The Death of John the Baptist.

       It was this same Herod who had ordered John to be arrested and put in chains in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had told Herod, "It is unlawful for you to have your brother's wife."

       As for Herodias, she was filled with resentment against John and wanted to have him killed, but she was unable to do so, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a holy and righteous man. Therefore, he protected him from harm. When he heard John speak, he was greatly perplexed by his words, but even so he liked to listen to him.

       Her opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his court officials and military officers and the leaders of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in, she performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask I will give you, even half of my kingdom."

       The girl went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl then hurried back to the king and made her request, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

       The king was greatly distressed, but because of the oath he had sworn and the presence of the guests, he was unwilling to break his word to her. Therefore, he immediately ordered an executioner to bring him John's head. The man went off and beheaded him in the prison. Then he brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl in turn gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came and removed his body and laid it in a tomb.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 6, VERSES 17 - 29

The Name of JESUS Becomes Renowned.

       King Herod heard of it, for JESUS' name had become renowned, and some people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why such powers are at work in HIM." But others said, "HE is Elijah," while still others proclaimed, "HE is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 6, VERSES 14 - 16

JESUS Sends Out the Twelve on Mission.

       JESUS traveled through the villages teaching. Calling the Twelve together, HE began to send them out two by two, with authority over unclean spirits. HE instructed them to take nothing for their journey except a walking staff--no bread, no sack, no money in their purses. They were to wear sandals but not to take along a second tunic.

       HE said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, you are to stay there until you leave the area. And if any will not welcome you and refuse to listen to you, leave them immediately and shake off the dust that is on your feet in testimony against them." Then they set off and preached the need for repentance. They cast out many demons, and they anointed with oil many people who were sick and cured them.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 6, VERSES 6 - 13

JESUS Is Rejected at Nazareth.

Departing from that district, JESUS went to HIS hometown accompanied by HIS disciples. On the Sabbath, HE began to teach in the synagogue, and many of those who heard HIM asked in amazement, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that HE has been granted? What mighty deeds HE performs! Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not HIS sisters here with us?" And so they took offense at HIM.

       Then JESUS said to them, "A prophet is always treated with honor except in his hometown, and among relatives, and in his own house." And HE was unable to perform any mighty works there, aside from curing a few sick people by laying HIS hands on them. HE was amazed at their lack of faith.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 6, VERSES 1 - 6

JESUS Heals a Woman and Raises a Child.

       When JESUS had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around HIM, and HE stayed by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came forward, and when he saw JESUS he threw himself down at HIS feet and pleaded with HIM, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. I beg YOU to come and lay YOUR hands on her so that she may recover and live." JESUS went with him, and a large number accompanied HIM and crowded around HIM.

       There was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. In spite of long and painful treatment at the hands of many doctors, her condition not only had failed to improve but had actually become worse, and she had spent everything she had. Having heard about JESUS, she came up behind HIM in the crowd and touched HIS cloak, for she thought, "If I simply touch HIS clothing, I shall be made well." And immediately her bleeding dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

       Instantly aware that power had gone forth from HIM, JESUS turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched MY clothing?" HIS disciples said in reply, "YOU see this vast throng pressing upon YOU. How can YOU ask, 'Who touched ME?' " However, HE continued to look around to determine who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She knelt before HIM and revealed to HIM the whole truth. HE said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your affliction."

       While HE was still speaking, some people from the house of the synagogue leader arrived and said, "Your daughter has died. Why bother THE TEACHER any further?" JESUS heard the message they had delivered, but HE said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid. Just have faith." HE allowed no one to accompany HIM except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

       When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, HE observed a great deal of commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. When HE entered, HE said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead; she is asleep." In response, they laughed at HIM.

       After sending them all outside, HE took with HIM the child's father and mother and HIS own companions and entered the room where the child was. HE took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" which means: "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" And immediately the girl, a child of twelve, got up and began to walk around.

       On witnessing this, they were all overcome with amazement, but HE gave them strict instructions that no one should be told anything about this. Then HE told them to give her something to eat.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 5, VERSES 21 - 43

JESUS Heals the Gerasene Demoniac.

They reached the region of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake. No sooner had HE stepped out of the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came up to HIM from the tombs. The man had been living in the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, not even with chains. For he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but he had snapped the chains and smashed the shackles to pieces, and no one had sufficient strength to subdue him. Day and night among the tombs and on the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones.

       When the man caught sight of JESUS from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before HIM, as he shouted at the top of his voice, "What do YOU want with me, JESUS, SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I implore YOU in GOD's name: do not torment me!" For JESUS had said to him, "Unclean spirit, come out of the man!" Then HE asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for there are many of us." And he begged HIM earnestly not to send them out of the country.

       Now on the mountainside a great herd of pigs was feeding. And they pleaded with HIM, "Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them." HE allowed this. With that, the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, charged down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned in the waters.

       Those tending the pigs ran off and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. As a result, people came out to see what had happened. When they came near JESUS, they saw the man who had been possessed by Legion sitting there fully clothed and in his right mind, and they were frightened. Those who had been eyewitnesses to the incident confirmed what had happened to the demoniac and what had happened to the pigs. Then they began to implore JESUS to leave their region.

       As JESUS was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons pleaded to be allowed to go with HIM. However, JESUS would not permit him to do so, and instead told him, "Go home to your own people and tell them what THE LORD has done for you, and how HE has had mercy on you." The man then departed and began to make known throughout the Decapolis what JESUS had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 5, VERSES 1 - 20

JESUS Calms the Storm.

       On that day, as evening approached, HE said to them, "Let US cross over to the other side." And so, leaving the crowd behind, they took HIM with them in the boat just as HE was. Some other boats joined them.

       Suddenly, a great storm came up, and the waves were crashing over the boat so that it was almost swamped. JESUS was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They awakened HIM and said, "TEACHER do YOU not care that we are perishing?"

       Then HE stood up and rebuked the wind, and HE said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. HE said to them, "Why are you so frightened? Are you still without faith?" They were filled with awe and said to one another, "Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey HIM."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 35 - 41

The Usefulness of Parables.

       With many such parables as these HE spoke the word to them so far as they were able to comprehend it. HE never spoke to them except in parables, but HE explained everything to HIS disciples when they were by themselves.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 33 & 34

The Parable of the Mustard Seed.

       HE then said, "With what shall we compare The Kingdom of GOD, or what parable can we use to explain it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the greatest of all plants, and it puts forth large branches so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 30 - 32

The Parable of the Secretly Growing Seed.

       HE went on to say, "The Kingdom of GOD is like this. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he sleeps and while he is awake, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not understand how. The ground produces fruit of its own accord--first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ripe, he immediately stretches out the sickle because the time for harvest has come."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 26 - 29