The Gospel of Mark - David Suchet

good evening ladies and gentlemen my name is mark oakley and i'm the chancellor here at saint paul's and it is my huge privilege to welcome you very warmly here this evening it is wonderful to have you here apparently on seeing the very large queue forming outside there was a rumor going on outside that beyonce was giving a concert here if you're here to see beyonce this is a very very special night for us here at the cathedral because in a moment david suchet will read the whole of the gospel according to mark it will take about two hours and he's going to read without an interval if that sounds a bit formidable two hours is about a train ride to the midlands although i admit you're on economy seats however familiar or unfamiliar you are with this gospel my guess is you'll be surprised tonight mark is dramatic fast paced in places startling the first of the gospels to be written it feels almost raw almost like front line reporting he's telling the story of a man who could just be said to be a backwater teacher and healer who died in a routine execution in the roman empire two thousand years ago and yet this is also the first story of a man who changed the world and this is an extraordinary opportunity we have this evening to go back to the beginning and hear it as people would have when it was new not in little bits or on the page but as one whole astonishing story read aloud if we have ears to hear then let us hear and we're profoundly thankful to david suchet for coming to do this wonderful thing for us you'll all know him as a great great actor some of you will know him as well from the riveting bbc documentaries he made about saint peter and saint paul and some of you here i know will also know him as a fellow worshiper from your own church raised without religion david was converted as an adult by reading paul's letter to the romans in a hotel bible aloud i believe i feel a series coming on his recording of the whole of the bible was released in 2014 and immediately became a bestseller it fulfilled a 27-year ambition of his and has been a revelation to many who've encountered the bible through that recording i recommend it to you and luckily it's on sale here at the back this evening david by the way receives no proceeds from those sales and a retiring collection will be taken this evening for the bible society as you leave there also be books for sale about the gospel of saint mark if you want to read more david has kindly said that he'll sign copies afterwards of the recordings so david's going to say a few words about his sense of the gospel of mark before he plunges in and takes us into this most dramatic account of this most extraordinary story so please would you join me in welcoming david sushi [Applause] i would like to start by making sure i can be heard because in two hours time if i haven't been heard i will be most upset can can everybody hear me at this pace i would like to start by welcoming every single one of you i'd like to welcome my family who is here supporting me tonight my friends and friends from my own congregation i know there are several people who have come from abroad to be here this evening and i feel most humbled that that should be the case and to all of you who are here tonight thank you very very much indeed the gospel of mark this evening as you will see from your programs i'm going to dedicate to a friend of mine who is no longer with us he was a wonderful actor by the name of alec mccowan i suppose he will be remembered as much as for anything for his stage performance of some mark's gospel he played it in london in the west end to huge acclaim he then went all over america and finally performed it at the white house the difference between dear alec and myself is that he learned it by heart it took him 16 months every day i haven't had that time for preparation so i'm going to read it and i'm going to read it without any chapter headings i'm going to read it as a story because that would be how it was written so mark's gospel is acknowledged to be the earliest gospel and the probably the earliest date for it would be in the early 80s 50s about 17 or so years after jesus was crucified the latest date for it would be about ad70 so it's still very close to the life of jesus there are scholars who believe it to be the apostolic testimony of the apostle peter who passed this on to his attendant and writer mark many or most of you here will be familiar with this gospel but i'm going to ask you to try as hard as you can to pretend that you have never heard it before and i hope to read it as though for the first time it's easier for me because this is the first time especially in saint paul's cathedral i feel most honored and privileged to be able to do this but i am going to read it like a news reporter would read it to you giving you the details of this extraordinary person and so the best place for me to begin is at the beginning of the good news about jesus the messiah the son of god as it is written in isaiah the prophet i will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare the way for the lord make straight paths for him and so john the baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins the whole judean countryside and all the people of jerusalem went out to him confessing their sins they were baptized by him in the river jordan now john wore clothing made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist and he ate locusts and wild honey and this was his message after me comes the one more powerful than i the straps of whose sandals i am not worthy to stoop down and untie i baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the holy spirit at that time jesus came from nazareth in galilee and was baptized by john in the jordan and just as jesus was coming up out of the water he saw heaven being torn open and the spirit descending on him like a dove and a voice came from heaven you are my son whom i love with you i am well pleased at once the spirit sent him out into the wilderness and he was in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by satan he was with the wild animals and angels attended him after john was put in prison jesus went into galilee proclaiming the good news of god the time has come he said the kingdom of god has come near repent and believe the good news as jesus walked beside the sea of galilee he saw simon and his brother andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen come follow me jesus said and i will send you out to fish for people at once they left their nets and followed him when he had gone a little farther he saw james son of zebedee and his brother john in a boat preparing their nets without delay he called them and they left their father zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him they went to capernaum and when the sabbath came jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach the people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out what do you want with us jesus of nazareth have you come to destroy us i know who you are the holy one of god be quiet jesus said sternly come out of him the impure spirit shook the man violently and came out with a shriek but the people were all so amazed that they asked each other what is this a new teaching and with authority he even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him news about him spread quickly over the whole region of galilee as soon as they left the synagogue they went with james and john to the home of simon and andrew simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever and they immediately told jesus about her so he went to her took her hand and helped her up the fever left her and she began to wait on them that evening after sunset the people brought to jesus all who were ill and demon possessed the whole town gathered at the door and jesus healed many who had various diseases he also drove out many demons but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was very early in the morning while it was still dark jesus got up left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed simon and his companions went to look for him and when they found him they exclaimed everyone is looking for you jesus replied let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so that i can preach there also that is why i have come so he traveled throughout galilee preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons a man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees if you are willing you can make me clean jesus was indignant he reached out his hand and touched the man