As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,

People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).

Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew's house, with James and John.

He told him, "See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

But as the man went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still they kept coming to him from everywhere.

As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. "Follow me," he said to him. And he got up and followed him.

As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast.

Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.

So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.

And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times."

These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.

But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred."

So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear.

So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.

Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.

As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him.

If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you."

He swore to her, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the baptizer."

As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.

As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.

And wherever he would go -- into villages, towns, or countryside -- they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'

Jesus ordered them not to tell anything. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more.

They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."

But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.

Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them.

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, "You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much -- homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples

and said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders let them go.

Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry.

In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

The second is: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

They devour widows' property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment."

Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!"

"You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

"But as for that day or hour no one knows it -- neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son -- except the Father.

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

For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born."

You have heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?" They all condemned him as deserving death.

Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom.

Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."