Part VII

THE INTENSIVE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE

In the Districts Beyond Galilee

from spring to autumn A.D. 29

A. The First Brief Withdrawal From Galilee, Across the Lake

72. An Unsuccessful Attempt to Find Privacy - the Miraculous Feeding of More than Five Thousand People

North East Shore of the Lake of Galilee

Matt 14:13b-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10b-17, John 6:1-13

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32 So he took them with him and 32b they went away by themselves in a boat 1b to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is the Sea of Tiberias), 10c to a town called Bethsaida, 32d to a solitary place. 33 But 11b the crowds learned about it and many who saw them leaving were recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them 2b because the saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus 34b landed and 3b went up on the hillside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, 11b he welcomed them and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things 11c about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 35 By this time it was late 12b in the afternoon 35b so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place, " they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send 12c the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, 36b buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he answered , "They do not need to go away. You give 37b them something to eat." And 5b he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have bite! 37b Are we going to spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" 38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, 8b Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 10 Jesus said, 18 "Bring them here to me." 39 Then Jesus said to his disciples , "Have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 15 The disciples did so, 10b there was plenty of grass in that place, and everybody sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 11 Jesus the took 16b the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke 40b the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to 16c set before the people 11c as much as they wanted. 41c He also divided the two fish among them all. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, and were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves and fish that were left over by those who had eaten. 44 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides woman and children.

73 Christ's Rejection of Political Kingship Precipitates a Dramatic Crises

North-East shore of the Lake of Galilee

Matt 14:22-23, Mark 6:45-46, John 6:14-17a

14 After he people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is come into this world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, 45 immediately urged the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set of across the lake for Capernaum, 45c while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone...

74 The Dismayed Disciples are Reassured by a Miracle Jesus Walking on the Water

The Lake of Galilee

Matt 14:24-33, Mark 6:47-52, John 6:17b-21a

17b By now it was dark, and 47b the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus, alone on the land, 17c (He) had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When 24b the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves, 48 he saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind against them. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples 19b had rowed three and a half, miles they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the lake. He was about to pass them when they saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost." they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

27 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, 32 and when he climbed into the boat with them, 32b the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 51b They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

75 Jesus and the Twelve Return Temporarily to Galilee Crowds Healed in the Region of Gennesaret

Western Shore of the Lake of Galilee

Matt 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56, John 6:21b

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Genneseret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people of that place recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And everywhere he went - into villages, towns or countryside - they placed the sick in the market places. they begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

76 Christ's Discourse of the Bread of Life a Test of Loyalty

The synagogue in Capernaum

John 6:22-71

22 At that time the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him. "Rabbi, when did you get here."

25 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign the will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all the he has given me, but raise them up at that last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

41 At this time the Judeans began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. It a man eats of this bread, he will live forever. This is the bread of my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

52 Then the Judeans began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Our forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the twelve, was later to betray him.)

77 Controversy Occasioned by Pharisaic Insistence on Ceremonial Hand Washing

Matt 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23

1 Then some Pharisees 1b and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with 'unclean' - that is ceremonially unwashed hands. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Judeans do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the Law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"

6 He replied "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! for Moses said, 'Honor thy father and they mother,' and 'Anyone who curses his father and his mother must be put to death.' 11 but you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that have handed down. And you do many things like that."

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" 17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, 12b the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"

13 He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." 15 Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." 16 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Do you see 18b that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For whatever enters the mouth doesn't go into his heart but his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20 He went on: But the things that came out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. 19 For from within, out of men's hearts , come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, false testimony, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean'"

B. THE SECOND WITHDRAWAL FROM GALILEE, NORTH-WESTWARD TO REGION OF TYRE AN SIDON, AND SOUTH-EASTWARD TO THE DECAPOLIS.

78 A Syrophoenician Woman's Humble Faith and the Healing of her Daughter

The region of Tyre and Sidon

Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 24b He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a Caananite woman from that vicinity 25b whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came a fell at this feet, 22b crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession." 26 The woman was a Greek born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord help me" she said.

27 "First let all the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs that fall from their master's table."

(Mt28) The Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. (Mk29b) For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." (Mt29c) And her daughter was healed from that very hour. 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

79 Jesus Heals a Deaf Man with a Speech Impediment and many Others in the Decapolis.

Matt 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee, into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There were some people brought a man to him who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spat and touched the man's tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened") 35 At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone, but the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak." 29b Then he went up into the hills and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

80 The Miraculous Feeding of Four Thousand People

The Decopolis

Matt 15:32-39a, Mark 8:1-9

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 place can anyone get enough bread to feed such a crowd?"

34 "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 will; he gave thanks for them and told the disciples to distribute them 36c to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfulls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand me besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha, to the vicinity of Magadan.

81 A Second Brief Return to Galilee - Some Pharisees and Sadducess Demand Miraculous Proof of Christ's Messiahship

Dalmanutha or Magadan in Galilee

Matt 16:1-4a, Mark 8:10-12

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him 1b to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, "When the evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair whether, 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 sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 12 He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this 4b wicked and adulterous generation 12b ask for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be 4c given it except the sign of Jonah."

C. The Third Withdrawal From Galilee, to Bethsaida Julias and Caesaria Philippi.

82 Again Crossing the Lake, Jesus Warns the Twelve Against the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod Antipas - He Expresses Surprise at his Disciples' Slow Understanding

Northeast shore of the Lake of Galilee

Matt 16:4b-12, Mark 8:13-21

4b Jesus then left 13b them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. 5 When they went across the lake, 14 the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, 15b and that of Herod."