i am willing he said be clean immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning see that you don't tell this to anyone but go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them instead he went out and began to talk spreading the news as a result jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places yet the people still came to him from everywhere a few days later when jesus again entered capernaum the people heard that he had come home they gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left not even outside the door and he preached the word to them some men came bringing to him a paralyzed man carried by four of them but since they could not get him to jesus because of the crowd they made an opening in the roof above jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on and when jesus saw their faith he said to the paralyzed man son your sins are forgiven now some teachers of the law were sitting there thinking to themselves why does this fellow talk like that he's blaspheming who can forgive sins but god alone immediately jesus knew in his spirit that this is what they were thinking in their hearts and he said to them why are you thinking these things which is easier to say to this paralyzed man your sins are forgiven or to say get up take your mat and walk but i want you to know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins so he said to the man i tell you get up take your mat and go home he got up took his mat and walked out in full view of them all this amazed everyone and they praised god saying we have never seen anything like this once again jesus went out beside the lake a large crowd came to him and he began to teach them as he walked along he saw levi son of alpheus sitting at the tax collector's booth follow me jesus told him and levi got up and followed him while jesus was having dinner at levi's house many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples for there were many who followed him when the teachers of the law who were pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors they asked his disciples why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners on hearing this jesus said to them it is not the healthy who need a doctor but those who are ill i have not come to call the righteous but sinners now john's disciples and the pharisees were fasting some people came and asked jesus how is it that john's disciples and the disciples of the pharisees are fasting but yours are not jesus answered how can the guests of the bride room fast while he is with them they cannot so long as they have him with them but the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and on that day they will fast no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment otherwise the new piece will pull away from the old making the tear worse and no one pours new wine into old wineskins otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined no they pour new wine into new wine skins one sabbath jesus was going through the cornfields and as his disciples walked along they began to pick some ears of corn the pharisees said to him look why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath he answered have you never read what david did when he and his companions were hungry and in need in the days of abiathar the high priest he entered the house of god and at the consecrated bread which is lawful only for priests to eat and he also gave some to his companions and then he said to them the sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath and so the son of man is lord even of the sabbath another time jesus went into the synagogue and a man with a shriveled hand was there some of them were looking for a reason to accuse jesus so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the sabbath and jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand stand up in front of everyone and then jesus asked them which is lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do evil to save life or to kill they remained silent he looked around at them in anger and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts said to the man stretch out your hand he stretched it out and his hand was completely restored and then the pharisees went out and began to plot with the herodians how they might kill jesus jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake and a large crowd from galilee followed when they heard all he was doing many people came to him from judea jerusalem idumea and the regions across the jordan and around tyre and sidon because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him to keep the people from crowding him for he had healed many so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him whenever impure spirits saw him they fell down before him and cried out you are the son of god but he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted and they came to him he appointed twelve that thy might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons these are the twelve he appointed simon to whom he gave the name peter james son of zebedee and his brother john to them he gave the name bo energies which means sons of thunder andrew philip bartholomew matthew thomas james son of alphaeus thaddeus simon the zealot and judas iscariot who betrayed him then jesus entered a house and again a crowd gathered so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat when his family heard about this they went to take charge of him for they said he's out of his mind and the teachers of the law who came down from jerusalem said he is possessed by beelzebub by the prince of demons he's driving out demons so jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables how can satan drive out satan if a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand if a house is divided against itself that house cannot stand and if satan opposes himself and is divided he cannot stand his end is come in fact no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up then he can plunder the strong man's house truly i tell you people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will never be forgiven they are guilty of an eternal sin he said this because they were saying he has an impure spirit then jesus's mother and brothers arrived standing outside they sent someone in to call him a crowd was sitting around him and they told him your mother and brothers are outside looking for you who are my mother and my brothers he asked then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said here are my mother and my brothers whoever does god's will is my brother and sister and mother again jesus began to teach by the lake the crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge he taught them many things by parables and in his teaching said listen a farmer went out to sow his seed as he was scattering the seed some fell along the path and the birds came and et it up some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil it sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow but when the sun came up the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root other seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the plants so they did not bear grain still other seed fell on good soil it came up grew produced a crop some multiplying 30 some 60 some 100 times then jesus said whoever has ears to hear let them hear when he was alone the twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables he told them the secret of the kingdom of god has been given to you but to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may be ever seeing but never perceiving and ever hearing but never understanding otherwise they might turn and be forgiven then jesus said to them don't you understand this parable how then will you understand any parable the farmer sows the word now some people are like seed along the path where the word is sown as soon as they hear it satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them others like seed sown on rocky places hear the word and that once receive it with joy but since they have no root they last only a short time when trouble or persecution comes because of the word they quickly fall away and still others like seed sown among thorns hear the word but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word making it unfruitful but others like seed sown on good soil hear the word accept it and produce a crop some 30 some 60 some a hundred times what was sown he said to them do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed instead don't you put it on its stand for whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open if anyone has ears to hear let them hear but consider carefully what you hear he continued with the measure you use it will be measured to you and even more whoever has will be given more whoever does not have even what they have will be taken from them he also said this is what the kingdom of god is like a man sat scatters seed on the ground night and day whether he sleeps or gets up the seed sprouts and grows though he does not know how all by itself the soil produces corn first the stalk then the ear then the full grain in the ear as soon as the corn is ripe he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come again he said what shall we say the kingdom of god is like or what parable shall we use to describe it it is like a mustard seed which is the smallest of all seeds on the earth yet when planted it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade with similar parables jesus spoke the word to them as much as they could understand he did not say anything to them without using a parable but when he was alone with his own disciples he explained everything that day when evening came he said to his disciples let us go over to the other side leaving the crowd behind they took him along just as he was in the boat there were also other boats with him a furious squall came up and waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion the disciples woke him and said to him teacher don't you care if we drown he got up rebuked the wind and said to the waves quiet be still then the wind died down and it was completely calm he said to his disciples why are you so afraid do you still have no faith they were terrified and asked each other who is this even the wind and the waves obey him they went across the lake to the region of geracin when jesus got out of the boat a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him this man lived in the tombs and no one could bind him anymore not even with a chain for he had often been chained hand and foot but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet no one was strong enough to subdue him night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones when he saw jesus from a distance he ran and fell on his knees in front of him he shouted at the top of his voice what do you want with me jesus son of the most high god in god's name don't torture me for jesus had said to him come out of this man you impure spirit then jesus asked him what is your name my name is legion he replied for we are many and he begged jesus again and again not to send them out of the area a large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside the demons begged jesus send us among the pigs allow us to go into them he gave them permission and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs but the herd about two 000 in number rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside and the people went out to see what had happened when they came to jesus they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there dressed and in his right mind and they were afraid those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon possessed man and told about the pigs as well and then the people began to plead with jesus to leave their region as jesus was getting into the boat the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him but jesus did not let him but said go home to your own people and tell them how much the lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you so the man went away and began to tell in the decapolis how much jesus had done for him and all the people were amazed when jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake then one of the synagogue leaders named jairus came and when he saw jesus he fell at his feet he pleaded earnestly with him my little daughter is dying please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live so jesus went with him a large crowd followed and pressed around him and a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had yet instead of getting better she grew worse when she heard about jesus she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak because she thought if i just touch his clothes i will be healed immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering at once jesus realized that power had gone out from him he turned round in the crowd and asked who touched my clothes or you see the people crowding against you his disciples answered and yet you can ask who touched me but jesus kept looking around to see who had done it and then the woman knowing what had happened to her came and fell at his feet and trembling with fear told him the whole truth he said to her daughter your faith has healed you go in peace and be freed from your suffering while jesus was still speaking some people came from the house of jairus the synagogue leader your daughter is dead they said why bother the teacher anymore overhearing what they said jesus told him don't be afraid just believe he did not let anyone follow him except peter james and john the brother of james and when they came to the home of the synagogue leader jesus saw a commotion with people crying and wailing loudly he went in and said to them why all this commotion and wailing the child is not dead but asleep but they laughed at him after he put them all out he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him and went in where the child was he took her by the hand and said to her talitha which means little girl i say to you get up immediately the girls stood up and began to walk around she was 12 years old at this they were completely astonished but he gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this and told them to give her something to eat jesus left there and went to his home town accompanied by his disciples and when the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue and many who heard him were amazed where did this man get these things they asked what's this wisdom that has been given him what are these remarkable miracles he's performing isn't this the carpenter isn't this mary's son and the brother of james joseph judas and simon aren't his sisters here with us and they took offense at him jesus said to them a prophet is not without honor except in his own town among his relatives and in his hometown he could not do any miracles there except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them he was amazed at their lack of faith then jesus went around teaching from village to village calling the twelve to him he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits these were his instructions take nothing for the journey except a staff no bread no bag no money in your belts wear sandals but not an extra shirt whenever you enter a house stay there until you leave that town and if any place will not welcome you or listen to you leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them they went out and preached that people should repent and they drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them king herod heard about this for jesus's name had become well known some were saying john the baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work with him others said he is elijah and still others claimed yo no he's a prophet like one of the prophets long ago but when herod heard this he said john whom i beheaded has been raised from the dead for herod himself had given orders to have john arrested and he had him bound and put in prison he did this because of herodias his brother philip's wife whom he had married for john had been saying to herod it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife so herodias nursed a grudge against john and wanted to kill him but she was not able to because herod feared john and protected him knowing him to be a righteous and holy man and when herod heard john he was greatly puzzled yet he liked to listen to him but finally the opportune time came on his birthday herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of galilee when the daughter of herodias came in and danced she pleased herod and his dinner guests the king said to the girl ask me for anything you want and i'll give it to you and he promised her with an oath whatever you are sky will give you up to half my kingdom she went out and said to her mother what shall i ask for the head of john the baptist she said at once the girl hurried into the king with the request i want you to give me right now the head of john the baptist on a dish the king was greatly distressed but because of his oaths and his dinner guests he didn't want to refuse her so