And in fulfillment of this, John the Baptizer appeared in the Wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.

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.

"Come and follow me," Jesus said, "and I will set you to fish for men."

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

and, when they found him, they exclaimed: "Every one is looking for you!"

But Jesus said to them: "Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns near, that I may make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came."

One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help. "If only you are willing," he said, "you are able to make me 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."

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.

And some people came bringing to him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four bearers.

And later on he was in his house at table, and a number of tax-gatherers and outcasts took their places at table with Jesus and his disciples; for many of them were following him.

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

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.

When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin."

There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him: "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you."

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.

Take care what you listen to," said Jesus. "The measure you mete will be meted out to you, and more will be added for you.

For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his Message, as far as they were able to receive it;

For, though he had many times been left secured with fetters and chains, he had snapped the chains and broken the fetters to pieces, and no one could master him.

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!"

For Jesus had said: "Come out from the man, you foul spirit."

And he asked him: "What is your name?" "My name," he said, "is Legion, for there are many of us;"

But Jesus refused. "Go back to your home, to your own people," he said, "and tell them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how he took pity on you."

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.

Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had suffered from hemorrhage,

Then the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth.

"Daughter," he said, "your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you; be free from your complaint."

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;

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

Now King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become well known. People were saying--"John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him."

For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and put him in prison, in chains, to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because Herod had married her.

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

Because Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

And when his daughter--that is, the daughter of Herodias--came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. 'Ask me for whatever you like,' the King said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you';

The girl went out, and said to her mother 'What must I ask for?' 'The head of John the Baptizer,' answered her mother.

"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.

But Jesus answered: "It is for you to give them something to eat." "Are we to go and buy twenty pounds' worth of bread," they asked, "to give them to eat?"

Taking the five loaves and the two fishes, Jesus looked up to Heaven, and said the blessing; he broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples for them to serve out to the people, and he divided the two fishes also among them all.

Seeing them laboring at the oars--for the wind was against them--about three hours after midnight Jesus came towards them, walking on the water, intending to join them.

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.

His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me;

But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'

For while Moses said 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,'

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

For it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts--unchastity, theft, murder, adultery,

For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet--

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

"For saying that," he answered, "you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."

"My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat;

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

There were about four thousand people. Then Jesus dismissed them.

Here the Pharisees came out, and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for some sign from the heavens, to test him.

Sighing deeply, Jesus said: "Why does this generation ask for a sign? I tell you, no sign shall be given it."

When I broke up the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up?" "Twelve," they said.

And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up?" "Seven," they said.

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

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.

For what could a man give that is of equal value with his life?

"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."

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

"From his childhood," he answered; "and it has often thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us!"

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

for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them-- "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days."

But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest.

"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."

"None of you must prevent the man," answered Jesus, "for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me.

He who is not against us is for us.

And, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck.

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,

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

For it is by fire that every one will be salted.

'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother,

Some of the people were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them.

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.

But the man's face clouded at these words, and he went away distressed, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus looked round, and said to his disciples: "How hard it will be for men of wealth 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."

James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

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."

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

"What do you want me to do for you?" said Jesus, addressing him. "Rabboni," the blind man answered, "I want to recover my sight."

When they had almost reached Jerusalem, as far as Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two of his disciples.

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.

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.'"

Now the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law heard this and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching.

And therefore I say to you 'Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.'

Yet can we say 'human'?"--They were afraid of the people, for everyone regarded John as undoubtedly a Prophet.

After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away.