Read the Gospels in 40 Days

He heals the centurion’s servant, raises up the widow’s son from death to life, and answers the disciples that John the Baptist sent to him. He commends John, and reproves the Jews for their unfaithfulness. He eats with the Pharisee. The woman washes his feet with her tears, and he forgives her her sins.

7 When Jesus had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. ² And a certain centurion’s servant was sick and ready to die, whom he made much of. ³ And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And they came to Jesus and besought him urgently, saying, He is worthy that you should do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.

⁶ And Jesus went with them. And when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not think myself worthy to come to you. But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ⁸ For I likewise am a man under authority, and have under me soldiers. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he marvelled at him, and turned about and said to the people that followed him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.

¹⁰ And those who had been sent turned back home again, and found the servant that had been sick, whole.

¹¹ And it happened after that, that he went into a town called Nain. And many of his disciples went with him, and crowds of people. ¹² When he came near to the gate of the town, behold, there was a dead man being carried out. He had been the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a large group of townsfolk were with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Weep not. ¹⁴ And he went and touched the bier, and those who were bearing it stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, arise! ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother.

¹⁶ And there came a fear upon them all. And they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen among us, and God has visited his people.

¹⁷ And this talk of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the regions that lie round about.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John reported to him about all these things. ¹⁹ And John called to him two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we look for another?

²⁰ When the men came to Jesus, they said, John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we wait for another?

²¹ And at that same time, Jesus cured many people of their infirmities and diseases, and of evil spirits; and to many who were blind, he gave sight. ²² And Jesus answered and said to John’s disciples, Go your ways and tell John what things you have seen and heard – how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead arise. To the poor, the glad tidings are preached; ²³ and happy is he who is not offended by me.

²⁴ When the messengers of John had departed, Jesus began to speak to the people about John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Did you go to see a reed shaken with the wind? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in kings’ courts. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, to prepare your way before you. ²⁸ For I say to you, among the children of women there is no greater prophet than John. Nevertheless, one who is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.

²⁹ And all the people who heard, and the publicans, justified God, and were baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and scribes rejected the counsel of God against themselves, and were not baptized by him.

³¹ And the Lord said, To what shall I liken the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept. ³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say he has the devil. ³⁴ The Son of man has come, and eats and drinks, and you say, Here is a man who is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. ³⁵ Yet wisdom is justified by her children.

³⁶ And one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to food. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in that town who was a sinner, as soon as she knew that Jesus sat at food in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of oyntment. ³⁸ And she stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with oyntment.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, If this man were a prophet, he would surely know who and what manner of woman this is that touches him; for she is a sinner. ⁴⁰ And Jesus responded and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, say on.

⁴¹ There was a certain lender who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, tell me, will love him most?

⁴³ Simon answered and said, I suppose the one that was forgiven most.

And he said to him, You have truly judged.

⁴⁴ And Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ My head with oil you did not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with oyntment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, many sins are forgiven her, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven less, loves less.

⁴⁸ And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven you.

⁴⁹ And those who sat at food with him began to say within themselves, Who is this, who forgives sins in this way?

⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

Christ, with his apostles, goes from town to town and preaches, explains the parable of the seed, says who is his mother and his brother, and stills the raging of the sea. He delivers the possessed man and drives the devils into the herd of swine, and helps the sick woman and Jairus’ daughter.

8 And it happened after that, that he went throughout cities and towns, preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, ² and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them from their substance. 

⁴ When crowds of people were gathered together, having come to him out of all places, he spoke by a similitude: ⁵ A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden under foot, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. ⁶ And some fell on stone, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸ And some fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold.

And as he said these things, he called: He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

⁹ His disciples asked him, saying, What manner of similitude is this? ¹⁰ And he said, To you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they remain in similitudes, so that when they see, they will not see, and when they hear, they will not understand.