he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring john's head the man went beheaded john in the prison and brought back his head on a dish he presented it to the girl and she gave it to her mother on hearing of this john's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb the apostles gathered round jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat he said to them come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest so they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place but many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them when jesus landed and saw a large crowd he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd so he began teaching them many things by this time it was late in the day so his disciples came to him this is a remote place they said and it's already very late send the people away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat but he answered you give them something to eat and they said to him well that would take more than half a year's wages are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat how many loaves do you have he asked go and see when they found out they said five and two fish then jesus told them to make all the people sit down in groups on the green grass so they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people he also divided the two fish among them all and they all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up 12 baskets of broken pieces of bread and fish the number of the men who had eaten were five thousand immediately jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to bethsaida while he dismissed the crowd after leaving them he went up on a mountain side to pray later that night the boat was in the middle of the lake and he was alone on land and he saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them shortly before dawn he went out to them walking on the lake he was about to pass by them but when they saw him walking on the lake they thought he was a ghost and they cried out because they all saw him and were terrified immediately he spoke to them and said take courage it is i don't be afraid then he climbed into the boat with them and the wind died down you know they were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves their hearts were hardened when they had crossed over they landed at ganesaret and anchored there as soon as they got out of the boat people recognized jesus they ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was and wherever he went into villages towns or countryside they placed those who were ill in the market places they begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak and all who touched it were healed the pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from jerusalem gathered around jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled that is unwashed see the pharisees and all the jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing holding to the tradition of their elders and when they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash and they observe many other traditions such as washing of cups pitchers and and kettles 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 defiled hands he replied isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites as it is written these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me they worship me in vain their teachings are merely human rules you have let go of the commands of god and are holding on to human traditions and he continued you have a fine way of sitting aside the commands of god in order to observe your own traditions for moses said honor your father and mother and anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death but you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is corbyn that is devoted to god then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother thus you nullify the word of god by your tradition that you have handed down and you do many things like that and jesus called the crowd to him and said listen to me everyone and understand this nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them rather it's what comes out of a person that defiles them after he had left the crowd and entered the house his disciples asked him about this parable are you so dull he asked don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them for it doesn't go into their heart but in their stomach and then out of the body in saying this jesus declared all foods clean he went on what comes out of a person is what defiles them for it is from within out of a person's heart that evil thoughts come sexual immorality theft murder adultery greed malice deceit lewdness envy slander arrogance and folly all these evils come from inside and defile a person jesus left that place and went into the vicinity of tyre he entered a house and didn't want anyone to know it yet he could not keep his presence secret in fact as soon as she heard about him a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet the woman was a greek born in syrian phoenicia she begged jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter now first let 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 lord she replied even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs then he told her for such a reply you may go the demon has left your daughter she went home and found her child lying on the bed and the demon gone then jesus left the vicinity of tyre and went through sidon down to the sea of galilee and into the region of the decapolis there some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk and they begged jesus to place his hand on them 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 he looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him which means be opened at this the man's ears were opened his tongue was loose and he began to speak freely and plainly jesus commanded them not to tell anyone but the more he did so the more they kept talking about it people were overwhelmed with amazement he has done everything well they said he even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak during those days another large crowd gathered since they had nothing to eat jesus called his disciples to him and said i have compassion on these people they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat if i send them home hungry they will collapse on the way because some of them have come a long distance his disciples answered but where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them how many loaves do you have jesus asked seven they replied 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 distribute to the people and they did so they had a few small fish as well he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them the people ate and were satisfied afterwards the disciples picked up seven baskets fulls of broken pieces that were left over about 4 000 were present after he had sent them away he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of del mar the pharisees came and began to question jesus to test him they asked him for a sign from heaven he sighed deeply and said why does this generation ask for a sign truly i tell you no sign will be given it then he left them got back into the boat and crossed to the other side the disciples had forgotten to bring bread except for one loaf they had with them in the boat be careful jesus warned them watch out for the yeast of the pharisees and that of herod they discussed this with one another and said it is because we have no bread 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 do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear and don't you remember when i broke the five loaves for the 5000 how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up 12 they replied and when i broke the seven loaves for the four thousand how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up they answered seven he said to them do you still not understand they came to bethsaida and some people brought a blind man and begged jesus to touch him he took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village when he had spat on the man's eyes and put his hands on him jesus said do you see anything he looked up and said i see people they look like trees walking around 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 jesus sent him home saying don't even go into the village jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around caesarea philippi on the way he asked them who do people say i am they replied some say john the baptist others say elijah and still others one of the prophets