Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day four.
When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people he returned to Capernaum.
At that time, the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death.
When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders
to ask him to come and heal his slave.
So they earnestly begged to Jesus to help the man.
If anyone deserves your help, he does.
They said, For, he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.
So Jesus went with them.
But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some
friends to say, Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home.
For I am not worthy of such an honor.
I am not even worthy to come and meet you.
Just say the word from where you are and my servant will be healed.
I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers.
And I have authority over my soldiers.
I only need to say, go.
And they go or come and they come.
And if I say to my slaves, do this, they do it.
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed turning to the
crowd that was following him.
He said, I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this at all Israel.
And when the officer's friends returned to his house, they found
the slave completely healed.
Soon afterward, Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain,
and a large crowd followed him.
The funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate.
The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd
from the village was with her.
When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion.
Don't cry, he said.
Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped.
Young man, he said, I tell you, get up.
Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk, and Jesus
gave him back to his mother.
Great fear swept the crowd and they praised God saying A mighty
prophet has risen among us and God has visited his people today.
And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.
The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing.
So John called for two of his disciples and he sent them to the
Lord to ask him, are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should
we keep looking for someone else?
John's two disciples found Jesus and said to him, John the Baptist,
sent us to ask, are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should
we keep looking for someone else?
At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses,
and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
Then he told John's disciples, go back to John and tell him
what you have seen and heard.
The Blind Sea, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured.
The death here, the dead are raised to life, and the good news
is being preached to the poor.
And he added, God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.
After John's disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds.
What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see?
Was he a weak reed swayed by every breath of wind, or were you expecting to see
a man dressed in expensive clothes?
No.
People who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces.
Were you looking for a prophet?
Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
John is the man to whom the scriptures refer when they say, look, I am sending
my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.
I tell you of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John,
yet even the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.
When they heard this, all the people, even the tax collectors agreed that
God's Way was right for they had been baptized by John, but the Pharisees and
experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused
John's baptism to, what can I compare?
The people of this generation, Jesus asked, how can I describe them?
They're like children playing a game in the public square.
They complain to their friends.
We played wedding songs and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs and
you didn't weep for John the Baptist, didn't spend his time eating bread or
drinking wine, and you say he's possessed by a demon, the son of man, on the other
hand, feasts and drinks, and you say he's a glutton and a drunkard and a friend
of tax collectors and other sinners.
But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home
and sat down to eat when a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating
there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.
Then she knelt behind him at his feet weeping.
Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair.
Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, if this
man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him.
She's a sinner.
Then Jesus answered his thoughts, Simon, he said to the Pharisee,
I have something to say to you.
Go ahead, teacher.
Simon replied, then Jesus told him this story.
A man loaned money to two people, 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces
to the other, but neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave
them both canceling their debts.
Who do you suppose loved him more after that?
Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.
That's right, Jesus said.
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, look at this woman kneeling here.
When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from
my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in,
she has not stopped kissing my feet.
You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has
anointed my feet with rare perfume.
I tell you her sins, and they are many have been forgiven, so she has shown me
much love, but a person who is forgiven.
Little shows, only little love.
Then Jesus said to the woman, your sins are forgiven.
The man at the table said among themselves, who is this man that he goes
around forgiving sins, and Jesus said to the woman, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace.
Soon afterward, Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages
preaching and announcing the good news about the kingdom of God.
He took his 12 disciples with him, along with some women who had been
cured of evil spirits and diseases.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
Joanna, the wife of Cusa, Herod's business manager, Susanna and many others who were
contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
One day, Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had
gathered from many towns to hear him.
A farmer went out to plant his seed as he scattered it across his field.
Some seat fell on a footpath where it was stepped on and the birds ate it.
Other seed fell among rocks.
It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.
Other seed fell among thorns.
It grew up with it and choked out the tender.
Plants still other seed fell on fertile soil.
This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times
as much as had been planted.
When he had said this, he called out anyone with ears to hear,
should listen and understand.
His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
He replied, you are permitted to understand the secrets
of the kingdom of God.
But I use parables to teach the others so that the scriptures
might be fulfilled when they look.
They won't really see.
When they hear, they won't understand this is the meaning of the parable.
The seed is God's word.
The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message
only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent
them from believing and being saved.
The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the
message and receive it with joy.
But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they
fall away When they face temptation, the seeds that fell among the thorns
represent those who hear the message.
But all too quickly, the message is crowded out by the cares and
riches and pleasures of this life.
And so they never grow into maturity.
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted
people who hear God's word clinging to it and patiently produce a huge harvest.
No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed.
A lamp is placed on a stand where its light can be seen
by all who enter the house.
For all that, a secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything
that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
So pay attention to how you hear to those who listen to my teaching.
More understanding will be given, but for those who are not listening,
even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.
Then Jesus mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn't
get to him because of the crowd.
Someone told Jesus, your mother and your brothers are standing
outside and they want to see you.
Jesus replied, my mother and my brothers are all those who
hear God's word and obey it.
One day, Jesus said to his disciples, let's cross to the other side of the lake.
So they got into a boat and started out.
As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap, but soon a
fierce storm came down on the lake.
The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
The disciples went and woke him up shouting, master,
master we're going to drown.
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves.
Suddenly the storm stopped.
It all was calm, and then he asked them, where is your faith?
The disciples were terrified and amazed.
Who is this man?
They asked each other.
When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him.
So they arrived in the region of the Kerosenes across the lake from Galilee,
as Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons
came out to meet him For a long time.
He had been homeless and naked living in the tombs outside the town.
As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him.
