But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.

Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.”

So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:

HIS NAME IS JOHN.

And they were all amazed.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child,

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.

After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.

Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.

When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

But they did not understand what He said to them.

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.

and
they will support you with their hands,
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”

They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged.

They got up, drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl Him over the cliff.

They were astonished at His teaching because His message had authority.

Amazement came over them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!”

After He left the synagogue, He entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him about her.

Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Messiah.

When it was day, He went out and made His way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took,

Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.

Just then some men came, carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him.

Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the mat through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.

Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today!”

Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”

But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them—then they will fast in those days.”

The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him.

They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well.

You are blessed when people hate you,
when they exclude you, insult you,
and slander your name as evil
because of the Son of Man.

He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?

When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this,

When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited His people.”

When the men reached Him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask You, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?’”

(And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.

But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

“To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t weep!

Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”

So He said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that

Looking they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.

The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing.

As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.

Then His mother and brothers came to Him, but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd.

One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,

and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger.

They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm.

He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!”

Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.

When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside.

Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.

When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him.

“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You.”

They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead.

If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.

Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”

“You give them something to eat,” He told them.

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

They did so, and had them all sit down.

Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.

They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”

I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.

While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.

After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.

While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples,

But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him.

But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.

When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

and they went to another village.

As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!”

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t be moving from house to house.

When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.

When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say,

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes!

Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.