When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and brought home his wife,

but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.

So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe with His mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage, and opening their treasure-chests offered gifts to Him--gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But go and learn what this means, 'It is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice'; for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners."

And Jesus rose and followed him, as did also His disciples.

"Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

But what did you go out to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in kings' palaces.

But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.

"Have you never read," He replied, "what David did when he and his men were hungry?

And He came into His own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue, so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, "Where did he obtain such wisdom, and these wondrous powers?

And his sisters--are they not all living here among us? Where then did he get all this?"

Instantly Jesus stretched out His hand and caught hold of him, saying to him, "O little faith, why did you doubt?"

and they entreated Him that they might but touch the tassel of His outer garment; and all who did so were restored to perfect health.

Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you,

But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

"Why then," said they, "did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?"

"So they went. Again about twelve, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same.

"'My friend,' he answered to one of them, 'I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling?

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them:

John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say 'a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, "'I will go, Sir.' "But he did not go.

Which of the two did as his father desired?" "The first," they said. "I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you.

For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.

So also did the second and the third, down to the seventh,

No one could say a word in reply, nor from that day did any one venture again to put a question to Him.

nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil;

"'You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, 'did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?

"'When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, 'did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink?

When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee?

When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?'

"Then will they also answer, "'Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve Thee?'

The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and got the Passover ready.

Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.

So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this story was noised about among the Jews, and is current to this day.

Jesus heard the words, and He said, "It is not the healthy who require a doctor, but the sick: I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners."

"Have you never read," Jesus replied, "what David did when the necessity arose and he and his men were hungry:

On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. "Where did he acquire all this?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?

"Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites," He replied; "as it is written, "'This People honour Me with their lips, while their hearts are far away from Me:

Then Jesus charged them to tell no one; but the more He charged them, all the more did they spread the news far and wide.

When I broke up the five loaves for the 5,000 men, how many baskets did you carry away full of broken portions?" "Twelve," they said.

"And when the seven for the 4,000, how many hampers full of portions did you take away?" "Seven," they answered.

They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

"Rabbi," said John to Him, "we saw a man making use of your name to expel demons, and we tried to hinder him, on the ground that he did not follow us."

"What rule did Moses lay down for you?" He answered.

but from the beginning of the creation the rule was, 'Male and female did God make them.

They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were full of wonder, and some, though they followed, did so with fear. Then, once more calling to Him the Twelve, He began to tell them what was about to happen to Him.

For the Son of Man also did not come to be waited upon, but to wait on others, and to give His life as the redemption-price for a multitude of people."

So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

The second married her, and died, leaving no family; and the third did the same.

And so did the rest of the seven, all dying childless. Finally the woman also died.

What she could she did: she has perfumed my body in preparation for my burial.

One youth indeed did follow Him, wearing only a linen cloth round his bare body. Of him they laid hold,

for though many gave false testimony against Him, their statements did not tally.

These, again, went and told the news to the rest; but not even them did they believe.

And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

after staying the full number of days, when they started back home the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not discover this,

"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"

But they did not understand the significance of these words.

This they did, and enclosed a vast number of fish; and their nets began to break.

"Have you never read so much as this," answered Jesus--"what David did when he and his followers were hungry;

And looking round upon them all He said to the man, "Stretch out your arm." He did so, and the arm was restored.

and therefore I did not deem myself worthy to come to you. Only speak the word, and let my young man be cured.

When John's messengers were gone, He proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

But what did you go out to see? A man wearing luxurious clothes? People who are gorgeously dressed and live in luxury are found in palaces.

But what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Aye, I tell you, and far more than a Prophet.

No kiss did you give me; but she from the moment I came in has not left off tenderly kissing my feet.

No oil did you pour even on my head; but she has poured perfume upon my feet.

Here, on landing, He was met by one of the townsmen who was possessed by demons--for a long time he had not put on any garment, nor did he live in a house, but in the tombs.

They did so, making them all, without exception, sit down.

And when they were preparing to depart from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying.

But they did not understand His meaning: it was veiled from them that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?

And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.

But he who had not been told it and yet did what deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.

I tell you, certainly not. On the contrary, if you are not penitent you will all perish as they did.

I tell you, certainly not. On the contrary, if you do not repent you will all perish just as they did."

Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant.

For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

"'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:

why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?

So they debated the matter with one another. "If we say 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

And they answered that they did not know the origin of it.

While day after day I was with you in the Temple, you did not lay hands upon me; but to you belongs this hour--and the power of darkness."

Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see."

He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him.

He avowed--he did not conceal the truth, but avowed, "I am not the Christ."

I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water."

I did not yet know Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, "'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down, and remaining, He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

But for His part, Jesus did not trust Himself to them, because He knew them all,

and did not need any one's testimony concerning a man, for He of Himself knew what was in the man.

For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.

For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

though Jesus Himself did not baptize them, but His disciples did--

Are you greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well, and himself drank from it, as did also his sons and his cattle?"

But the man who had been cured did not know who it was; for Jesus had passed out unnoticed, there being a crowd in the place.

and on this account the Jews began to persecute Jesus--because He did these things on the Sabbath.

Next morning the crowd who were still standing about on the other side of the Lake found that there had been but one small boat there, and they had seen that Jesus did not go on board with His disciples, but that His disciples went away without Him.