Iōannēs [the] baptizer appeared in the wasteland, announcing baptism to change people’s purpose and absolve them from their offenses.*3 5 And they traveled out to him, inhabitants of the whole countryside of Ioudaia, and all the Hierosolumitai, and they were baptized by him in the river Iordanēs,*4 acknowledging their offenses. 6 Now, Iōannēs was dressed in unshorn camel hide, and he had an animal-skin belt covering his groin, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Note: A wild-looking feral figure, dunking to “change purpose” The actual Greek word here is “metanoia” which is a sudden reversal of bind Other translations have “repent” but this indicates more so a new direction, rather than a backwards facing remission of guilt. Even the word baptize = dip/plunge without religious connotation But what is the significance here? At the time, daily plunging was a ritual; for daily sins, yet it was solo In this case: (1) another person, a prophet, and (2) a singular event Jordan; on sealing an already clean soul for a new Isreal also, a kind of ordeal; a ritualized mini-death and rebirth
Location 1129
Architect-turned-writer, founder of Essay Architecture. Building pattern languages, software, anthologies, and community for essayists.
Highlights (108)
And right when he came up from the water, he saw the skies split apart, and the life-breath coming down, like a dove, to alight on him.*6 11 And a voice came out of the skies: “You are my beloved son; in you I’ve taken delight.”*7
Note: The dove after Noah’s flood; on the 3rd rung it disappears; is this the first return? Both are connected by water scene. It’s the first in the New Testament, I think. Also, this is a private vision. Is this the first time Jesus realizes he’s the messiah? AI: “split apart" — Greek schizomenous, torn, ripped (the root of "schism"). Matthew and Luke soften this to the skies being "opened," like a door that can shut again. Mark says torn, and tearing is irreversible. It's an allusion to Isaiah 64:1 — "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down" — a prayer that God would stop being distant and breach the barrier. Mark's answer: at the Jordan, he did, and the hole doesn't close. Mark even bookends his whole gospel with this verb — the only other time he uses it is at the crucifixion, when the temple curtain is "torn" (eschisthē) top to bottom. Sky torn at the baptism, veil torn at the death: the partition between God and the world fails at both ends of the story.
Location 1140the life-breath drove him out into the wasteland. 13 And he was in the wasteland forty days, being tested by satanas, and he was in the company of wild animals, and god’s messengers attended to him.
Location 1145after Iōannēs was handed over,*8 Iēsous went into Galilaia, announcing god’s good news 15 and saying, “The time is ripe, and god’s kingdom has come close. Change your purpose and trust in the good news.”
Location 1147passing along by the sea of Galilaia, he saw Simōn, and Andreas, who was Simōn’s brother, and they were casting their nets into the sea, as they were fishermen. 17 And Iēsous said to them: “Come along after me, and I’ll turn you into fishers for human beings.” 18 And right away they left their nets and followed him.
Note: To catch and convert everyone This is the first example of “change your purpose” It means lay down your day jobs — the new world order is here! So many parallels to modern day AI eschatology Amos 4:2 “they shall take you away with fish hooks: No one escapes the reckoning A dragnet is coming through the world (revelation) Like fish, humans will be ripped out from their world Baptism is being dunked in/out of water Fishing for humans is like ripping people out of their land
Location 1151And as soon as it was the sabbata, he entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And the people there were powerfully struck by what he taught. He was teaching them as if he had genuine authority; it wasn’t the way the scholars taught.*11
Location 1159“Put on a muzzle and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit convulsed the man, cried out with a loud outcry, and came out of him. 27 And all the people there were amazed, so that they discussed it with each other, saying, “What’s this? It must be a new teaching, carrying authority. He gives commands even to unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And from that moment, news of him went out everywhere, to the whole of the surrounding Galilaia region.
