The Ascension

       When HE had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, HE lifted up HIS hands and blessed them. While HE was blessing them, HE left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped HIM and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising GOD.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 24, verses 50 - 53

JESUS Appears to the Disciples

       While they were still talking about this, JESUS HIMSELF stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
       They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. HE said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at MY hands and MY feet. It is I MYSELF! Touch ME and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
       When HE had said this, HE showed them HIS hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, HE asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave HIM a piece of broiled fish, and HE took it and ate it in their presence.
       HE said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about ME in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
       Then HE opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. HE told them, "This is what is written: THE CHRIST will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in HIS name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I AM going to send you what MY FATHER has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 24, verses 36 - 49

On the Road to Emmaus

       Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, JESUS HIMSELF came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing HIM.
       HE asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
       They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked HIM, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
       "What things?" HE asked.
       "About JESUS of Nazareth," they replied. "HE was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before GOD and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed HIM over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified HIM; but we had hoped that HE was THE ONE who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find HIS body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said HE was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but HIM they did not see."
       HE said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not THE CHRIST have to suffer these things and then enter HIS glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, HE explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning HIMSELF.
       As they approached the village to which they were going, JESUS acted as if HE were going farther. But they urged HIM strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So HE went in to stay with them.
       When HE was at the table with them, HE took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized HIM, and HE disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while HE talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
       They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! THE LORD has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how JESUS was recognized by them when HE broke the bread.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 24, verses 13 - 35

The Resurrection

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of THE LORD JESUS. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for THE LIVING among the dead? HE is not here; HE has risen! Remember how HE told you, while HE was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered HIS words.
       When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 24, verses 1 - 12

Jesus' Burial

       Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for The Kingdom of GOD. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
       The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how His body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 23, verses 50 - 56

Jesus' Death

       It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "FATHER, into YOUR hands I commit My Spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
       The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised GOD and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 23, verses 44 - 49

The Crucifixion

       As they led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then

       " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
          and to the hills, "Cover us!" '

For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
       Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals--one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "FATHER, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.
       The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is The Christ of GOD, The Chosen One."
       The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, "If You are The King of the Jews, save Yourself."
       There was a written notice above Him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
       One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: "Aren't You The Christ? Save Yourself and us!"
       But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear GOD," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this Man has done nothing wrong."
       Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."
       Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 23, verses 26 - 43

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

       At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. "If You are The Christ," they said, "tell us."
       Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe Me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of THE MIGHTY GOD."
       They all asked, "Are You then The Son of GOD?"
       He replied, "You are right in saying I AM."
       Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from His own lips."
Then the whole assembly rose and led Him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We have found this Man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a King."
       So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are You The King of the Jews?"
       "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
       Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this Man."
       But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by His teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
       On hearing this, Pilate asked if the Man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
       When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform some miracle. He plied Him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in an elegant robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this they had been enemies.
       Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this Man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him. Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; as you can see, He has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish Him and then release Him."
       With one voice they cried out, "Away with this Man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
       Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
       For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this Man committed? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him punished and then release Him."
       But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 66 - 71 & chapter 23, verses 1 - 25

The Guards Mock Jesus

       The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit You?" And they said many other insulting things to Him.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 63 - 65

Peter Disowns Jesus

       Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with Him."
       But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know Him," he said.
       A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
       "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
       About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean."
       Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word The Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 54 - 62

Jesus Arrested

       While He was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying The Son of Man with a kiss?"
       When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
       But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And He touched the man's ear and healed him.
       Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for Him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 47 - 53

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

       Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "FATHER, if YOU are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but YOURS be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
       When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 39 - 46

The Last Supper

       Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
       "Where do You want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
       He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
       They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
       When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in The Kingdom of GOD."
       After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until The Kingdom of GOD comes."
       And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
       In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray Me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays Him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
       Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. And I confer on you a Kingdom, just as My FATHER conferred one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
       "Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
       But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death."
       Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me."
       Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
       "Nothing," they answered.
       He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in Me. Yes, what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment."
       The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
       "That is enough," He replied.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 7 - 38

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 22, verses 1 - 6

Signs of the End of the Age

       Some of His disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to GOD. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
       "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
       He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I Am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
       Then He said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
       "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.
       "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
       "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see The Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
       He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that The Kingdom of GOD is near.
       "I tell you the truth, 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.
       "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before The Son of Man."
       Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the temple.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 21, verses 5 - 38

The Widow's Offering

As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," He said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 21, verses 1 - 4

Whose Son Is The Christ?

