When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him.

He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.

Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained from them the date of the appearance of the star;

Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and did homage to him. Then they unpacked their treasures, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighborhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers.

"Awake, take the child and his mother, and go into the Land of Israel, for those who sought to take the child's life are dead."

On 'That Day' many will say to me 'Master, Master, was not it in your name that we taught, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many miracles?'

The rain poured down, the rivers rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for its foundations were upon the rock.

Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did so: "I am willing; become clean." Instantly he was made clean from his leprosy;

But Jesus answered: "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead."

Go and learn what this means--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

He said: "Go away, the little girl is not dead; she is asleep." They began to laugh at him;

Cure the sick, raise the dead, make the lepers clean, drive out demons. You have received free of cost, give free of cost.

The blind recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the good news is told to the poor.

"What did you go out into the Wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings!

What, then, did you go for? To see a Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a Prophet.

"Have not you read," replied Jesus, "what David did, when he and his companions were hungry--

Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their Synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this wisdom?" they said, "and the miracles?

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

And he did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith.

And said to his attendants: " This must be John the Baptist; he must be risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him."

Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him. "O man of little faith!" he said, "Why did you falter?"

But Jesus did not answer her a word; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away. "She keeps calling out after us," they said.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he did so: "Rise up, and do not be afraid."

As they were going down the mountain side, Jesus gave them this warning-- "Do not speak of this vision to any one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

And, if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you that he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray.

"Why, then," they said, "did Moses direct that a man should 'serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her'?"

So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o'clock, he did as before.

'My friend,' was his reply to one of them, 'I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings?

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

But, when the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the boys who were calling out in the Temple Courts "God save the Son of David!", they were indignant,

And said to him: "Do you hear what these boys are saying?" "Yes," answered Jesus; "but did you never read the words--'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast called forth perfect praise'?"

It is about John's baptism. What was its origin? divine or human?" But they began arguing among themselves: "If we say 'divine,' he will say to us 'Why then did not you believe him?'

'Yes, sir,' he answered; but he did not go.

Which of the two sons did as his father wished?" " The second," they said. "I tell you," added Jesus, "that tax-gatherers and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God before you.

For when John came to you, walking in the path of righteousness, you did not believe him, but tax-gatherers and prostitutes did; and yet you, though you saw this, even then were not sorry, nor did you believe him.

As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God--

'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead men, but of living."

No one could say a word in answer; nor did any one after that day venture to question him further.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones and all kinds of filth.

Wherever a dead body lies, there will the vultures flock.'

Then the Righteous will answer 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink?

When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you?

When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?'

And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'

When I was a stranger, you did not take me to your homes; when I was naked, you did not clothe me; and, when I was ill and in prison, you did not visit me.'

Then they, in their turn, will answer 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and did not supply your wants?'

"Why are you troubling the woman?" Jesus said, when he noticed it. "For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me.

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

Jesus at the same time said to the crowds: "Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me."

But they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said:

Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so:

"I did wrong in betraying a good man to his death," he said. "What has that to do with us?" they replied. "You must see to that yourself."

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

So order the tomb to be made secure till the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal him, and then say to the people 'He has risen from the dead,' when the latest imposture will be worse than the first."

And, in their terror of him, the men on guard trembled violently and became like dead men.

And then go quickly and say to him disciples 'He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Remember, I have told you."

So the soldiers took the money, and did as they were instructed. And this story has been current among the Jews from that day to this.

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

Hearing this, Jesus said: "It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions--

Before he had finished speaking, some people from the house of the President of the Synagogue came and said: "Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the Teacher further?"

"Why this confusion and weeping?" he said on entering. "The little child is not dead; she is asleep."

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the Synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this?" they said, "and what is this wisdom that has been given him? and these miracles which he is doing?

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."

The King was much distressed; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her.

On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.

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

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

As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to any one, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.

They seized upon these words and discussed with one another what this 'rising from the dead' meant.

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.

With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead.

Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish any one to know it,

But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him.

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us."

"What direction did Moses give you?" replied Jesus.

They began arguing together; "If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why then did not you believe him?'

And the second took her, and died without family; and so did the third.

When men rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married; but they are as angels in Heaven.

As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him thus--'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

He is not God of dead men, but of living. You are greatly mistaken."

And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape; but, for the sake of God's own chosen People, he did limit them.

"Let her alone," said Jesus, as they began to find fault with her, "why are you troubling her? This is a beautiful deed that she has done for me.

"I tell you," answered Jesus, "that you yourself today--yes, this very night--before the cock crows twice, will disown me three times."

And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.

I have been among you day after day in the Temple Courts teaching, and yet you did not arrest me; but this is in fulfillment of the Scriptures."

One young man did indeed follow him, wrapped only in a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him;

For, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not agree.

Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree.

Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, "Now play the Prophet!" and even the police-officers received him with blows.

And a man ran, and, soaking a sponge in common wine, put it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink, saying as he did so: "Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down."

But Pilate was surprised to hear that he had already died. So he sent for the Officer, and asked if he were already dead;

They went out, and fled from the tomb, for they were trembling and bewildered; and they did not say a word to any one, for they were frightened;

Yet even they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe it.

They also went and told the rest, but they did not believe even them.

Later on, he made himself known to the Eleven themselves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead.

And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course."

And then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.

"What made you search for me?" he answered. "Did not you know that I must be in my Father's House?"