Note: Is Christianity launched by an exorcism? Weird that “you are the son of God!” first comes from a demon Disciples won’t know for 8 chapters AI: “Yes — in Mark, the public career of Jesus launches with an exorcism, and your instinct that this is strange is exactly right, because exorcism is almost nonexistent in the Old Testament. The synagogue scene at Capernaum is Jesus' first public act of power in the earliest gospel. Not a healing, not a sermon that survives (Mark famously doesn't record what he taught, only that he taught "with authority") — a demon interrupted him mid-teaching, and the expulsion is the debut. Notice how the crowd fuses the two: "a new teaching, carrying authority. He gives commands even to unclean spirits." For Mark, the exorcism is the teaching — the content of the lesson is the authority itself.” There are no exorcisms in the Old Testament Only David playing the lyre for an evil spirit from the lord to leave himself Demons as an “organized force” emerged in the Second Temple era Exorcism was done in Qumran; Josephus writes about it There’s prob a lot to understand in the history of posessions: Was likely a superstitious explanation to seizures / disassociation / mental rupture
Location 1166And Simōn’s mother-in-law*12 was lying ill with a burning fever, and right away they told him about her. 31 And he approached and put her on her feet, grasping her hand. And the fever left her,
Location 1172Once evening came and the sun went down, they set about bringing him everyone who was unwell and those possessed by demons. 33 And the whole town was gathered together outside the door. 34 And he healed many who were unwell—they had various diseases—and he expelled many demons. And he kept the demons from speaking, because they knew who he was.
Location 1175in the morning, when it was still pitch-dark, he got up and went away to an isolated place, and there he began to pray. 36 But Simōn and those with him chased him down. 37 And they found him and told him, “Everyone’s looking for you.” 38 And he told them, “Let’s get going somewhere else, to the country towns near here,
Location 1179right away the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And snorting a warning to him, Iēsous sent him away right then, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but get going and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing that Mōüsēs set out in the law, as proof for them.”*13 45 But once the man went away, he proceeded to publicize his healing persistently, spreading the story all around, so that Iēsous could no longer go openly into a town. Instead, he remained outside in uninhabited places; but then they kept coming to him from everywhere.
Note: Forced to live on the fringes
Location 1187so many people gathered together that the place couldn’t hold them, even outside the door, while he was delivering a discourse to them. 3 But a group came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, four of them carrying him. 4 And since they weren’t able to bring him near Iēsous because of the crowd, they turned the roof above him into no roof, digging clear through it, and lowered the stretcher on which the paralyzed man was lying.
Location 1196He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I’m telling you, stand up, pick up your stretcher, and get along home.” 12 And he got up, picked up his stretcher right away, and went out in front of everyone, so that they were all stunned,
Location 1209But Iēsous, hearing this, said to them, “People who are strong and healthy don’t have any need for a doctor; no, it’s those who are unwell. I didn’t come to call upright people, but wrongdoers instead.”
Location 1221“The sabbaton was made for the sake of humankind, and not humankind for the sake of the sabbaton.
Location 1239“Is it permitted to do good on the sabbata or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they were silent.*20 5 And he looked around at them with anger, deeply grieved at the lack of feeling in their hearts, and said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” And he held out his hand, and it was restored. 6 Then the Farisaioi went out and, right away, along with men of Hērōdēs,*21 proceeded to come up with a plot against him, so that they could destroy him.
Note: Questioning religious customs
Location 1246He had in fact healed many people, so everyone suffering from any scourges descended on him to touch him. 11 As to the unclean spirits, whenever they had him in sight, they fell down before him, screaming the words “You’re the son of god!” 12 But he insistently warned them, telling them not to expose who he was.
Note: A frenzy of desperation to be healed
Location 1258[And he appointed the twelve,]*23 and he gave Simōn the name Petros,*24 17 and to Iakōbos the son of Zebedaios and Iakōbos’ brother Iōannēs he gave the name Boanērges, which means “sons of thunder.” 18 And there were also Andreas and Filippos and Bartholomaios and Maththaios and Thōmas and Iakōbos the son of Alfaios, and Thaddaios and Simōn the Kananaios and 19 Ioudas Iskariōth, who actually handed him over.*25
Note: Apostles? Disciples?
Location 1264“Amēn I tell you, the sons of mankind will be absolved from all their offenses, and from as many blasphemies as they’ve blasphemously uttered. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the holy life-breath, for all of time he won’t be absolved, but instead will be responsible for wrongdoing that lasts for all of time.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Note: Use of brothers/sons Equates sin to demons
Location 1284“Listen! Look, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, it happened that some of the seed fell along the road, and the birds came and made short work of it. 5 And other seed fell on a stony place, where it didn’t have much earth, and right away it sprouted and rose up, because it didn’t have any depth of earth. 6 But when the sun rose up, the seedlings were seared, and due to their lack of roots they withered. 7 Still other seed fell among the thorny weeds, and these came up and strangled the seedlings, which didn’t produce any grain. 8 But other seeds fell onto good ground and produced grain, which came up and multiplied, with one kernel yielding thirty, another sixty, another a hundred more.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears for hearing had better hear.”
