Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 25
John 10:22-42; Luke 10; Luke
11
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at
Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area
walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around
him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the
Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did
tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak
for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my
sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again
the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to
them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of
these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you
for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you,
a mere man, claim to be God." 34 Jesus answered them,
"Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods' ?35 If
he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot
be broken-- 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his
very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy
because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless
I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you
do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that
the Father is in me, and I in the Father." 39 Again they
tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 40 Then Jesus
went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the
early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him.
They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John
said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many
believed in Jesus.
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two
others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he
was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is
plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to
send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending
you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag
or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 "When
you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a
man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to
you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they
give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to
house.8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is
set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them,
'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10 But when you enter a town
and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 'Even
the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be
sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12 I tell you, it
will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe
to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed
in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more
bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And
you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the
depths.16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects
you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." 17 The
seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to
us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall
like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to
trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy;
nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the
spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At
that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the
wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this
was your good pleasure. 22 "All things have been
committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him." 23 Then he turned to his
disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For
I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not
see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." 25 On
one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he
asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What
is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He
answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' " 28 "You have answered
correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But
he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my
neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going
down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They
stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A
priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he
passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came
to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But
a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he
took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds,
pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an
inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two
silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and
when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which
of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands
of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The
one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." 38 As
Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman
named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister
called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But
Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to
him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the
work by myself ? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha,
Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many
things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what
is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Psalm 87
Psalm 87 (New International Version)
Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: Selah
4 "I will record Rahab [a] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[b]— and will say, 'This [c] one was born in Zion.' "
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."
6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." Selah
7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you."
Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: Selah
4 "I will record Rahab [a] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[b]— and will say, 'This [c] one was born in Zion.' "
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."
6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." Selah
7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you."
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
A.F.W.I.S. ~ Gary Miller Ministries: A Prayer for Healing (1.16.2014)
A.F.W.I.S. ~ Gary Miller Ministries: A Prayer for Healing (1.16.2014): Heavenly Father, I thank you I am whole Nothing Missing Nothing Lacking and for your Word. You said Your Word is life to those who find it ...
Chronological New Testament Study Day 24
John 9; John 10:1-21
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from
birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither
this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so
that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long
as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no
one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the
world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made
some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go,"
he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So
the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors
and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same
man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted,
"I am the man." 10 "How then were your eyes
opened?" they demanded. 11 He replied, "The man they
call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and
wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 12 "Where
is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said. 13 They
brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now
the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a
Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had
received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied,
"and I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the
Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the
Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous
signs?" So they were divided. 17 Finally they turned
again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes
he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet." 18 The
Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight
until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your
son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it
that now he can see?" 20 "We know he is our
son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But
how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of
age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this
because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that
anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the
synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age;
ask him." 24 A second time they summoned the man who had
been blind. "Give glory to God, " they said. "We know this man
is a sinner." 25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner
or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" 26 Then
they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He
answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want
to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" 28 Then
they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We
are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses,
but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." 30 The
man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from,
yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to
sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody
has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If
this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 To
this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture
us!" And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had
thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son
of Man?" 36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell
me so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said,
"You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." 38 Then
the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.39 Jesus
said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will
see and those who see will become blind." 40 Some
Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we
blind too?" 41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you
would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt
remains.
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does
not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a
thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the
shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and
the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them
out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead
of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But
they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because
they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used
this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore
Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All
who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen
to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be
saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full. 11 "I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The
hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf
coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock
and scatters it.13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and
cares nothing for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd;
I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I
have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They
too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.17 The
reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 No
one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to
lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my
Father." 19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many
of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to
him?" 21 But others said, "These are not the sayings
of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Monday, February 9, 2015
Feb 09: Afghanistan | Operation World
Feb 09: Afghanistan | Operation World
Click on the link above and get more information on this topic.
Click on the link above and get more information on this topic.