but what about you he asked who do you say i am peter answered you are the messiah jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him he then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again he spoke plainly about this but peter took him aside and began to rebuke him 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 concerns of god but merely human concerns then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me for whoever wants to save their life will lose it but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it what good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation the son of man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his father's glory with the holy angels and he said to them truly i tell you some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of god has come with power after six days jesus took peter james and john with him and led them up a high mountain where they were all alone and there he was transfigured before them his clothes became dazzling white whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them and there appeared before them elijah and moses who were talking with jesus peter said to jesus rabbi it's good for us to be here let's put up three shelters one for you one for moses and one for elijah but he didn't know what to say they were so frightened then a cloud appeared and covered them and a voice from the cloud this is my son whom i love listen to him suddenly when they looked around they no longer saw anyone with them except jesus 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 and they kept the matter to themselves discussing what rising from the dead meant and they asked him why did the teachers of the law say that elijah must come first 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 and be rejected but i tell you elijah has come and they have done to him everything they wished just as it is written about him when they came to the other disciples they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them 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 a man in the crowd answered teacher i brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit this has robbed him of speech and whenever it sees him it throws him to the ground he foams at the mouth gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid i asked your disciples to drive out the spirit but they could not you unbelieving generation jesus replied how long shall i stay with you how long shall i put up with you bring the boy to me so they brought him and when the spirit saw jesus it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion he fell to the ground and rolled around foaming at the mouth jesus asked the boy's father how long has he been like this from childhood he answered it has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him but if you can do anything take pity on us and help us if you can said jesus everything is possible for one who believes and immediately the boy's father exclaimed i do believe help me overcome my unbelief when jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene he rebuked the impure spirit you deaf and mute spirit he said i command you come out of him and never enter him again the spirit shrieked convulsed him violently and came out and the boy looked so much like a corpse that many said he's dead but jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet and he stood up after jesus had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately why couldn't we drive it out he replied this kind can come out only by prayer they left that place and passed through galilee jesus did not want anyone to know where they were because he was teaching his disciples he said to them the son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of men they will kill him and after three days he will rise but they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it they came to capernaum when he was in the house he asked them what were you arguing about on the road but they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest sitting down jesus called the twelve and said anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all he took a little child whom he placed among them and taking the child in his arms he said to them whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me teacher said john we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us do not stop him jesus said for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me for whoever is not against us is for us truly i tell you anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the messiah will certainly not lose their reward but if anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble it would be better for them if a large millstone will hang around their neck and they were thrown into the sea if your hand causes you to stumble cut it off it's better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell where the fire never goes out and if your foot causes you to stumble cut it off it's better for you to enter the life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell and if your eye causes you to stumble pluck it out it's better for you to enter the kingdom of god with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where the worms that eat them do not die and the fire is not quenched everyone will be salted with fire salt is good but if it loses its saltiness how can you make it salty again have salt among yourselves and be at peace with each other jesus then left that place and went into the region of judea and across the jordan again crowds of people came to him and as was his custom he taught them some pharisees though came and tested him by asking is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife what did moses command you he replied well they said moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away it was because your hearts were hard that moses wrote this law jesus replied but at the beginning of creation god made them male and female for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh so they are no longer two but one flesh therefore what god has joined together let no one separate when they were in the house again the disciples asked jesus about this he answered anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another man she commits adultery people were bringing little children to jesus for him to place his hands on them but the disciples rebuked them when jesus saw this he was indignant he said to them let the little children come to me do not hinder them for the kingdom of god belongs to such as these truly i tell you anyone who will not receive the kingdom of god like a little child will never enter it and he took the children in his arms placed his hands on them and blessed them as jesus started on his way a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him good teacher he asked what must i do to inherit eternal life why do you call me good jesus answered no one is good except god alone you know the commandments you shall not murder you shall not commit adultery you shall not steal you shall not give false testimony you shall not defraud honor your father and mother teacher he declared all these i've kept since i was a boy jesus looked at him and loved him one thing you lack he said go sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven then come follow me at this the man's face fell he went away sad because he had great wealth jesus looked round and said to his disciples how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of god the disciples were amazed at his words but jesus said again children how hard it is to enter the kingdom of god it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of god the disciples were even more amazed and said to each other who then can be saved jesus looked at them and said with man this is impossible but not with god all things are possible with god then peter spoke up but we have left everything to follow you truly i tell you jesus replied no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age homes brothers sisters mothers children and fields along with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life but many who are first will be last and the last first they were on their way up to jerusalem with jesus leading the way and the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid again he took the twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him we are going up to jerusalem he said and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the gentiles who will mock him and spit on him flog him and kill him