Location 1299“To you the secret*28 of God’s kingdom has been granted, but to those outside, everything is done through analogies,
Location 1308‘So that they definitely look, and yet don’t see, And they definitely hear, and yet don’t have any understanding; And they never turn around or are pardoned.’
Location 1311The sower sows the true account.*30 15 This first example is the people beside the road: when the account’s sown and they hear it, satanas comes right away and takes the account that was sown in them. 16 And here next are the people sown in rocky places: when they hear the account, right away they take it in with joy. 17 Yet they don’t take root, but instead are merely of the moment, so then when grinding hardship or hounding come because of the account, they instantly fall away. 18 And the next people are the ones sown among the thorny weeds: these have heard the account, 19 but the anxieties of this present life, and the false appeal of wealth, and passions for other things come in among them and strangle the account, and then it can’t bear grain. 20 But then there are those sown on good ground, who hear the account and accept it, and they do produce a harvest, with every kernel yielding thirty or sixty or a hundred more.”
Location 1316Nothing’s hidden, you see, unless it’s meant to be shown in clear light later on, and nothing’s hidden away unless it’s meant to come into the clear light in due course.*31
Location 1328“Look what you’re hearing: the measure you give will be the measure you get—and you’ll get a bonus besides.*32 25 If someone has something, more will be given to him; but if someone doesn’t have something, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Location 1331“The kingdom of god is like a man scattering seed on the ground, 27 and he sleeps and wakes night after night and day after day, and the seed germinates and the stalks grow tall without his knowing how this happens. 28 On its own the earth produces a crop—first the shoot, and then the head, and then the full, ripe grain on the head. 29 And when the crop is ready, right away he dispatches the sickle, because harvest-time has arrived.”*33
Note: Spero
Location 1335he was already in the boat; and other boats were with him. 37 And a great squall arose, and the waves fell on the boat, so that in no time the boat was swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. And they woke him and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going under?” 39 So he got up, scolded the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Put a muzzle on it!” And the wind broke off, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any trust yet?” 41 But their fear was an overwhelming one, and they said to one another, “Who is this man, then? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”*34
Note: Trust in non-death Referred to as a teacher
Location 1349He made his home among the tombs, and by this time nobody could restrain him, not even with a chain: 4 in the past he had often been restrained with fetters and chains, but the chains had been wrenched apart by him, and the fetters shattered, and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Now throughout the night and day he stayed among the tombs and in the mountains, screaming and mangling himself with stones. 6
Note: Brute strength myth
Location 1362Now Iēsous asked him, “What’s your name?” And he said to him, “My name’s legion: that’s how many of us there are!”*36— 10 and he pleaded with Iēsous fervently not to dispatch the demons out of the region. 11 In that place, on the slope of a hill, was a large herd of pigs grazing, 12 so the demons pleaded with Iēsous, saying, “Send us into the pigs—let us go into them.” 13 He gave them his permission, and the unclean spirits went out of the man and into the pigs, and the herd—there were around two thousand animals—barreled down the crag into the sea, and in the sea they drowned.
Location 136835 While he was still speaking, people came from the house of the synagogue leader and said, “Your daughter has died. Why are you still bothering the teacher?” 36 But Iēsous overheard the news being told, and he said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; only trust.”