¹¹ The similitude is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those who are beside the way are the people that hear, but afterward the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the stones are people who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But these have no roots, and for a while believe, but in time of trial go away. ¹⁴ As for that which fell among thorns, this is those who hear and go forth, but are choked with cares, and with riches and voluptuous living, and bring forth no fruit. ¹⁵ As for that in the good ground, this is those who with a good and pure heart hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

¹⁶ No man lights a candle and covers it under a vessel, neither puts it under the table, but sets it on a candlestick, so that those who enter in may see the light. ¹⁷ Nothing is in secret that may not become clear, nor anything hid that may not be known and come to light. ¹⁸ Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever has, to him will be given, and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken even that same which he supposes that he has.

¹⁹ Then Jesus’ mother and his brethren came looking for him, but could not come in to him because of the press of people. ²⁰ And they told him, saying, Your mother and your brethren are standing outside and want to see you. ²¹ He answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God and do it.

²² And it happened on a certain day that he got into a boat, and his disciples also, and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. ²³ And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. ²⁴ And the disciples went to him and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are lost! Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it became calm. ²⁵ And he said to them, Where is your faith?

They feared and wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this? For he commands both the winds and water, and they obey him.

²⁶ And they sailed to the region of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee. ²⁷ And as he went out to land, there met him a certain man from the place, who had for a long time had a devil. And he wore no clothes; neither did he live in a house, but among graves. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the God Most High? I beseech you, torment me not! ²⁹ For Jesus commanded the foul spirit to come out of the man. For it often affected him violently, and he was bound with chains and kept with shackles, but he broke the bonds, and was carried by the fiend into wilderness areas.

³⁰ And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion (because many devils were entered into him). ³¹ And the devils besought Jesus not to command them to go out into the deep. ³² There was nearby a herd of many swine feeding on a hill, and the devils besought him to suffer them to enter into the swine. And he suffered them. ³³ Then the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine. And the herd took their course and ran headlong into the lake, and were drowned.

³⁴ When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the town and in the villages. ³⁵ And people came out to see what had been done, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ³⁶ Those also who had witnessed it told them how the demon-possessed man was healed. ³⁷ And all the whole population from the country of the Gadarenes besought Jesus to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear.

And he got into the boat and turned back again. ³⁸ Then the man from whom the devils were departed asked him if he could be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹ Go home again into your own house, and show what great things God has done for you.

And the man went his way, and preached throughout all the city about the great things Jesus had done for him.

⁴⁰ And it came to pass that, when Jesus arrived back again, the people received him gladly, for they were all awaiting him. ⁴¹ And behold, there came a man named Jairus (and he was a leader of the synagogue), and he fell down at Jesus’ feet and besought him to come to his house. ⁴² For he had but a daughter only, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying.

And as he went, the people thronged him. ⁴³ And a woman who had for twelve years had an issue of blood (who had spent all her substance on physicians, but could not be helped by any) ⁴⁴ came behind him and touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood was stanched. ⁴⁵ And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? When everyone denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the people throng you and crowd you, and you say, Who touched me? ⁴⁶ And Jesus said, Somebody touched me. For I can tell that power has gone out of me.

⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling and fell at his feet, and told him before all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. ⁴⁸ And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace.

⁴⁹ While he was yet speaking, a person from the house of the synagogue leader came and said to him, Your daughter is dead; don’t trouble the Master. ⁵⁰ When Jesus heard that, he spoke to the father, saying, Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made whole.

⁵¹ And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. ⁵² Everybody wept and sorrowed for her. And he said, Weep not, for she is not dead, but sleeping. ⁵³ And they laughed him to scorn, because they knew that she was dead. ⁵⁴ And he put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, Maiden, arise! ⁵⁵ And her spirit came back, and she rose up straightaway. And he said to give her food. ⁵⁶ And her father and mother were astonished. But he charged them to tell no one what had been done.

He sends out the twelve apostles to preach. Herod hears about him. He feeds 5,000 men with five loaves and two fishes. The disciples confess him to be the Son of God. He transfigures himself upon the mount, delivers the possessed, and teaches his disciples to be lowly. They desire vengeance, but he reproves them.

9 Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to heal diseases. ² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to cure the sick. ³ And he said to them, Take nothing to support you along the way; neither staff nor bag, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. ⁴ And whatever house you enter into, there make your stay, and from there take your leave. ⁵ And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them.