Chronological New Testament Study Day 23
John 7; John 8
1 Later Jesus was going about his business in
Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because the Jews there were looking
for a chance to kill him. 2 It was near the time of
Tabernacles, a feast observed annually by the Jews. 3 His
brothers said, "Why don't you leave here and go up to the Feast so your
disciples can get a good look at the works you do? 4 No one
who intends to be publicly known does everything behind the scenes. If you're
serious about what you are doing, come out in the open and show the
world." 5 His brothers were pushing him like this because
they didn't believe in him either. 6 Jesus came back at them,
"Don't crowd me. This isn't my time. It's your time - it's always your
time; you have nothing to lose. 7 The world has nothing
against you, but it's up in arms against me. It's against me because I expose
the evil behind its pretensions. 8 You go ahead, go up to the
Feast. Don't wait for me. I'm not ready. It's not the right time for me." 9 He
said this and stayed on in Galilee. 10But later, after his family
had gone up to the Feast, he also went. But he kept out of the way, careful not
to draw attention to himself. 11 The Jews were already out
looking for him, asking around, "Where is that man?" 12 There
was a lot of contentious talk about him circulating through the crowds. Some
were saying, "He's a good man." But others said, "Not so. He's
selling snake oil." 13 This kind of talk went on in
guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders. 14 With
the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching. 15 The
Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being
schooled?" 16 Jesus said, "I didn't make this up.
What I teach comes from the One who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants
to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether
I'm making it up. 18 A person making things up tries to make
himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to
the facts and doesn't tamper with reality. 19 It was Moses,
wasn't it, who gave you God's Law? But none of you are living it. So why are
you trying to kill me?" 20 The crowd said, "You're
crazy! Who's trying to kill you? You're demon-possessed." 21 Jesus
said, "I did one miraculous thing a few months ago, and you're still
standing around getting all upset, wondering what I'm up to. 22 Moses
prescribed circumcision - originally it came not from Moses but from his
ancestors - and so you circumcise a man, dealing with one part of his body, even
if it's the Sabbath. 23 You do this in order to preserve one
item in the Law of Moses. So why are you upset with me because I made a man's
whole body well on the Sabbath? 24Don't be nitpickers; use your
head - and heart! - to discern what is right, to test what is authentically
right." 25 That's when some of the people of Jerusalem
said, "Isn't this the one they were out to kill?26 And here he
is out in the open, saying whatever he pleases, and no one is stopping him.
Could it be that the rulers know that he is, in fact, the Messiah? 27 And
yet we know where this man came from. The Messiah is going to come out of
nowhere. Nobody is going to know where he comes from." 28That
provoked Jesus, who was teaching in the Temple, to cry out, "Yes, you
think you know me and where I'm from, but that's not where I'm from. I didn't
set myself up in business. My true origin is in the One who sent me, and you
don't know him at all. 29 I come from him - that's how I know
him. He sent me here." 30 They were looking for a way to
arrest him, but not a hand was laid on him because it wasn't yet God's time. 31 Many
from the crowd committed themselves in faith to him, saying, "Will the
Messiah, when he comes, provide better or more convincing evidence than
this?" 32 The Pharisees, alarmed at this seditious
undertow going through the crowd, teamed up with the high priests and sent
their police to arrest him. 33 Jesus rebuffed them: "I am
with you only a short time. Then I go on to the One who sent me. 34 You
will look for me, but you won't find me. Where I am, you can't come." 35The
Jews put their heads together. "Where do you think he is going that we
won't be able to find him? Do you think he is about to travel to the Greek
world to teach the Jews? 36 What is he talking about, anyway:
'You will look for me, but you won't find me,' and 'Where I am, you can't
come'?" 37 On the final and climactic day of the Feast,
Jesus took his stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me
and drink. 38 Rivers of living water will brim and spill out
of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture
says." 39 (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom
those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been
given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.) 40 Those in
the crowd who heard these words were saying, "This has to be the
Prophet." 41 Others said, "He is the Messiah!"