Then he screamed.
Why are you interfering with me?
Jesus, son of the most high, God, please, I beg you, don't torture me.
For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him.
The Spirit had often taken control of a man.
Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and
shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness
completely under the demon's power.
Jesus demanded, what is your name?
Legion he replied for, he was filled with many demons.
The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside
nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.
So Jesus gave them permission, and then the demons came out of the
man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep
hillside into the lake and drowned.
When the herdsman saw it, they fled to the nearby town in the surrounding
countryside, spreading the news.
As they ran, people rushed out to see what had happened.
A crowd soon gathered around Jesus and they saw the man who
had been freed from the demons.
He was sitting at Jesus' feet fully clothed and perfectly
sane, and they were all afraid.
Then those who had seen what happened, told the others how the
demon possessed man had been healed.
And all the people in the region of the Kerosenes begged Jesus to
go away and leave them alone for a great wave of fear swept over them.
So Jesus returned to the boat and left crossing back to
the other side of the lake.
The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him, but
Jesus sent him home saying, no, go back to your family and tell them
everything God has done for you.
So he went all through the town, proclaiming the great
things Jesus had done for him on the other side of the lake.
The crowds welcomed Jesus because they had been waiting for him.
Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and
fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come home with him.
His only daughter who was about 12 years old was dying as Jesus went with him.
He was surrounded by the crowds.
A woman in the crowd had suffered for 12 years with constant bleeding
and she could find no cure.
Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe.
Immediately the bleeding stopped.
Who touched me?
Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, master, this whole crowd
is pressing up against you.
But Jesus said someone deliberately touched me for I
felt healing power go out from me.
When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble
and fell to her knees in front of him.
The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that
she had been immediately healed.
Daughter, he said to her, your faith has made you well go in peace.
While he was still speaking to her.
A messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue.
He told him, your daughter is dead.
There's no use troubling the teacher now.
But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, don't be afraid.
Just have faith and she will be healed.
When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with him
except Peter, John, James, and the little girl's, father and mother.
The house was filled with people weeping and wailing,
but he said, Stop the weeping.
She isn't dead.
She's only asleep.
But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.
Then Jesus took her by the hand and said, in a loud voice, my child, get up.
And at that moment, her life returned and she immediately stood up.
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not
tell anyone what had happened.
One day, Jesus called together his 12 disciples and gave them power
and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.
Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the kingdom
of God and to heal the sick.
Take nothing for your journey.
He instructed them.
Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even
a change of clothes wherever you go.
Stay in the same house until you leave town.
And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet
as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.
So they began their circuit of the villages preaching the
good news and healing the sick.
When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything
Jesus was doing, he was puzzled.
Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
I beheaded John Herod said, so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?
And he kept trying to see him.
When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done.
Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town to beta.
But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him.
He welcomed them and taught them about the kingdom of God that
he healed those who were sick.
Late in the afternoon, the 12 disciples came to him and said, send the crowds away
to the nearby villages and farms so they can find food and lodging for the night.
There was nothing to eat here in this remote place, but Jesus said,
you feed them, but we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.
They answered, or are you expecting us to go and buy
enough food for this whole crowd?
For, there were about 5,000 men there.
Jesus replied, tell them to sit down in groups of about 50 each.
So the people all sat down.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish looked up toward heaven and blessed them.
Then breaking the loaves into pieces.
He kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could
distribute it to the people.
They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward the disciples
picked up 12 baskets of leftovers.
One day, Jesus left the crowds to pray alone.
Only his disciples were with him and he asked them, who do people say I am?
Well, they replied.
Some say John the Baptist.
Some say Elijah and others say, you are one of the other ancient
prophets risen from the dead.
Then he asked them, but who do you say I am?
Peter replied, you are the Messiah sent from God.
Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was.
The son of man must suffer many terrible things.
He said He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests
and the teachers of religious law.
He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.
Then he said to the crowd, if any of you wants to be my follower,
you must give up your own way.
Take up your cross daily and follow me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life, for my sake, you will save it.
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are
yourself lost or destroyed?
If anyone is ashamed of me in my message, the son of man will be
ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory
of the Father and the Holy Angels.
I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before
they see the kingdom of God.
About eight days later, Jesus took Peter, John and James up on a mountain
to pray, and as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed.
And his clothes became dazzling white.
Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
They were glorious to see, and they were speaking about his exodus
from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Peter and the others had fallen asleep.
When they woke up, they saw Jesus glory and the two men standing with him as
Moses and Elijah were starting to leave.
Peter not even knowing what he was saying.
Blurted out master, it's wonderful for us to be here.
Let's make three shelters as memorials.
One for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.
But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them and terror
gripped them as the cloud covered them.
Then a voice from the cloud said, this is my son, my chosen one.
Listen to him.
When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone.
They didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.
A man in the crowd called out to him.
Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child, an evil spirit
keeps seizing him, making him scream.
It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth.
It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone.
I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn't do it.
Jesus said, you faithless and corrupt people.
How long must I be with you and put up with you?
And then he said to the man, bring your son here.
As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw
him into a violent convulsion.
But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy.
Then he gave him back to his father.
Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God's power.
While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,
listen to me and remember what I say.
The son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies, but
they didn't know what he meant.
Its significance was hidden from them so they couldn't understand it, and
they were afraid to ask him about it.
Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest,
but Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.
Then he said to them, anyone who welcomes a little child like
this on my behalf welcomes me.
And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my father, who sent me.
Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.
John said to Jesus, master, we saw someone using your name to cast
out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group.
But Jesus said, don't stop him.
Anyone who is not against you is for you.
This concludes today's immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.