⁶ And they went out, and went through the towns preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

⁷ And Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and was disconcerted because it was said by some that John was risen again from death, ⁸ and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by some that one of the old prophets was risen up again. ⁹ And Herod said, John I have beheaded; who then is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

¹⁰ And the apostles returned and told Jesus what great things they had done. And he took them and went aside into a solitary place near to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But the people knew of it, and followed him. And he received them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. ¹² And when the day began to wear away, then the twelve came and said to him, Send the people away, so that they can go into the towns and villages round about, and find lodging and get food, for we are in a remote place here. ¹³ But he said to them, You give them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy food for all these people.

¹⁴ And there were about 5,000 men. And he said to his disciples, Have them sit down in groups of fifty. ¹⁵ And they did so, and made them all sit down. ¹⁶ And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the people. ¹⁷ And they ate and were all satisfied. And there were taken up of what remained to them twelve baskets full of leftovers.

¹⁸ And it so was, as he was apart praying, that his disciples were with him, and he asked them, saying, Who do the people say I am? ¹⁹ They answered and said, John the Baptist, or some say Elijah, and some say one of the old prophets is risen again. ²⁰ He said to them, Who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said, You are the Christ of God. ²¹ And Jesus warned and instructed them that they should tell no one this thing, ²² saying that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be reproved by the elders and by the high priests and scribes, and be slain, and the third day rise again.

²³ And he said to them all, If any person would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ Whosoever would save his life shall lose it, but whosoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man to win the whole world, if he loses himself, or runs in harm’s way? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my sayings, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his own glory, and in the glory of his Father, and of the holy angels. ²⁷ And I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste of death till they see the kingdom of God.

²⁸ And it followed about eight days after those sayings that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up into a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was changed, and his garment was white and shone. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with him; and they were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared gloriously, and spoke of his departing from this life, which he was to carry through to the end at Jerusalem.

³² Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. And when they awoke, they saw his glory, and two men standing with him. ³³ And as the men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us, being here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But he did not know what he was saying. ³⁴ While he thus spoke, there came a cloud that covered them, and they were afraid when they came under the cloud. ³⁵ And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my dear Son. Hear him!

³⁶ And as soon as the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no one in those days any of those things that they had seen.

³⁷ And the next day, as they came down from the hill, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ And a man from the crowd cried out, saying, Teacher, I beg you, look upon my son, for he is all that I have. ³⁹ And see, a spirit takes him, and suddenly he shouts out. And it tears him so that he foams at the mouth, and with much pain departs from him when he has battered him. ⁴⁰ And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.

⁴¹ Jesus answered and said, O generation without faith and perverse, how long shall I be with you and suffer you? Bring your son here.

⁴² And as the boy was yet coming, the fiend rent him and tore him. ⁴³ And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.

While everyone marvelled at all the things that he did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ Let these words sink down into your ears: the time will come when the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men. ⁴⁵ But they did not comprehend what that saying meant. It was hid from them, so that they did not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

⁴⁶ Then there arose a dispute among them, who should be the greatest.  ⁴⁷ When Jesus perceived the thoughts of their hearts, he took a child and set him close by himself ⁴⁸ and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

⁴⁹ And John answered and said, Master, we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and we told him not to, because he does not follow with us. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not. For whoever is not against us, is with us.

⁵¹ And it followed, when the time was come that he should be received up, then he set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before him. ⁵² And they went and entered into a city of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵³ But the Samaritans would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When his disciples James and John saw that, they said, Lord, would you have us call fire down from heaven to consume them, even as Elijah did?

⁵⁵ Jesus turned about and rebuked them, saying, You know not what manner of spirit you are of. The Son of man has not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

⁵⁶ And they set off for another town. ⁵⁷ And as he walked in the road, a certain man said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. ⁵⁸ Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.

⁵⁹ And he said to another, Follow me. And the man said, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead; but as for you, go and preach the kingdom of God.

⁶¹ And another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first go and bid farewell to the people who are at home at my house. ⁶² Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.