Month: June 2024

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to Him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

“I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe in John. But if we say it was merely human, we will be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, :We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” (vv 23-27, NLT)

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” He asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to You, one on your right, and the other on Your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what your are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!:”

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on My right or My left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones He has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over the people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever want to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (vv. 20-28, NLT)

When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed Him there, and He healed their sick.

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap Him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason?”

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning, ‘God made them male and female.'” And He said,”‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally contended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery – unless his wife has been unfaithful.”

Jesus’ disciples then said to him “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”

“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those who God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, and some have been made eunuchs by others, and some chose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” (vv. 1-12, NLT)

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said,”I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child. is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trust in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drown into the depths of the sea.”

What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” (vv 1-7, NLT)

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers James and John, and led then upon a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking to Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials – one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Then Jesus cam over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has ben raised from the dead.” (vv. 1-9, NLT)

When Jesus came to the region of Caeserea Philipi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then He asked them,”But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and al the power in hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Then He sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. (vv. 13-20, NLT)

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who live there came to Him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”

But Jesus gave no reply, not even a word. Then His disciples urged Him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep – the people of Israel.”

But she came and worshiped Him, pleading, “Lord, help me!”

Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master’s table.”

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. (vv. 21-28, NLT)

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that the disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while He sent the people home. After sending them home, He went to the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About 3 0’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on water. When the disciples saw Him walking on water, they were terrified. In fear they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Dont’ be afraid,” He said. “Take courage, I am here!”

Then Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when He saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith, ” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt Me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped Him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (vv. 22-33, NLT)

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do You use parables when You talk to other people?”

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others do not. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use parables.

For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand, When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes – so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot not come to Me and let Me heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” (vv. 10-17, NLT)