Read the Gospels in 40 Days
The Healing of a Centurion’s Servant(A)
7 When He had completed all His words in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion’s[a] servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 When he heard of Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they asked Him earnestly, saying, “You should do this for him for he is worthy, 5 for he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7 Likewise, I did not think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. 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 these words, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the people who followed Him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
The Raising of the Widow’s Son
11 The following day He went into a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a large crowd went with Him. 12 When He came near the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
14 Then He came and touched the coffin, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 He who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother.
16 Fear came on everyone. And they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us!” and “God has visited His people!” 17 This rumor of Him went throughout all Judea and the surrounding region.
The Messengers From John the Baptist(B)
18 The disciples of John told him of all these things. 19 John, calling for two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the One who is coming, or shall we look for another?”
20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the One who is coming, or shall we look for another?’ ”
21 In that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and afflictions and evil spirits. And to many who were blind He gave sight. 22 So Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is he who does not fall away on account of Me.”
24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the crowd concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Now those who are splendidly clothed and live luxuriously are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written:
‘Look, I am sending My messenger before Your face,
who shall prepare Your way before You.’[b]
28 I say to you, among those who are born of women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 All the people who heard Him, including the tax collectors, justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
31 Then the Lord said, “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to each other, saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we mourned to you,
and you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine. But you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking. But you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 One of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. So He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down for supper. 37 There, a woman of the city who was a sinner, when she learned that Jesus was sitting for supper in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment, 38 and stood behind Him at His feet, 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 the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet, He would have known who and what kind of woman she is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 When they had no money to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose he whom he forgave more.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who sat at supper with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is He who even forgives sins?”
50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Women Who Accompany Jesus
8 Afterward, He went throughout every city and village, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. With Him were the twelve 2 and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who supported Him with their possessions.
The Parable of the Sower(C)
4 When a large crowd had gathered together and people were coming to Him from every city, He told this parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on a rock. And as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 Yet some fell among thorns. And the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 And other seed fell on good ground and sprang up and yielded a hundred times the amount sown.”
When He had said these things, He cried out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables(D)
9 His disciples asked Him, “What might this parable mean?” 10 He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others they are in parables, so that
‘seeing they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.’[d]
The Parable of the Sower Explained(E)
11 “Now the parable means this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are those who hear. Then comes the devil, who takes away the word from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root, for they believe for a while, then in the time of temptation fall away. 14 That which fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed on the good ground are those who, having heard the word, keep it in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patience.
A Light Under a Vessel(F)
16 “No one, when he lights a candle, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a candlestick, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and revealed. 18 Take heed therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given. And whoever has not, from him will be taken even what he thinks he has.”
The Mother and Brothers of Jesus(G)
19 Then His mother and His brothers came to Him, but could not reach Him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
21 He answered them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
The Calming of a Storm(H)
22 One day He went into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 As they sailed, He fell asleep. Then a wind storm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger.
24 They came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
Being afraid, they marveled, saying to each other, “Who then is this Man? He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.”
The Healing of the Gadarene Demoniac(I)
26 They sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee. 27 When He stepped out on land, a man from the city who had demons for a long time met Him. He wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I plead with You, do not torment me.” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. It often had seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles. But he broke the shackles and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him not to command them to go out into the abyss.
32 There was a large herd of swine feeding on the mountain. They begged Him to permit them to enter them, and He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. 37 Then the whole crowd from the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So He went into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed asked Him if he could stay with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” So he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Garment(J)
40 When Jesus returned, the crowd gladly received Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet, and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As He went, the people crowded Him. 43 And a woman having a hemorrhage for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, but could not be healed by anyone, 44 came behind Him, and touched the fringe of His garment. And immediately her hemorrhage dried up.
45 Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When everyone denied it, Peter and those who were with Him said, “Master, the crowds are pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me, for I perceive that power has gone out from Me.”
47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling. And falling down before Him, she declared to Him before all the people why she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 Then He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While He was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s house came, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be made well.”
51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, John and James, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 All wept and mourned for her. But He said, “Do not weep. She is not dead but sleeping.”
53 They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But He put them all outside and took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He told them to give her food. 56 Her parents were astonished, but He commanded them to tell no one what had happened.
The Mission of the Twelve Apostles(K)
9 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. 2 And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey: no staff, no bag, no bread, no money. And do not take two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 Whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Herod’s Anxiety(L)
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him. And he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. 9 But Herod said, “I have beheaded John. But who is this of whom I hear such things?” And he tried to see Him.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand(M)
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the crowds knew it, they followed Him. And He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
12 When the day began to end, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowds away, so they can go into the towns and surrounding countryside and lodge and get food. For we are in a deserted place here.”
13 He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 There were about five thousand men.
But He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 They did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 They all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of broken pieces that remained were collected.
Peter’s Declaration About Jesus(N)
18 As He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him. And He asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?”
19 They answered, “John the Baptist. But some say Elijah. And others say that one of the old prophets has risen.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection(O)
21 Jesus strictly commanded them to tell no one of this, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever will 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, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, 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 “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
The Transfiguration(P)
28 About eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His countenance was altered, and His clothing was white and glistening. 30 And suddenly two men were talking with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure which He was to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. But waking thoroughly, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 As they departed from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three sanctuaries: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.
34 While he was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them. And they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent and told no one in those days anything they had seen.
The Healing of a Boy With an Unclean Spirit(Q)
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a great crowd met Him. 38 Suddenly a man cried out from the crowd, saying, “Teacher, I beg You, look upon my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth, and bruises him, and scarcely leaves him. 40 I begged Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
41 Jesus said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
42 While he was coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and returned him to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.
Jesus Foretells His Death a Second Time(R)
But while everyone marveled at all the things Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was hidden from them, so that they did not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
Who Is the Greatest?(S)
46 A dispute arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child and put him by Him, 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 who is least among you all will be great.”
He Who Is Not Against You Is for You(T)
49 John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.”
50 Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against you is for you.”
A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus
51 When the time came for Him to be received up, He was steadfastly set to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers ahead of Him. They went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make things ready for Him, 53 but they did not receive Him, because He was set to go to Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
The Would-Be Followers of Jesus(U)
57 As they went along the way, a man said to Him, “Lord, 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 no place to lay His head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
61 Yet another said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go bid farewell to those at my house.”
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back at things is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.