three days later he will rise then james and john the sons of zebedee came to him teacher they said we want you to do for us whatever we ask what do you want me to do for you he asked they replied let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory you don't know what you're asking jesus said can you drink the cup i drink or be baptized with the baptism i am baptized with oh we can jesus said to them you will drink the cup i drink and be baptized with the baptism i am baptized with but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant these places belong to those for whom they have been prepared when the ten heard about this they became indignant with james and john jesus called them together and said you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them not so with you instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all for even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many then they came to jericho as jesus and his disciples together with a large crowd were leaving the city a blind man bar timmius which means son of timaeus was sitting by the roadside begging when he heard that it was jesus of nazareth he began to shout jesus son of david have mercy on me oh many rebuked him and told him to be quiet but he shouted all the more son of david have mercy on me jesus stopped and said call him so they called to the blind man cheer up on your feet he's calling you and throwing his cloak aside he jumped to his feet and came to jesus what do you want me to do for you jesus asked the blind man said rabbi i want to see [Music] go said jesus your faith has healed you immediately he received his sight and followed jesus along the road as they approached jerusalem and came to bethphage and bethany at the mount of olives jesus sent two of his disciples saying to them go to the village ahead of you and just as you enter it you will find a cult tied there which no one has ever ridden untie it and bring it here if anyone asks you why are you doing this say the lord needs it and we'll send it back here shortly well they went and found a cult outside in the street tied at a doorway as they untied it some people standing there asking hey what are you doing untying that cult and they answered as jesus had told them to and the people let them go when they brought the cult to jesus and threw their cloaks over it he sat on it many people spread their cloaks on the road while others spread branches they had cut in the fields and those who went ahead and those who followed shouted hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord blessed is the coming kingdom of our father david hosanna in the highest heaven jesus entered jerusalem and went into the temple courts he looked around at everything but since it was already late he went out to bethany with the twelve the next day as they were leaving bethany jesus was hungry and seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf he went to find out if it had any fruit when he reached it he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs and then he said to the tree may no one ever eat fruit from you again and his disciples heard him say it on reaching jerusalem jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out who those who were buying and selling there he overturned the tables of the money changes and the benches of those selling doves and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts and as he taught them he said is it not written my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it a den of robbers the chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill jesus for they feared him because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching when evening came jesus and his disciples went out of the city in the morning as they went along they saw the fig tree withered from the roots and peter remembered and said to jesus rabbi look the fig tree you cursed has withered have faith in god jesus answered truly i tell you if anyone says to this mountain go throw yourself into the sea and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen it will be done for them therefore i tell you whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it and it will be yours if you hold anything against anyone forgive them so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins they arrived again in jerusalem and while jesus was walking in the temple courts the chief priests the teachers of the law and the elders came to him by what authority are you doing these things they asked and who gave you authority to do this jesus replied i will ask you one question answer me and i will tell you by what authority i'm doing these things john's baptism was it from heaven or of human origin tell me they discussed it among themselves and said if we say from heaven he will ask then why didn't you believe him but if we say of human origin well they feared the people for everyone held that john was really a prophet so they answered jesus we don't know and jesus said wow neither will i tell you by what authority i am doing these things jesus then began to speak to them in parables a man planted a vineyard he put a wall around it dug a pit for the wine press and built a watchtower then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place at harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard but they seized him beat him and sent him away empty-handed then he sent another servant to them they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully he sent still another and that one they killed he sent many others some of them they beat others they killed but he had one left to send a son whom he loved he sent him last of all saying oh they will respect my son but the tenants said to one another this is the air come let's kill him and the inheritance will be ours so they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard what then will the owner of the vineyard do he will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others haven't you read this passage of scripture the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone the lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes then the chief priests the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them but they were afraid of the crowd so they left him and went away later they sent some of the pharisees and herodians to jesus to catch him in his words they came to him and said teacher we know that you're a man of integrity you aren't swayed by others because you pay no attention to who they are but you teach the way to god in accordance with the truth so is it right to pay the poll tax to caesar or not should we pay or shouldn't we jesus knew their hypocrisy why are you trying to trap me he asked bring me a denarius and let me look at it they brought the coin and he asked them whose image is this and whose inscription caesar's they replied then jesus said to them give back to caesar what is caesar's and to god what is god's and they were amazed at him then the sadducees who say there is no resurrection came to him with a question teacher they said moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife and no children the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother now there were seven brothers the first one married and died without leaving any children the second one married the widow but he also died leaving no child and it was the same with the third in fact none of the seven left any children last of all the woman died too at the resurrection whose wife will she be since the seven were married to her jesus replied are you not in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of god when the dead rise they will neither marry nor be given in marriage they will be like the angels of heaven now about the dead rising have you not read in the book of moses in the account of the burning bush how god said to him i am the god of abraham the god of isaac and the god of jacob he is not the god of the dead but of the living you are badly mistaken one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating noticing that jesus had given them a good answer he said to him and asked him of all the commandments which is the most important well the most important one answered jesus is this hear o israel the lord our god the lord is one love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength the second is this love your neighbor as yourself there is no commandment greater than these well said teacher the man replied you are right in saying god is one and there is no other but him to love him with all your heart with all your understanding