But others were saying, "The Messiah doesn't come from Galilee, does he? 42 Don't
the Scriptures tell us that the Messiah comes from David's line and from
Bethlehem, David's village?" 43 So there was a split in
the crowd over him. 44 Some went so far as wanting to arrest
him, but no one laid a hand on him. 45 That's when the Temple
police reported back to the high priests and Pharisees, who demanded, "Why
didn't you bring him with you?" 46 The police answered,
"Have you heard the way he talks? We've never heard anyone speak like this
man." 47The Pharisees said, "Are you carried away like
the rest of the rabble? 48 You don't see any of the leaders
believing in him, do you? Or any from the Pharisees? 49 It's
only this crowd, ignorant of God's Law, that is taken in by him - and
damned." 50 Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus
earlier and was both a ruler and a Pharisee, spoke up. 51 "Does
our Law decide about a man's guilt without first listening to him and finding
out what he is doing?" 52 But they cut him off. "Are
you also campaigning for the Galilean? 53 Examine the
evidence. See if any prophet ever comes from Galilee." Then they all went
home.
1 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, 2 but
he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down
and taught them. 3 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in
a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain
sight of everyone 4 and said, "Teacher, this woman was
caught red-handed in the act of adultery. 5 Moses, in the Law,
gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" 6 They
were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring
charges against him. 7 They kept at him, badgering him. He
straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the
stone." 8 Bending down again, he wrote some more in the
dirt. 9 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another,
beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. 10 Jesus
stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn
you?" 11 "No one, Master." "Neither do
I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin." You're
Missing God in All This 12 Jesus once again addressed them:
"I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the
darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." 13 The
Pharisees objected, "All we have is your word on this. We need more than
this to go on."14 Jesus replied, "You're right that you
only have my word. But you can depend on it being true. I know where I've come
from and where I go next. You don't know where I'm from or where I'm headed. 15You
decide according to what you can see and touch. I don't make judgments like
that. 16 But even if I did, my judgment would be true because
I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness
of the One who sent me, the Father. 17 That fulfills the
conditions set down in God's Law: that you can count on the testimony of two
witnesses. 18 And that is what you have: You have my word and
you have the word of the Father who sent me." 19 They
said, "Where is this so-called Father of yours?" Jesus said,
"You're looking right at me and you don't see me. How do you expect to see
the Father? If you knew me, you would at the same time know the Father." 20 He
gave this speech in the Treasury while teaching in the Temple. No one arrested
him because his time wasn't yet up. 21Then he went over the same
ground again. "I'm leaving and you are going to look for me, but you're
missing God in this and are headed for a dead end. There is no way you can come
with me." 22 The Jews said, "So, is he going to kill
himself? Is that what he means by 'You can't come with me'?" 23Jesus
said, "You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond
your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other
terms. 24 I told you that you were missing God in all this.
You're at a dead end. If you won't believe I am who I say I am, you're at the
dead end of sins. You're missing God in your lives." 25 They
said to him, "Just who are you anyway?" 26 I have so
many things to say that concern you, judgments to make that affect you, but if
you don't accept the trustworthiness of the One who commanded my words and
acts, none of it matters. That is who you are questioning - not me but the One
who sent me." 27 They still didn't get it, didn't realize
that he was referring to the Father. 28 So Jesus tried again.
"When you raise up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am - that I'm
not making this up, but speaking only what the Father taught me. 29 The
One who sent me stays with me. He doesn't abandon me. He sees how much joy I
take in pleasing him." 30When he put it in these terms, many
people decided to believe. 31 Then Jesus turned to the Jews
who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out
what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. 32 Then you
will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." 33 Surprised,
they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to
anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?" 34 Jesus
said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is
trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. 35 A
slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an
established position, the run of the house. 36 So if the Son
sets you free, you are free through and through. 37 I know you
are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me
because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. 38 I'm
talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you
just go on doing what you have heard from your father." 39 They
were indignant. "Our father is Abraham!" 40 And yet
here you are trying to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth he got
straight from God! Abraham never did that sort of thing. 41 You
persist in repeating the works of your father." They said, "We're not
bastards. We have a legitimate father: the one and only God." 42 "If
God was your father," said Jesus, "you would love me, for I came from
God and arrived here. I didn't come on my own. He sent me. 43 Why
can't you understand one word I say? Here's why: You can't handle it. 44 You're
from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a
killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a
shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying
nature and fills the world with lies. 45 I arrive on the
scene, tell you the plain truth, and you refuse to have a thing to do with me. 46 Can
any one of you convict me of a single misleading word, a single sinful act? But
if I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone
on God's side listens to God's words. This is why you're not listening -
because you're not on God's side." 48 The Jews then said,
"That clinches it. We were right all along when we called you a Samaritan
and said you were crazy - demon-possessed!"49 Jesus said,
"I'm not crazy. I simply honor my Father, while you dishonor me. 50 I
am not trying to get anything for myself. God intends something gloriously
grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. 51 I
say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll
never have to look death in the face." 52 At this point
the Jews said, "Now we know you're crazy. Abraham died. The prophets died.
