3Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.G2532G1525G3825G1519G4864G2532G2258G444G1563G2192G3583G54952Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.G2532G3906G846G1487G2323G846G4521G2443G2723G8463Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone."G2532G3004G444G2192G3583G5495G1453G1519G33194Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him.G2532G3004G846G1832G15G4521G2228G2554G4982G5590G2228G615G1161G46235He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!G2532G4017G846G3326G3709G4818G1909G4457G846G2588G3004G444G1614G4675G5495G2532G1614G2532G846G5495G600G5199G5613G2436At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.G2532G5330G1831G2112G4160G4824G3326G2265G2596G846G3704G622G846
Crowds Follow Jesus
7Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea,G2532G2424G402G3326G846G3101G4314G2281G2532G4183G4128G575G1056G190G846G2532G575G24498Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.G2532G575G2414G2532G575G2401G2532G4008G2446G2532G4012G5184G2532G4605G4183G4128G191G3745G4160G2064G4314G8469Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him.G2532G2036G846G3101G2443G4142G4342G846G1223G3793G3363G2346G84610He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.G1063G2323G4183G5620G1968G846G2443G680G846G3745G2192G314811And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, "You are the Son of God!"G2532G169G4151G3752G2334G846G4363G846G2532G2896G3004G3754G4771G1488G5207G231612But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.G2532G4183G2008G846G3363G4160G3363G4160G846G5318
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
13Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.G2532G305G1519G3735G2532G4341G3739G846G2309G2532G565G4314G84614Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach,G2532G4160G1427G2443G5600G3326G846G2532G2443G649G846G649G278415giving them authority to cast out demons.G2532G2192G1849G2323G3554G2532G1544G114016These are the twelve he chose: Simon ,G2532G4613G2007G3686G407417James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder"),G2532G2385G3588G2199G2532G2491G80G2385G2532G2007G3686G846G993G3603G5207G102718Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot),G2532G406G2532G5376G2532G918G2532G3156G2532G2381G2532G2385G3588G256G2532G2280G2532G4613G258119Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).G2532G2455G2469G3739G2532G3860G846G2532G2064G1519G3624
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
20One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat.G2532G3793G4905G3825G5620G846G1410G3361G3383G5315G74021When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. "He's out of his mind," they said.G2532G846G3844G191G1831G2902G846G1063G3004G3754G183922But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons."G2532G1122G3588G2597G575G2414G3004G3754G2192G954G3754G2532G1722G758G1140G1544G114023Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" he asked.G2532G4341G846G3004G846G1722G3850G4459G1410G4567G1544G456724"A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.G2532G1437G932G3307G1909G1438G1565G932G3756G1410G247625Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.G2532G1437G3614G3307G1909G1438G1565G3614G3756G1410G247626And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.G2532G1487G4567G450G1909G1438G2532G3307G3756G1410G2476G235G2192G505627Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.G3762G3756G1410G1525G1519G2478G3614G1283G846G4632G3362G1210G4412G1210G2478G2532G5119G1283G846G361428"I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven,G281G3004G5213G3754G3956G265G863G5207G444G2532G988G3745G302G98729but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences."G1161G3739G302G987G1519G40G4151G2192G3756G1519G165G859G235G2076G1777G166G292030He told them this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit."G3754G3004G2192G169G4151
The True Family of Jesus
31Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.G2064G3767G846G80G2532G3384G2532G2476G1854G649G4314G846G5455G84632There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you."G2532G3793G2521G4012G846G1161G2036G846G2400G4675G3384G2532G4675G80G1854G2212G457133Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"G2532G611G846G3004G5101G2076G3450G3384G2228G3450G8034Then he looked at those around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.G2532G4017G2945G3588G2521G4012G846G3004G2396G3450G3384G2532G3450G8035Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."G1063G3739G302G4160G2307G2316G3778G2076G3450G80G2532G3450G79G2532G3384
Mark 4
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.G2532G756G3825G1321G3844G2281G2532G4863G4314G846G4183G3793G5620G846G1684G1519G4143G2521G1722G2281G2532G3956G3793G2258G4314G2281G1909G10932He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one.G2532G1321G846G4183G1722G3850G2532G3004G846G1722G846G13223"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.G191G2400G1831G4687G46874As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.G2532G1096G1722G4687G3739G3303G4098G3844G3598G2532G4071G3772G2064G2532G2719G846G27195Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.G1161G243G4098G1909G4075G3699G2192G3756G4183G1093G2532G2112G1816G1223G2192G3361G899G10936But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died.G1161G393G2246G393G2739G2532G1223G2192G3361G4491G35837Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.G2532G243G4098G1519G173G2532G173G305G2532G4846G846G2532G1325G3756G25908Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"G2532G243G4098G1519G2570G1093G2532G1325G2590G305G2532G837G2532G5342G1520G5144G2532G1520G1835G2532G1520G15409Then he said, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G2532G3004G846G2192G3775G191G19110Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.G1161G3753G1096G2651G4012G846G4862G1427G2065G846G385011He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,G2532G3004G846G5213G1325G1097G3466G932G2316G1161G1565G1854G3956G1096G1722G385012so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: 'When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.'"G2443G991G991G2532G3361G1492G2532G191G191G2532G3361G4920G3379G1994G2532G265G863G84613Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?G2532G3004G846G1492G3756G5026G3850G2532G4459G1097G3956G385014The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others.G4687G4687G305615The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.G1161G3778G1526G3844G3598G3699G3056G4687G2532G3752G191G4567G2064G2112G2532G142G3056G4687G1722G846G258816The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.G2532G3778G1526G3668G4687G1909G4075G3739G3752G191G3056G2112G2983G846G3326G547917But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.G2532G2192G3756G4491G1722G1438G235G1526G4340G1534G2347G2228G1375G1096G1223G3056G2112G462418The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word,G2532G3778G1526G1526G4687G1519G173G3778G191G305619but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.G2532G3308G5127G165G2532G539G4149G2532G1939G4012G3062G1531G4846G3056G2532G1096G17520And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"G2532G3778G1526G4687G1909G2570G1093G3748G191G3056G2532G3858G2532G2592G1520G5144G2532G1520G1835G2532G1520G1540
Parable of the Lamp
21Then Jesus asked them, "Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.G2532G3004G846G3385G3088G2064G2443G5087G5259G3426G2228G5259G2825G3756G2443G2007G1909G308722For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.G1063G2076G3756G2927G5100G3739G5319G3362G5319G3761G1096G614G235G2443G2064G1519G531823Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G1536G2192G3775G191G19124Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.G2532G3004G846G991G5101G191G1722G3739G3358G3354G3354G5213G2532G5213G191G436925To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."G1063G302G3739G2192G846G1325G2532G3739G2192G3756G575G846G142G2532G3739G2192
Parable of the Growing Seed
26Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.G2532G3004G3779G2076G932G2316G5613G1437G444G906G4703G1909G109327Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.G2532G2518G2532G1453G3571G2532G2250G2532G4703G985G2532G3373G846G1492G3756G561328The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.G1063G1093G2592G844G4412G5528G1534G4719G1534G4134G4621G1722G471929And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come."G1161G3752G2590G3860G2112G649G1407G3754G2326G3936
Parable of the Mustard Seed
30Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?G2532G3004G5101G3666G932G2316G2228G1722G4169G3850G3846G84631It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,G5613G2848G4615G3739G3752G4687G1909G1093G3398G3956G4690G2076G1909G109332but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade."G2532G3752G4687G305G2532G1096G3187G3956G3001G2532G4160G3173G2798G5620G4071G3772G1410G2681G5259G4639G84633Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.G2532G4183G5108G3850G2980G3056G846G2531G1410G19134In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.G1161G5565G3850G2980G3756G846G1161G2398G2596G1956G3956G846G3101
Jesus Calms the Storm
35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."G2532G1722G1565G2250G3798G1096G3004G846G1330G1519G400836So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind .G2532G863G3793G3880G846G5613G2258G1722G4143G1161G2258G2532G3326G846G243G414237But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.G2532G1096G3173G2978G417G1161G2949G1911G1519G4143G5620G846G1072G2235G107238Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?"G2532G846G2258G1909G4403G2518G1909G4344G2532G1326G846G2532G3004G846G1320G3199G4671G3756G3754G62239When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.G2532G1326G2008G417G2532G2036G2281G4623G5392G2532G417G2869G2532G1096G3173G105540Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"G2532G2036G846G5101G2075G3779G1169G4459G2192G3756G410241The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"G2532G5399G5401G3173G2532G3004G240G4314G240G5101G686G2076G3778G3754G2532G417G2532G2281G5219G846
Psalms 96
96Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!H7891H3068H2319H7892H7891H3068H7762Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.H7891H3068H1288H8034H1319H3444H3117H31173Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.H5608H3519H1471H6381H59714Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.H3068H1419H3966H1984H3372H4305The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!H430H5971H457H3068H6213H80646Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.H1935H1926H6440H5797H8597H47207O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.H3051H3068H4940H5971H3051H3068H3519H57978Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts.H3051H3068H3519H8034H5375H4503H935H26919Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.H7812H3068H1927H6944H2342H6440H77610Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.H559H1471H3068H4427H8398H3559H4131H1777H5971H433911Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!H8064H8055H776H1523H3220H7481H439312Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praiseH7704H5937H6086H3293H744213before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.H6440H3068H935H935H8199H776H8199H8398H6664H5971H530
Dublin, OH
spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, "You are the Son of God!"G2532