       Then Jesus said to them, "How is it that they say The Christ is the Son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

       " 'THE LORD said to my Lord:
          "Sit at MY right hand
       until I make Your enemies
          a footstool for Your feet." '

David calls Him 'Lord.' How then can He be his son?"
       While all the people were listening, Jesus said to His disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 20, verses 41 - 47

The Resurrection and Marriage

       Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"
       Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are GOD's children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls THE LORD 'The GOD of Abraham, and The GOD of Isaac, and The GOD of Jacob.' He is not The GOD of the dead, but of the living, for to HIM all are alive."
       Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!" And no one dared to ask Him any more questions.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 20, verses 27 - 40

Paying Taxes to Caesar

       Keeping a close watch on Him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something He said so that they might hand Him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned Him: "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
       He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
       "Caesar's," they replied.
       He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to GOD what is GOD's."
       They were unable to trap Him in what He had said there in public. And astonished by His answer, they became silent.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 20, verses 20 - 26

The Parable of the Tenants

       He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
       "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.'
       "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
       "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."
       When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
       Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

       " 'The stone the builders rejected
          has become the capstone'?

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
       The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest Him immediately, because they knew He had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 20, verses 9 - 19

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

One day as He was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to Him. "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things," they said. "Who gave You this authority?"
       He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?"
       They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
       So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."
       Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I Am doing these things."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 20, verses 1 - 8

Jesus at the Temple

       Then He entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," He said to them, " 'MY house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.' "
       Every day He was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill Him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on His words.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 19, verses 45 - 48

The Triumphal Entry

       After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
       Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
       They replied, "The Lord needs it."
       They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
       When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise GOD in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

       "Blessed is The King who comes in the name of The Lord!"

       "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

       Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!"
       "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
       As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of GOD's coming to you."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 19, verses 28 - 44

The Parable of the Ten Minas

       While they were listening to this, He went on to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and the people thought that The Kingdom of GOD was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
       "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
       "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
       "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
       " 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
       "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
       "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
       "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir,' here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
       "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
       "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
       " 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
       "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.' "


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 19, verses 11 - 27

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way.
       When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.
       All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
       But Zacchaeus stood up and said to The Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
       Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 19, verses 1 - 10

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

       As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
       He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
       Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
       Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
       "Lord, I want to see," he replied.
       Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising GOD. When all the people saw it, they also praised GOD.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 35 - 43

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

       Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about The Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again."
       The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 31 - 34

The Rich Ruler

       A certain ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, 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: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' "
       "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
       When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."
       When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter The Kingdom of GOD! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter The Kingdom of GOD."
       Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"
       Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with GOD."
       Peter said to Him, "We have left all we had to follow You!"
       "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of The Kingdom of GOD will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 18 - 30

The Little Children and Jesus

       People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have Him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for The Kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive The Kingdom of GOD like a little child will never enter it."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 15 - 17

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

       To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'GOD, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
       "But the tax collector stood at a distance. he would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
       "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before GOD. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 9 - 14

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared GOD nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
       "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear GOD or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
       And The Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not GOD bring about justice for HIS chosen ones, who cry out to HIM day and night? Will HE keep putting them off? I tell you, HE will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when The Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 18, verses 1 - 8

The Coming of The Kingdom of GOD

       Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when The Kingdom of GOD would come, Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of GOD does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here It is,' or 'There It is,' because The Kingdom of GOD is within you."
       Then He said to His disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of The Son of Man, but you will not see it. Men will tell you, 'There He is!' or 'Here He is!' Do not go running off after them. For The Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
       "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of The Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
       "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
       "It will be just like this on the day The Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."
       "Where, Lord?" they asked.
       He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."


The Gospel of Luke; chapter 17, verses 20 - 37

Ten Healed of Leprosy

       Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
       When He saw them, He said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
       One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising GOD in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him--and he was a Samaritan.
       Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to GOD except this foreigner?" Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 17, verses 11 - 19

Sin, Faith, Duty

Jesus said to His disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.
       "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
       The apostles said to The Lord, "Increase our faith!"
       He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
       "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 17, verses 1 - 10

The Rich Man and Lazarus

       "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
       "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
       "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
       "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
       "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
       " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
       "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 16, verses 19 - 31

The Law

       "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of The Kingdom of GOD is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
       "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 16, verses 16 - 18

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Jesus told His disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'
       "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
       "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
       " 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied.
       "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'
       "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'
       " 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.
       "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
       "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
       "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
       "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both GOD and money."
       The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but GOD knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in GOD's sight.


The Gospel of Luke: chapter 16, verses 1 - 15