And you show up saying, 'If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never
have to face death, not even a taste.' 53 Are you greater than
Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you think you are!" 54 Jesus
said, "If I turned the spotlight on myself, it wouldn't amount to
anything. But my Father, the same One you say is your Father, put me here at
this time and place of splendor. 55 You haven't recognized him
in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said I didn't know what was going
on, I would be as much of a liar as you are. But I do know, and I am doing what
he says. 56 Abraham - your 'father' - with jubilant faith
looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and
cheered." 57 The Jews said, "You're not even fifty
years old - and Abraham saw you?" 58 "Believe me,"
said Jesus, "I am who I am long before Abraham was anything." 59 That
did it - pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But
Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.
Psalm 85
Psalm 85 (New International Version)
Psalm 85
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Selah
3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 85
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Selah
3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 22
Matthew 18 MSG
1 At about the same time, the disciples came to
Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"
2 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom
he stood in the middle of the room,
3 and said, "I'm telling you, once and for
all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're
not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.
4 Whoever becomes simple and elemental again,
like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.
5 What's more, when you receive the childlike on
my account, it's the same as receiving me.
6 "But if you give them a hard time,
bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you
hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone
around your neck.
7 Doom to the world for giving these
God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't
have to make it worse - and it's doomsday to you if you do.
8 "If your hand or your foot gets in the
way of God, chop it off and throw it away. You're better off maimed or lame and
alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of
eternal fire.
9 And if your eye distracts you from God, pull
it out and throw it away. You're better off one-eyed and alive than exercising
your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.
10 "Watch that you don't treat a single one
of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don't you, that their
personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?
12 "Look at it this way. If someone has a
hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine and
go after the one?
13 And if he finds it, doesn't he make far more
over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put?
14 Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He
doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers.
15 "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and
tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a
friend.
16 If he won't listen, take one or two others along
so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.
17 If he still won't listen, tell the church. If
he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront
him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love.
18 "Take this most seriously: A yes on
earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one
another is eternal. I mean this.
19 When two of you get together on anything at
all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.
20 And when two or three of you are together
because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."
21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask,
"Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me?
Seven?"
22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try
seventy times seven.
23 "The kingdom of God is like a king who
decided to square accounts with his servants.
24 As he got under way, one servant was brought
before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars.
25 He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the
man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave
market.
26 "The poor wretch threw himself at the
king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.'
27 Touched by his plea, the king let him off,
erasing the debt.
28 "The servant was no sooner out of the
room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He
seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29 "The poor wretch threw himself down and
begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.'
30 But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested
and put in jail until the debt was paid.
31 When the other servants saw this going on,
they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32 "The king summoned the man and said,
'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy.
33 Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to
your fellow servant who asked for mercy?'
34 The king was furious and put the screws to
the man until he paid back his entire debt.
35 And that's exactly what my Father in heaven
is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone
who asks for mercy."
Psalm 84
Psalm 84 (New International Version)
Psalm 84
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. [a]
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [b]
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalm 84
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. [a]
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [b]
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Feb 07: Pacific, Hot Spots in the Pacific | Operation World
Feb 07: Pacific, Hot Spots in the Pacific | Operation World
Click on the link above and see all the info.
Click on the link above and see all the info.
Chronological New Testament Study Day 21
Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62
1 Six days
later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James
and John, and led them up a high mountain. 2 His appearance changed
from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face.
His clothes were filled with light. 3 Then they realized that Moses
and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him. 4 Peter
broke in, "Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built
three memorials here on the mountain - one for you, one for Moses, one for
Elijah?" 5 While he was going on like this, babbling, a
light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a
voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to
him." 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their
faces, scared to death. 7 But Jesus came over and touched them.