and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices when jesus saw that he had answered wisely he said to him you are not far from the kingdom of god and from then on no one dared ask him any more questions while jesus was teaching in the temple courts he asked why do the teachers of the law say that the messiah is the son of david david himself speaking by the holy spirit declared the lord said to my lord sit at my right hand until i put your enemies under your feet so david himself calls him lord how then can be how then can he be his son the large crowd listened to him with delight as he taught jesus said watch out for the teachers of the law they like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogue and the places of honor at banquets they devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers these men will be punished most severely jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury many rich people threw in large amounts but a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins worth only a few pence calling his disciples to him jesus said truly i tell you this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others they all gave out of their wealth but she out of her poverty put in everything all she had to live on as jesus was leaving the temple one of his disciples said to him look teacher what massive stones what magnificent buildings do you see all these great buildings replied jesus or not one stone here will be left on another everyone will be thrown down as jesus was sitting on the mount of olives opposite the temple peter james john and andrew asked him privately tell us when will these things happen and what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled and jesus said to them watch out that no one deceives you many will come in my name claiming i am he and he will deceive many when you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be alarmed such things must happen but the end is still to come nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom there will be earthquakes in various places and famines but these are the beginning of birth pains you must be on your guard you will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues on account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations but whenever you are arrested and brought to trial do not worry beforehand about what to say just say whatever is given to you at the time for it is not you speaking but the holy spirit brother will betray brother to death and a father his child children rebel against their parents and have them put to death everyone will hate you because of me but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved and when you see the abomination that causes desolation standing whereas it does not belong let the reader understand then let those who are in judea flee to the mountains let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out let no one in the field go back to get their cloak how dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers pray that this will not take place in winter because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning when god created the world until now and never be equaled again if the lord had not cut short those days no one would survive but for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen he has shortened them at that time if anyone says to you look here is the messiah or look there he is do not believe it for false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect so be on your guard i have told you everything in advance but in those days following that distress the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken at that time people will see the sun of man coming in clouds with great power and glory and he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens now learn this lesson from the fig tree as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out you know that summer is near even so when you see these things happening you know that it is near right at the door truly i tell you this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away but about that day or hour no one knows not even the angels in heaven nor the son but only the father be on guard be alert you do not know when that time will come it's like a man going away he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge each with their assigned task and tells the one at the door to keep watch therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back whether in the evening or at midnight or when the crows or at dawn if he comes suddenly do not let him find you sleeping what i say to you i say to everyone watch now the passover and the festival of unleavened bread were only two days away and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest jesus secretly and kill him oh but not during the festival they said or the people may riot while he was in bethany reclining at the table in the home of simon the leper a woman came in with an alabaster jar a very expensive perfume made of pure nard she broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head well some of those present were saying indignantly to one another why this waste of perfume it could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor and they rebuked her harshly leave her alone said jesus why are you bothering her she has done a beautiful thing to me the poor you will always have with you and you can help them anytime you want but you will not always have me she did what she could she poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial truly i tell you wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world what she has done will also be told in memory of her and then judas iscariot one of the twelve went to the chief priests to betray jesus to them for they were delighted to hear this and promise to give him money so he watched for an opportunity to hand him over on the first day of the festival of unleavened bread when it was customary to sacrifice the passover lamb jesus's disciples asked him where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the passover so he sent two of his disciples telling them go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you follow him say to the owner of the house he enters the teacher asks where is my guest room where i may eat the passover with my disciples he will show you a large room upstairs furnished and ready make preparations for us there the disciples left went into the city and found things just as jesus had told them so they prepared the passover when evening came jesus arrived with the twelve while they were reclining at the table eating he said truly i tell you one of you will betray me one who is eating with me they were saddened and one by one they said to him surely you don't mean me well it is one of the twelve he said one who dips bread into the bowl with me the son of man will go just as it is written about him but woe to that man who betrays the son of man it would be better for him if he had not been born while they were eating jesus took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take it did this is my body then he took a cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they all drank from it this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many he said to them truly i tell you i will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when i drink it new in the kingdom of god when they had sung a hymn they went out to the mount of olives you will all fall away jesus told them for it is written i will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered but after i have risen i will go ahead of you into galilee peter declared even if all fall away i will not truly i tell you jesus answered today what yes tonight before the crows twice you yourself will disown me three times but peter insisted emphatically look even if i have to die with you i will never disown you and all the others said the same they went to a place called gethsemane and jesus said to his disciples sit here while i pray he took peter james and john along with him and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death he said to them stay here and keep watch going a little farther he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him abba he said father everything is possible for you take this cup from me yet not what i will but what you will then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping simon he said to peter are you asleep couldn't you keep watch for one hour watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak once more he went away and prayed the