just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning,

As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets

Then the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord."

and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual.

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!

Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was (as legally calculated) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been raised. As was his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. When he stood up to read,

he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud."

One day, as the crowd was pressing in on him to listen to God's word, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.

Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities."

One day, as Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law happened to be sitting nearby. The people had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Then Jesus asked them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?"

If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one as well, and if someone takes your coat, don't keep back your shirt, either.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servant's life.

As he approached the entrance to the city, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.

and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?"

When the men had come to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?'"

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to ask the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Jesus told him, "Simon, I have something to ask you." "Teacher," he replied, "ask it."

So I'm telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that's why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little."

as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up.

Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture.

But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted." As he said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!"

Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant.

The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature.

Now as they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm swept over the lake, and they were taking on water and were in great danger.

if people don't welcome you, when you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place."

Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter told Jesus, "Master, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter didn't know what he was saying.)

But while he was saying this, a cloud appeared and surrounded them, and they became terrified as they were being overshadowed by the cloud.

But they didn't know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

Later, an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest.

So he instructed them, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest.

He answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor as yourself."

But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he was moved with compassion.

Now as they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Once Jesus was praying in a certain place. After he had finished, one of his disciples told him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

and forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who sins against us. And never bring us into temptation.'"

As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and told him, "How blessed is the womb that gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you!"

Now as the crowds continued to throng around Jesus, he went on to say, "This people living today are an evil generation. It craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah,

because just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."

As Jesus was leaving, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely, interrogating him about many things.

Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well.

Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him.

Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

Then Jesus taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling!

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can't be my disciple.

If he can't, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away.

"Now the father's older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.

But he answered his father, "Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends.

As he was going into a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance

Because just as lightning flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his time.

"Just as it was in Noah's time, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man.

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all."

who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come."

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it,

Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, "Look! I'm giving half of my possessions to the destitute, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I'm repaying four times as much as I owe."

As they were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

But as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!'"

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead.

"Go into the village ahead of you," he said. "As you enter, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it along.

So those who were sent went off and found it as Jesus had told them.

As he was riding along, people kept spreading their coats on the road.

He answered them, "I, too, will ask you a question. Tell me:

They discussed this among themselves: "If we say, "From heaven,' he will ask, "Then why didn't you believe him?'

Then they no longer dared to ask him another question.

"As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that won't be knocked down."

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the unbelievers until the times of the unbelievers are fulfilled."

As soon as they produce leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.

So they went and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

The Son of Man is going away, just as it has been determined, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom he is betrayed!"

Now an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isn't it? But I'm among you as one who serves.

And I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred a kingdom on me,

Then he left and went to the Mount of Olives, as usual. The disciples went with him.

Then Jesus told the high priests, the Temple police, and the elders, who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?

As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council.

But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer me.

and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him.

As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

He asked them, "What are you discussing with each other as you're walking along?" They stood still and looked gloomy.

Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. However, they didn't see him."

As they came near the village where the two men were headed, Jesus acted as though he were going farther.

Then they asked each other, "Our hearts kept burning within us as he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us, didn't they?"

Look at my hands and my feet, because it's really me. Touch me and look at me, because a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones as you see that I have."

Later, he led them out as far as Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed them.