Then Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God's kingdom

So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him,

"What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, let me see again."

And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.

He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.

So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way.

So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully.

And when the people saw it, they all complained, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."

So the first one came before him and said, 'Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.'

So the king said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.'

The king said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn't deposit and reaping what I didn't sow?

Why then didn't you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?'

If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say, 'The Lord needs it.'"

So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them.

Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it,

John's baptism -- was it from heaven or from people?"

So they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

But if we say, 'From people,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."

So they replied that they did not know where it came from.

When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed.

So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.

So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out.

But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so the inheritance will be ours!'

So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

"Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They said, "Caesar's."

So he said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.

So Jesus said to them, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.

But he said to them, "How is it that they say that the Christ is David's son?

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.

He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

So they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?"

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

"And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.

When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near.

So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

"But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.

So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.

So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.

So they went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.

So Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called 'benefactors.'

Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.

Then Jesus said to them, "When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler's bag, or sandals, you didn't lack anything, did you?" They replied, "Nothing."

He said to them, "But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler's bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.

So they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." Then he told them, "It is enough."

He went away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,

So he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!"

When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, "Lord, should we use our swords?"

Then one of them struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus said, "Enough of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance.

Then a little later someone else saw him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" He answered them, "You say that I am."

So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He replied, "You say so."

When he learned that he was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign.

So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer.

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!'

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'

So when they came to the place that is called "The Skull," they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong."

because the sun's light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two.

Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.

Then he said to them, "What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?" And they stood still, looking sad.

Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him."

So he said to them, "You foolish people -- how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther,

but they urged him, "Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done." So he went in to stay with them.

So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together

But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost.

Look at my hands and my feet; it's me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have."

So they gave him a piece of broiled fish,

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,

So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him.

But to all who have received him -- those who believe in his name -- he has given the right to become God's children

-- children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband's decision, but by God.

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory -- the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

So they asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not!" "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No!"

Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

So they asked John, "Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel."

Then John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.

And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining -- this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, "What do you want?" So they said to him, "Rabbi" (which is translated Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Jesus answered, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o'clock in the afternoon.

Nathanael replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip replied, "Come and see."