same thing when he came back he again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy they didn't know what to say to him returning the third time he said to them are you still sleeping and resting enough the hour has come look the son of man is delivered into the hands of sinners rise let us go here comes my betrayer and just as he was speaking judas one of the twelve appeared with him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs sent from the chief priests the teachers of the law and the elders now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them the one i kiss is the man arrest him and lead him away under guard and going at once to jesus judah said rabbi and kissed him the men seized jesus and arrested him then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear am i leading a rebellion said jesus that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me every day i was with you teaching in the temple courts and you did not arrest me but the scriptures must be fulfilled and then everyone deserted him and fled they took jesus to the high priest and all the chief priests the elders and the teachers of the law came together peter followed him at a distance right into the courtyard of the high priest and there he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire the chief priests and the whole sanhedrin were looking for evidence against jesus so they could put him to death but they did not find any many testified falsely against him but their statements just did not agree and then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him we heard him say i will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days we'll build another not made with hands yet even then their testimony did not agree then the high priest stood up before them and asked jesus are you not going to answer what is this testimony that these men are bringing against you jesus remained silent and gave no answer again the high priest asked him are you the messiah the son of the blessed one i am said jesus and you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven the high priest tore his clothes why do we need any more witnesses he asked you have heard the blasphemy what do you think and they all condemned him as worthy of death then some began to spit at him they blindfolded him struck him with their fists and said prophesy and the guards took him and beat him and while peter was below in the courtyard one of the servant girls of the high priest came by when she saw peter warming himself she looked closely at him up you also were with that nazarene jesus she said but he denied it i don't know or understand what you're talking about he said and went out into the entrance and when the servant girl saw him there she said again to those standing around him this fellow is one of them again he denied it after a little while those standing near said to peter yes surely you are one of them you are a galilean and he began to call down curses and he swore to them i don't know this man you're talking about immediately the crowed the second time and then peter remembered the word jesus had spoken to him before the crows twice you will disown me three times and he broke down and wept very early in the morning the chief priests with the elders the teachers of the law and the whole sanhedrin made their plans so they bound jesus led him away and handed him over to pilate are you the king of the jews asked pilate you have said so jesus replied the chief priests accused him of many things so again pilate asked him aren't you going to answer see how many things they're accusing you of but jesus still made no reply and pilate was amazed now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested a man called barrabas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising the crowd came up and asked pilate to do for them what he usually did oh do you want me to release to you the king of the jews asked pilate knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed jesus over to him but the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get pilate to release barabbas instead well what shall i do then with the one you call king of the jews pilate asked them crucify him they shouted why what crime has he committed asked pilate but they shouted all the louder crucify him and wanting to satisfy the crowd pilate released barabbas to them he had jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified the soldiers led jesus away into the palace that is the praetorium and called together the whole company of soldiers they put a purple robe on him then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him and then they began to call out to him hail king of the jews again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him falling on their knees they paid homage to him and when they had mocked him they took off the purple robe put his clothes on him and then they led him out to crucify him a certain man from cyrene simon the father of alexander and rufus was passing by on his way in from the country and they forced him to carry the cross they brought jesus to the place called golgotha which means the place of the skull then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh but he did not take it and they crucified him dividing up his clothes they cast lots to see what each would get it was nine in the morning when they crucified him the written notice of the charge against him read the king of the jews they crucified two rebels with him one on his right and one on his left those who passed by hurled insults at him shaking their heads and saying so you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days come down from the cross and save yourself in the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves he saved others they said but he can't save himself let this messiah this king of israel come down now from the cross that we may see and believe and those crucified with him also heaped insults on him at noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon and at three in the afternoon jesus cried out in a loud voice sabachthani which means my god my god why have you forsaken me and when some of those standing near heard this they said listen he's calling elijah someone ran filled a sponge with vine vinegar put it on a staff and offered it to jesus to drink now leave him alone let's see if elijah comes to take him down he said and with a loud cry jesus breathed his last the curtain of the temple was torn into from top to bottom and when the centurion who stood there in front of jesus saw how he died he said surely this man was the son of god some women were watching from a distance among them were mary magdalene mary the mother of james the younger and of joseph and salome in galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs and many other women who would come up with him to jerusalem were also there it was preparation day that is the day before the sabbath so as evening approached joseph of arimathea and now a prominent member of the council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of god went boldly to pilate and asked for jesus's body the pilot was surprised to hear that he was already dead summoning the centurion he asked him if jesus had already died and when he learned from the centurion that it was so he gave the body to joseph so joseph brought some linen cloth took down the body wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb mary magdalene and mary the mother of joseph saw where he was laid when the sabbath was over mary magdalene mary the mother of james and salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint jesus's body and very early on the first day of the week just after sunrise they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb but when they looked up they saw that the stone which was very large had been rolled away as they entered the tomb they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side and they were alarmed don't be alarmed he said you are looking for jesus the nazarene who was crucified he has risen he is not here see the place where they laid him but go tell his disciples and peter he is going ahead of you into galilee there you will see him just as he told you trembling and bewildered the women went out and fled from the tomb they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid thank you you

Channel: Inverness Baptist Church

Views: 10,153

Rating: 4.8297873 out of 5

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Id: RUZKb4HQZes

Length: 122min 19sec (7339 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 20 2021