feed on the children's crumbs."

On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns.

Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man's ears, and touched his tongue with saliva.

The man's ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.

So he left them to themselves, and, getting into the boat again, went away to the opposite shore.

So Jesus gave them this warning. "Take care," he said, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

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,

Taking the blind man's hand, Jesus led him to the outskirts of the village, and, when he had put saliva on the man's eyes, he placed his hands on him, and asked him: "Do you see anything?"

The man looked up, and said: "I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees."

Then Jesus again placed his hands on the man's eyes; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw everything with perfect distinctness.

Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the villages round Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples this question-- "Who do people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," they answered, "but others say Elijah, while others say one of the Prophets."

"But you," he asked, "who do you say that I am?" To this Peter replied: "You are the Christ."

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

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his Father's Glory with the holy angels."

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

And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone.

"How is it," they asked Jesus, "that our Teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?"

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd round them, and some Teachers of the Law arguing with them.

But, as soon as they saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him.

"Teacher," answered a man in the crowd, "I brought my son to see you, as he has a dumb spirit in him;

They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

"How long has he been like this?" Jesus asked the boy's father.

Why say 'possibly'?" Jesus replied. "Everything is possible for one who has faith."

The boy's father immediately cried out: "I have faith; help my want of faith!"