"Don't be afraid." 8 When they opened their eyes and looked
around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus. 9 Coming down the
mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. "Don't breathe a word of what
you've seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to
talk."10 The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. "Why
do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?" 11 Jesus
answered, "Elijah does come and get everything ready. 12 I'm
telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn't know him when they saw
him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son
of Man." 13 That's when the disciples realized that all along he
had been talking about John the Baptizer. 14 At the bottom of the
mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man
came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, 15 "Master,
have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling
into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the
river. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing
for him." 17 Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of
God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things?
How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here." 18 He
ordered the afflicting demon out - and it was out, gone. From that moment on
the boy was well. 19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves,
they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?" 20 "Because
you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth
is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell
this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able
to tackle." 22 As they were regrouping in Galilee, Jesus told
them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want
nothing to do with God. 23 They will murder him - and three days
later he will be raised alive." The disciples felt terrible. 24 When
they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, "Does your
teacher pay taxes?" 25 Peter said, "Of course." But as
soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. "Simon, what do you
think? When a king levies taxes, who pays - his children or his subjects?" 26 He
answered, “His subjects.” Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? 27But
so we don't upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull
in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you'll find a coin. Take it
and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us."
1 Then he drove
it home by saying, "This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who
are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in
full force." In a Light-Radiant Cloud 2Six days later, three of them
did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain.
His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. 3 His
clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. 4 Elijah,
along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus. 5 Peter
interrupted, "Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials -
one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah." 6 He blurted this
out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing. 7 Just
then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice:
"This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him." 8 The
next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing
nothing but Jesus, only Jesus. 9 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore
them to secrecy. "Don't tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man
rises from the dead, you're free to talk." 10 They puzzled over
that, wondering what on earth "rising from the dead" meant. 11 Meanwhile
they were asking, "Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to
come first?" 12 Jesus replied, "Elijah does come first and
get everything ready for the coming of the Son of Man. They treated this Elijah
like dirt, much like they will treat the Son of Man, who will, according to
Scripture, suffer terribly and be kicked around contemptibly." 13 14 When
they came back down the mountain to the other disciples, they saw a huge crowd
around them, and the religion scholars cross-examining them. 15 As
soon as the people in the crowd saw Jesus, admiring excitement stirred them.
They ran and greeted him. 16 He asked, "What's going on? What's
all the commotion?" 17 A man out of the crowd answered,
"Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. 18 Whenever
it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his
teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could
deliver him, but they couldn't." 19 Jesus said, "What a
generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things?
How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here." 20 They
brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing
him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth. 21 He asked the
boy's father, "How long has this been going on?" 22 Many
times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do
anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!" 23 Jesus said,
"If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." 24 No
sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I
believe. Help me with my doubts!" 25 Seeing that the crowd was
forming fast, Jesus gave the vile spirit its marching orders: "Dumb and
deaf spirit, I command you - Out of him, and stay out!" 26Screaming,
and with much thrashing about, it left. The boy was pale as a corpse, so people
started saying, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus, taking his hand,
raised him. The boy stood up. 28 After arriving back home, his disciples
cornered Jesus and asked, "Why couldn't we throw the demon out?" 29 He
answered, "There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except by
prayer." 30 Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn't
want anyone to know their whereabouts, 31 for he wanted to teach his
disciples. He told them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some
people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after
his murder, he will rise, alive." 32 They didn't know what he
was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came
to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, "What were you
discussing on the road?" 34 The silence was deafening - they had
been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. 35 He
sat down and summoned the Twelve. "So you want first place? Then take the
last place. Be the servant of all." 36 He put a child in the
middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, 37"Whoever
embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me - God
who sent me." 38 John spoke up, "Teacher, we saw a man
using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn't in our
group." 39 Jesus wasn't pleased. "Don't stop him. No one
can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut
me down. 40 If he's not an enemy, he's an ally. 41 Why,
anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it
that God will notice. 42 "On the other hand, if you give one of
these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of
their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in
the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. 43 "If
your hand or your foot gets in God's way, chop it off and throw it away. You're
better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two
feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. 44 45 47 And if
your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. 48 You're
better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from
inside the fire of hell. 49 "Everyone's going through a refining
fire sooner or later, 50 but you'll be well-preserved, protected from
the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace."