7 They discussed 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 17b 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 basketfulls of pieces did you pick up?"

"Twelve," they replied.

20 "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfulls of pieces did you pick up?"

They answered, "Seven."

21 He said to them, "Do you still not 10b understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducess."

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.

83 A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida Julias

Mark 8:22-26

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 took like trees walking around."

25 Once more Jesus put his hands of the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village."

84 Jesus Tests the Twelve near Caesarea Philippi: Peter's Firm Declaration of Faith

Matt 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way 18a when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, 27b he asked them, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still 19c others, that 14b Jeremiah or one 19b of the prophets of long ago has come back to life. 29 But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon 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 21 Jesus strictly warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

85 Christ's Bewildering Forecast About his Death and Resurrection and the Coming of his Kingdom.

Matt 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-9:1, Luke 9:22-27

21 From that day onward the Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he the Son of Man must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and 21c on the third day be raised to life. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter 22a began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord." He said. "This shall never happen to you!" 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Out of my sight, Satan!" he said. "You are a stumbling block to me; 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 23b said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily 34c 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 25b whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 I anyone is ashamed of me and my words in the adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father 38d with the holy angels, and them 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 kingdom of God come with power."

86 The Glorious Transformation of Jesus Seen by Three of His Disciples

Probably Mount Hermon.

Matt 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36a

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took 1b with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves, 28b to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and 2b he transfigured before them. 2b His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became 3b dazzling white, 29 as bright as a flash of lighting... 3b whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, 31 in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master it is good for us to be here. 5b Let us put three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud 7b appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying "This is my beloved Son... 35b whom I have chosen; 5b with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they not longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

87 The Perplexity of the Three Disciples About Christ's Reference to his Resurrection and About the Prophesy Concerning Elijah.

On their way down the mountain

Matt 17:9-13, Mark 9:9-13, Luke 9:36b

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the son of Man had risen from the dead. 36b The disciples kept this to themselves, 10b discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. 11 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say the Elijah must come first?" 12 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But, I tell you Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist... and they told no one at that time what they had seen.

A Demoniac Boy Healed

The Region of Caesera Philippi

Matt 17:14-20, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-43a

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, 14 when they came to other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the Law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17 A man in the crowd 14b approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, my only child, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 15b He is an epileptic and is suffering greatly. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions 17b to the ground. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 161 I brought him to your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they 16b could not heal him." 17 "O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, 42b while the boy was coming, the demon 20b immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth . 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

23 "'If you can, '" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

24 Immediately the boys father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently 18b and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 26b The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up... 42b and he gave him back to his father. 43 And they were amazed at the greatness of God. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples ask him privately. "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. This kind can only come out by prayer."

89 The quiet Return of Jesus and the Twelve to Galilee, Ending the series of Withdrawals -- Christ's Repeated Forecast of His Death and Resurrection

Matt 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 9:43b-45

43b While every one was marveling at all that Jesus did, 30 they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, 44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. the will kill him, and 23b on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. 32 But they did not understand 45b what this meant. It was hidden from them, so they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

90 Jesus Pays the Temple Tax with a Shekel From a Fish's Mouth

Capernaum

Matt 17:24_27, Mark 9:33a

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

25 "Yes, he does," he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak, "What do you think, Simon?" he asked, "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes -- from their own sons or from others?"

26 "From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27 "but so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

91 Jesus Rejects the Advice of his Unbelieving Brothers to Appear Without Delay in Jerusalem.

John 7:1-9

1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Judeans there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in a secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world," for even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet to come; for you any time is right. 7 the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

92 A Pertinent discourse to the Disciples of the Necessity for Childlikeness, Tolerance and Forgiveness.

Capernaum

Matt 18:1-35, Mark 9:33b-50, Luke 9:46-50

1 At that time 46 an argument started among disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.. in the kingdom of heaven. 33b When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last, and the servant of all." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all - he is the greatest."

49 "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and tried to stop him because he is not one of us."

39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Christ will certainly not lose his reward. 6 "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the men through who they come! 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it 8b off and throw it away. It is 43b better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into the hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter the life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to 47b enter the kingdom of God with one eye than have two eyes and be thrown into Hell 48 where,

50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. 10 See that you not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man owns a under sheep, and one of them wonders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did to wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any one of these little ones should be lost.

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won the brother over. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established between the two witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth you will be loosed in heaven.

19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done by my father in heaven. 20 For where two of three come together in my name, there I am with them."

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus answered, "I tell you not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and that he had be sold to repay his debt. 26 The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant master's servant master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when the servant went out, he found his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me,' he demanded.

29 "His fellow servant fell on his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 30 "But he refused. Instead he went off and had the man thrown into prison. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told the master everything that had happened. 32 Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

93 The Mistaken Zeal of James and John on the Way to the Festival of Tabernacles at Jerusalem.

Samaria. Probably September, A.D. 29

Luke 9:51-56, John 7:10

51 As the time approached for him to be taken, 10b after his brothers has left for the feast, 51b Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem, 10c also, not publicly, but in secret... 52 and he sent messengers on ahead. They went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him, 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord what do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them (even, as Elijah did?)"

55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. He said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them," and they went to another village.

94 The Reaction of Jesus to the Casual Attitude of Three Would-be Followers

Samaria or Judea

Matt 8:19-22, Luke 9:57-62

57 As they were walking down the road, 19b a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20 Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

59 He said to another man, 21b one of his disciples, 59c "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the 60b dead bury the dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."