Luke 8; Luke 9

Luke 8

1 After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God's kingdom. The Twelve were with him.

2 So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her.

3 Another was Joanna, the wife of Cuza. He was the manager of Herod's household. Susanna and many others were there also. These women were helping to support Jesus and the Twelve with their own money.

4 A large crowd gathered together. People came to Jesus from town after town. As they did, he told a story. He said,

5 "A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds of the air ate it up.

6 Some seed fell on rocky places. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water.

7 Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants.

8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted." When Jesus said this, he called out, "Those who have ears should listen."

9 His disciples asked him what the story meant.

10 He said, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God's kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way, " 'They see, but they will not know what they are seeing. They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.' (Isaiah 6:9)

11 "Here is what the story means. The seed is God's message.

12 People on the path are those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won't believe. Then they can't be saved.

13 Those on the rock are the ones who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are put to the test, they fall away from the faith.

14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth.

15 "But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. They hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.

16 "People do not light a lamp and then hide it in a jar or put it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand. Then those who come in can see its light.

17 What is hidden will be seen. And what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known.

18 "So be careful how you listen. If you have something, you will be given more. If you have nothing, even what you think you have will be taken away from you."

19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd.

20 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you."

21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and do what it says."

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and left.

23 As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake. It was so bad that the boat was about to sink. They were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke Jesus up. They said, "Master! Master! We're going to drown!" He got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop. The storm quieted down. It was completely calm.

25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. They were amazed and full of fear. They asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him."

26 Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee.

27 When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don't hurt me!"

29 This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. His hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.

30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

31 And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it.

33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.

34 Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside.

35 The people went out to see what had happened. Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid.

36 Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed.

37 Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him,

39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

40 When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him.

41 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house.

42 His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her.

44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped.

45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. They all said they didn't do it. Then Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you."

46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me."

47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant.

48 Then he said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," the messenger said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore."

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed."

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.

52 During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. "Stop crying!" Jesus said. "She is not dead. She is sleeping."

53 They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.

54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"

55 Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

56 Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 9

1 Jesus called the Twelve together. He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to heal sicknesses.

2 Then he sent them out to preach about God's kingdom and to heal those who were sick.

3 He told them, "Don't take anything for the journey. Do not take a walking stick or a bag. Do not take any bread, money or extra clothes.

4 When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town.

5 Some people may not welcome you. If they don't, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town. This will be a witness against the people living there."

6 So the Twelve left. They went from village to village. They preached the good news and healed people everywhere.

7 Now Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything that was going on. He was bewildered, because some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.

8 Others were saying that Elijah had appeared. Still others were saying that a prophet of long ago had come back to life.

9 But Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. So who is it that I hear such things about?" And he tried to see Jesus.

10 The apostles returned. They told Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him. They went off by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.

11 But the crowds learned about it and followed Jesus. He welcomed them and spoke to them about God's kingdom. He also healed those who needed to be healed.

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him. They said, "Send the crowd away. They can go to the nearby villages and countryside. There they can find food and a place to stay. There is nothing here."

13 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." The disciples answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. We would have to go and buy food for all this crowd."

14 About 5,000 men were there. But Jesus said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each."

15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.

16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them into pieces. Then he gave them to the disciples to set in front of the people.

17 All of them ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.

18 One day Jesus was praying alone. Only his disciples were with him. He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."

20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

21 Jesus strongly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

22 He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. The elders will not accept him. The chief priests and teachers of the law will not accept him either. He must be killed and on the third day rise from the dead."

23 Then he said to all of them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me.

24 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will save it.

25 What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses or gives up his very self?

26 "Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words. The Son of Man will come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Then he will be ashamed of you.

27 "What I'm about to tell you is true. Some who are standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom."

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he went up on a mountain to pray. He took Peter, John and James with him.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed. His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,

31 appeared in shining glory. Jesus and the two of them talked together. They spoke about his coming death. He was going to die soon in Jerusalem.

32 Peter and his companions had been very sleepy. But then they became completely awake. They saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter spoke up. "Master," he said to him, "it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He didn't really know what he was saying.

34 While Jesus was speaking, a cloud appeared. It surrounded them. The disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 A voice came from the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I have chosen him. Listen to him."

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept quiet about this. They didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

37 The next day Jesus and those who were with him came down from the mountain. A large crowd met Jesus.

38 A man in the crowd called out. "Teacher," he said, "I beg you to look at my son. He is my only child.

39 A spirit takes hold of him, and he suddenly screams. It throws him into fits so that he foams at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him. It is destroying him.

40 I begged your disciples to drive it out. But they couldn't do it."

41 "You unbelieving and evil people!" Jesus replied. "How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?" Then he said to the man, "Bring your son here."

42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him into a fit. The boy fell to the ground. But Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave the boy. Then Jesus healed him and gave him back to his father.

43 They were all amazed at God's greatness. Everyone was wondering about all that Jesus did. Then Jesus said to his disciples,

44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men."

45 But they didn't understand what this meant. That was because it was hidden from them. And they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.

46 The disciples began to argue about which one of them would be the most important person.

47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had the child stand beside him.

48 Then he spoke to them. "Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me," he said. "And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. The least important person among all of you is the most important."

49 "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."

50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "Anyone who is not against you is for you."

51 The time grew near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. So he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem.

52 He sent messengers on ahead. They went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him.

53 But the people there did not welcome Jesus. That was because he was heading for Jerusalem.

54 The disciples James and John saw this. They asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them?"

55 But Jesus turned and commanded them not to do it.

56 They went on to another village.

57 Once Jesus and those who were with him were walking along the road. A man said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go."

58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes. Birds of the air have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

60 Jesus said to him, "Let dead people bury their own dead. You go and tell others about God's kingdom."

61 Still another man said, "I will follow you, Lord. But first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

62 Jesus replied, "Suppose you start to plow and then look back. If you do, you are not fit for service in God's kingdom."