28 About eight
days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John,
and James along. 29 While he was in prayer, the appearance of his
face changed and his clothes became blinding white. 30 At once two
men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah - 31and
what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one
Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem. 32 Meanwhile, Peter and
those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their
eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. 33When
Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, this is a great
moment! Let's build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah." He blurted this out without thinking. 34While he was
babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found
themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. 35 Then
there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to
him." 36 When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus
there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one
thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen. 37 When they
came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was there to meet them. 38 A
man called from out of the crowd, "Please, please, Teacher, take a look at
my son. He's my only child. 39 Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly
he's screaming, thrown into convulsions, his mouth foaming. And then it beats
him black and blue before it leaves. 40 I asked your disciples to
deliver him but they couldn't." 41 Jesus said, "What a
generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have
to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring
your son here." 42 While he was coming, the demon slammed him to
the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus stepped in, ordered the vile
spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him back to his father. 43 They
all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God's greatness, God's majestic
greatness. 44 "Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The
Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands." 45 They
didn't get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language
and they couldn't make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask
him what he meant. 46 They started arguing over which of them would
be most famous. 47 When Jesus realized how much this mattered to
them, he brought a child to his side. 48"Whoever accepts this child
as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts
me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting.
Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference." 49 John spoke
up, "Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped
him because he wasn't of our group." 50 Jesus said, "Don't
stop him. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally." 51 When it came
close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled
himself for the journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers on ahead.
They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. 53 But
when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused
hospitality. 54 When the disciples James and John learned of it, they
said, "Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the
sky and incinerate them?" 55 Jesus turned on them: "Of
course not!" 56 And they traveled on to another village. 57 On
the road someone asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you,
wherever," he said. 58Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough
it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know." 59 Jesus said
to another, "Follow me." He said, "Certainly, but first excuse
me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father's
funeral." 60 Jesus refused. "First things first. Your
business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!" 61 Then
another said, "I'm ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while
I get things straightened out at home." 62 Jesus said, "No
procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till
tomorrow. Seize the day."
Friday, February 6, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 20
Matthew 16:1-28; Mark 8:1-38; Luke
9:18-27 (New International Version)
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and
tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He
replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for
the sky is red,'3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for
the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the
sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A
wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be
given it except the sign of Jonah."Jesus then left them and went away.
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples
forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful," Jesus
said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees
and Sadducees." 7 They discussed this among themselves
and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." 8 Aware
of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you
talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still
not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and
how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for
the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How
is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on
your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then
they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in
bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man
is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist;
others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But
what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus
replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell
you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then
he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to
his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands
of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be
killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took
him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This
shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to
Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do
not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains
the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for
his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his
Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according
to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are
standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his
kingdom."
1 During those days another large crowd
gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and
said, 2 "I have compassion for these people; they have
already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If
I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them
have come a long distance." 4 His disciples answered,
"But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed
them?" 5 "How many loaves do you have?"Jesus
asked. "Seven," they replied. 6 He told the crowd to
sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he
broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they
did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks
for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The
people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven
basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four
thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10 he
got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The
Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a
sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, "Why
does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign
will be given to it." 13 Then he left them, got back into
the boat and crossed to the other side.
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15"Be
careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of
the Pharisees and that of Herod." 16They discussed this with
one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." 17 Aware
of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about
having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do
you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 19 When
I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces
did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. 20 "And
when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of
pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven." 21He
said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people
brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.23 He took the
blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the
man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see
anything?" 24 He looked up and said, "I see people;
they look like trees walking around." 25 Once more Jesus
put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was
restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him
home, saying, "Don't go into the village. "
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the
villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do
people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John
the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But
what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Peter
answered, "You are the Christ. " 30 Jesus warned
them not to tell anyone about him.
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of
Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise
again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and
looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me,
Satan!" he said."You do not have in mind the things of God, but
the things of men." 34 Then he called the crowd to him
along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man
to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can
a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed
of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy
angels."
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