Book of Common Prayer

The Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have gazed at, and our hands have handled—concerning the Word of Life! ² That life was displayed, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and we announce to you the life of God’s coming age, which was with the father and was displayed to us. ³ That which we have seen and heard, we announce to you too, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father, and with his son Jesus the Messiah. ⁴ We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

God’s light and our darkness

⁵ This is the message which we have heard from him, and announce to you: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the dark, we are telling lies, and not doing what is true. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, just as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his son makes us pure and clean from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.

Jesus’ fame increases

²⁷ As Jesus was leaving the area, two blind men followed him, shouting “Have pity on us, son of David!” at the tops of their voices.

²⁸ Jesus went into the house, and the blind men came to him.

“Do you believe that I can do this?” asked Jesus.

“Yes, Master,” they replied.

²⁹ Then Jesus touched their eyes. “As you have believed, so let it happen,” he said. ³⁰ And their eyes were opened.

Then Jesus gave them a stern warning. “Take good care,” he said, “that nobody gets to know about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread the news in the whole of that region.

³² After they had left, people brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak. ³³ Jesus cast out the demon, and the man spoke. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this ever happened in Israel,” they said. ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”