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.

Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.

"Rise from sleep, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."

"Follow me," said Jesus, "and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

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."

While He was thus speaking, a Ruler came up and profoundly bowing said, "My daughter is just dead; but come and put your hand upon her and she will return to life."

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

and He said, "Go out of the room; the little girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at Him.

Cure the sick, raise the dead to life, cleanse lepers, drive out demons: you have received without payment, give without payment.

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

"blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them;

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,

As they were descending the mountain, Jesus laid a command upon them. "Tell no one," He said, "of the sight you have seen till the Son of Man has risen from among the dead."

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,

But as to the Resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God says to you,

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

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

"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are just like whitewashed sepulchres, the outside of which pleases the eye, though inside they are full of dead men's bones and of all that is unclean.

Wherever the dead body is, there will the vultures flock together.

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?'

In solemn truth I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News shall be proclaimed, this deed of hers shall be spoken of in memory of her."

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.

For fear of him the guards trembled violently, and became like dead men.

And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is going before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him. Remember, I have told you."

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:

While He is yet speaking, men come from the house to the Warden, and say, "Your daughter is dead: why trouble the Rabbi further?"

He goes in. "Why all this outcry and loud weeping?" He asks; "the child is asleep, not dead."

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.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He very strictly forbad them to tell any one what they had seen "until after the Son of Man has risen from among the dead."

So they kept the matter to themselves, although frequently asking one another what was meant by the rising from the dead.

So with a loud cry he threw the boy into fit after fit, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, so that most of them said he was dead;

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.

For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven.

But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never 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?'

He is not the God of dead, but of living men. You are in grave error."

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.

And when the Centurion who stood in front of the cross saw that He was dead, he exclaimed, "This man was indeed God's Son."

But Pilate could hardly believe that He was already dead. He called, however, for the Centurion and inquired whether He had been long dead;

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.

And just as He reached the gate of the town, they happened to be bringing out for burial a dead man who was his mother's only son; and she was a widow; and a great number of the townspeople were with her.

The dead man sat up and began to speak; and He restored him to his mother.

Then He answered the messengers, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. Blind men receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are purified, deaf persons hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.

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.

While He was still speaking, some one came to the Warden of the Synagogue from his house and said, "Your daughter is dead; trouble the Rabbi no further."

The people were all weeping aloud and beating their breasts for her; but He said, "Leave off wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep."