Beginning
Sowing Good News from Town to Town
8 Soon afterward, Yeshua began traveling throughout towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The twelve were also with Him. 2 And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Miriam, the one called Magdalene, out of whom seven demons had gone; 3 Joanna, the wife of Kuza, Herod’s finance minister; Susanna; and many others—were supporting them out of their own resources.
4 And when a large crowd was gathering and those from various towns were traveling to Him, He spoke by means of a parable. 5 “The sower went out to spread his seed. As he sowed, some fell beside the road and was trampled; and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 And other seed fell on rock; when it came up, that seed withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And other seed fell into the good soil; and when it came up, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” While saying these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
9 Now His disciples were asking Him what this parable meant. 10 Then Yeshua said to them, “To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others it is given in parables,[a] in order that
‘Seeing, they may
not see,
and hearing, they may
not understand.’[b]
11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 But those on the rocky places are the ones who, when they hear, accept the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a season, and in a time of testing fall away. 14 Now that which fell into the thorns are those who were hearing; but as they go along the way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good soil are those with a praiseworthy and good heart, who have heard the word and hold it fast and bear fruit with patient endurance.
16 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with some object or places it under a bed. But he puts it on a lampstand so that all those who enter may be able to see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor secret that shall not be known and come into open view. 18 So pay attention how you listen. For whoever has, to him more will be given. And whoever does not have, even what he supposes he has will be taken away from him.”
19 Yeshua’s mother and brothers came to Him, but were not able to reach Him through the crowd. 20 Now it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”
21 But answering, He said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who are hearing the word of God and doing it.”
Crossing a Stormy Sea
22 Now on one of those days Yeshua and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s move to the other side of the lake.” So they set out. 23 Then as they were sailing, He fell asleep. A violent windstorm came down on the lake, and they were swamped with water and in danger.
24 They came to Yeshua and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re perishing!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging wave of water. Then they stopped, and it became calm.[c]
25 Then Yeshua said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”
Not Welcome in the Gerasenes
26 They sailed over to the country of the Gerasenes, which is on the opposite side of the Galilee. 27 A demon-plagued man from the town met Yeshua as He was coming out onto the land. The man hadn’t worn any clothing for a long time and was living not in a house but in the tombs.
28 Seeing Yeshua, he cried out and fell down before Yeshua, and with a loud voice said, “What’s between You and me, Yeshua, Ben El Elyon? I’m begging You, do not torment me!” 29 For Yeshua commanded the defiling spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him so that, even though he was restrained and bound with chains and shackles, he would break the chains and be driven by the demons into the desert.
30 Yeshua questioned him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he said, for many demons had entered him. 31 They kept begging Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. [d] 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding on the mountain. The demons urged Yeshua to let them enter these pigs, and He gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs. The herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and was drowned. 34 But when the herdsmen saw what happened, they ran away and reported it in the town and countryside.
35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Yeshua and found the man from whom the demons had gone—clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Yeshua. And they were frightened. 36 Now those who had seen it reported how the demon-plagued man had been restored. 37 And all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Yeshua to go away from them because they were overcome by great fear. So He got into a boat and returned.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Yeshua. But Yeshua sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and describe all that God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Yeshua had done for him.
Interrupted on the Way to a Miracle
40 As Yeshua returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. 41 And here came a man named Jairus, a leader in the synagogue. Falling at Yeshua’s feet, he begged Him to come to his house, 42 because his only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying. But as He made His way, the masses were crushing in upon Him.
43 And there was a woman with a blood flow for twelve years,[e] who could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up from behind and touched the tzitzit of Yeshua’s garment. Immediately, her blood flow stopped. 45 Yeshua said, “Who touched Me?”
When everyone denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding You and pressing in!”
46 But Yeshua said, “Someone touched Me, for I recognized power going out from Me.” 47 Then seeing that she did not escape notice, the woman came trembling and fell prostrate before Him. In the presence of all the people, she confessed why she had touched Him and how she had been healed immediately. 48 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in shalom.”
49 While He was still speaking, someone comes from the house of the synagogue leader, saying, “Your daughter has died. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.”
50 But hearing this, Yeshua replied to him, “Do not fear—just keep trusting, and she shall be restored.”
51 When Yeshua came into the house, He didn’t let anyone enter with Him except Peter, John, Jacob, and the child’s father and mother. 52 And everyone was weeping and lamenting her; but He said, “Don’t weep, for she didn’t die but is sleeping.” 53 But they were ridiculing Him, knowing she had died.
54 But Yeshua, took her by the hand and called out, saying, “Child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. Yeshua ordered food to be given to her to eat. 56 Her parents were utterly astonished, but He ordered them to say nothing of what had happened.
Sending Out the Twelve
9 Now when Yeshua called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no travel bag, no bread, no money, nor even to have two shirts. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there. 5 And whoever does not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.” 6 So they went out and began traveling throughout the villages, proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard all that was happening. He was very confused, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 but others that Elijah had appeared, and others that some prophet from among the ancients had arisen. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
A Hungry Crowd in a Desolate Place
10 When the emissaries returned, they described to Yeshua all they had done. Then He took them along and withdrew privately to a city named Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out and followed Him. So Yeshua welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those in need of healing.
12 Now the day began to wind down, and the twelve came and said to Yeshua, “Send the crowd away, so they might go into the nearby villages and countryside and find food and lodging; for we are in a desolate place here.”
13 But Yeshua said to them, “You give them something to eat!”
But they said, “We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go to buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.
Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Have the people recline in groups of about fifty each.” 15 They did so, and all reclined. 16 And He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up to heaven, He offered the bracha and broke them. And He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Then they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of the fragments.
Secrets Revealed to the Disciples Alone
18 Once when Yeshua was praying alone and His disciples were near, He put a question to them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 They replied, “John the Immerser, but others Elijah, and others that some prophet from among the ancients has arisen.”
20 Then He said to them, “But who do you that say I am?”
Then Peter answered and said, “The Messiah of God.”
21 But Yeshua warned them, and He ordered them not to tell this to anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and ruling kohanim and Torah scholars, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
23 Then Yeshua was saying to everyone, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
25 “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. [f] 27 But I tell you truthfully, there are some standing here who will never taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Glorified on a Mountain
28 About eight days after these teachings, Yeshua took Peter, John, and Jacob with Him and went up the mountain to pray. 29 While He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothing flashed like white lightning. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah. 31 Appearing in glory, they were speaking of Yeshua’s departure, which was about to take place in Jerusalem.
32 Now Peter and those with him were overcome with sleep. But when they awakened, they saw Yeshua’s glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And as they were leaving Yeshua, Peter said to Him, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s make three sukkot: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.
34 While he was yet saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the One I have chosen. Listen to Him!” [g] 36 And after the voice happened, Yeshua was found alone. They kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
Coming Down from the Mountaintop
37 On the next day as they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Yeshua. 38 Suddenly a man from the crowd shouted out loudly, saying, “Teacher, I’m begging You to look at my son, for he’s my only child! 39 You see, a spirit takes hold of him, and he immediately screams. It throws him into convulsions with frothing. It hardly ever leaves him—it’s crushing him! 40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 Then answering, Yeshua said, “O faithless and twisted generation,[h] how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 And while the boy was still approaching Yeshua, the demon knocked him down to the ground and threw him into convulsions. But Yeshua rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and restored him to his father. 43 And all were amazed at the mighty power of God. But as everyone was marveling at all He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44 “Put these words into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement; it was yet concealed from them so they could not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
46 Now a dispute began between the disciples as to who might be the greatest among them. 47 But Yeshua, knowing the reasoning of their heart, took a child and set him by His side. 48 He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in My name, welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me, welcomes the One who sent Me. The one who is the least among all of you is the one who is great.”
49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he doesn’t follow along with us.”
50 Yeshua said to him, “Do not stop him, for he who is not against you is for you.”
Samaria Turns Yeshua Away
51 When the days were approaching for Him to be taken up, Yeshua was determined to go up to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers before Him, and they went and entered a Samaritan village to make His arrangements. 53 But they did not receive Him, because He was focused on going up to Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples Jacob and John saw this, they said, “Master, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them[i]?” 55 But Yeshua turned and rebuked them.[j]
56 Then they moved on to another village. 57 As they were traveling on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 But Yeshua said to him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But that one said, “First let me go and bury my father.”
60 But Yeshua said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Then another also said, “I will follow You, Master, but first let me say goodbye to those in my home.”
62 But Yeshua said to him, “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looked back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.