Location 1404And they came to the leader’s house, and he observed an uproar, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 Going in, he said, “Why are you making this uproar, why are you crying? The child hasn’t died—she’s just asleep.” 40 They jeered at him, but he threw out everybody, took the child’s father and her mother and his companions with him, and made his way in to where the child was. 41 Then he took hold of the child’s hand and said to her “Talitha koum,” which translates as “Little girl, I’m telling you, get up.”*39 42 And right away the little girl stood up and walked around; she was twelve years old. Then [right away] they were stunned almost beyond their capacity to be stunned. 43 And he gave strict orders to them that no one was to know what had happened here, and he told them she must be given something to
Note: Resurrection
Location 1408And when the sabbaton arrived, he set about teaching in the synagogue, and many people were powerfully struck when they heard him, and they said, “Where did he get all this?” and “What’s this insight that’s been granted him?” and “How are such powerful things done by his hands?” 3 Isn’t this the builder, the son of Maria, and the brother of Iakōbos and Iōsēs and Ioudas and Simōn? And aren’t his sisters here with us?”*41 So they were tripped up by him. 4 But Iēsous said to them, “A prophet isn’t treated dishonorably except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own house.”*42
Location 1420And he called the twelve to him and proceeded to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits; 8 and he directed them to take nothing with them on the road except a staff—not a loaf of bread, not a bag, and no copper coins in the belt; 9 rather, they were simply to strap on their sandals and not put on two tunics.*43 10 And he said to them, “Wherever you arrive and enter a house, stay in it until you leave that locale. 11 And if a place doesn’t take you in hospitably or listen to you, when you make your way out of it shake off the dust that’s under your feet as testimony against the people.”*44 12 And the students went out and announced that people should change their purpose, 13 and they expelled many demons, and they rubbed olive oil on many sick people and healed them.*45
Location 1430Hērōdēs had in fact personally sent to seize Iōannēs, and chained him up in prison because of Hērōdias, his brother Filippos’ wife, because Hērōdēs had married her. 18 Iōannēs had said to Hērōdēs, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”*47 19 And Hērōdias held this against him and wanted to kill him, but she couldn’t, 20 as Hērōdēs had a reverent fear of Iōannēs, knowing that he was an upright and holy man; and he kept an eye out on his behalf. Having heard him, he felt he was at a dead end; yet he enjoyed hearing him. 21 But an opportune day arrived when Hērōdēs, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilaia. 22 And his daughter Hērōdias came in and danced, delighting Hērōdēs and the others reclining at the table with him.*48 The king said to the little girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her [repeatedly], “Whatever you ask me for, I’ll give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And her mother said, “The head of Iōannēs the baptizer.” 25 And she went back in right away, in a rush, to the king, and asked him in these words: “I want you to give me, here and now, on a platter, the head of Iōannēs the baptizer.” 26 And though the king was deeply grieved, still, because of the oaths and the men reclining at the table, he wasn’t willing to refuse her. 27 So right away the king sent an executioner, ordering him to bring Iōannēs’ head. And the executioner went and beheaded him in the prison. 28 And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the little girl, and the little girl gave it to her mother. 29 And when his students heard, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
Location 1447But many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran on foot from all the towns to assemble there and arrived before those on the boat did. 34 And as he got out of it, he saw a large crowd and felt a wrenching pity for them because they were like sheep that didn’t have a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
Location 1470“This is a place where no one lives, and by now it’s quite late.
Location 1474he took his leave from them and went away onto the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, but he was alone on land. 48 But when he saw them strained in their rowing, as the wind was against them, he came in their direction, around the fourth watch of the night,*52 walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and they screamed, 50 since they all saw him and were horrified. But right away he spoke to them and told them: “Be brave—it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 51 And he got onto the boat where they were, and the wind stopped. And they were absolutely [overcome], beside themselves. 52
Location 1490the Farisaioi, you see, and all the other Ioudaioi don’t eat unless they vigorously wash their hands, holding to what their ancestors have handed down; 4 and when they come from the marketplace, if they don’t immerse themselves in water, they don’t eat; and there are many other customs, received from the past, that they hold to, such as the immersion of cups and pitchers and kettles [and couches]. 5 And the Farisaioi and the scholars asked him, “Why are your students behaving contrary to what the ancestors handed down? They eat bread with hands that have been made dirty anywhere and everywhere.”
Location 1510‘This people honors me with their lips alone, While their heart is far away from me.
Location 1518Nothing outside a person that makes its way into him, however indiscriminately, can make him dirty; rather, the things making their way out of a person make that person dirty.”*59
Location 1534Don’t you realize that nothing outside that makes its way into a person can dirty him? 19 It’s because it doesn’t make its way into his heart but into his belly, and then makes its way down the latrine—and that makes all kinds of foods clean!”*60 20 Then he said, “The thing that makes its way out of a person, that dirties the person. 21 In fact, outward, out of people’s hearts, bad calculations make their way, and whoring, thefts, murders, 22 violations of marriage, rapacious greed, nasty vices, sneakiness, fast and loose living, the nasty stare of envy, backstabbing lies, shameless gall, moronic behavior. 23 All of these nasty things make their way from the inside to the outside and make a person dirty.”*61
Location 1539blind man and begged him to touch the man. 23 And he took hold of the blind man’s hand, led him outside the village, and spat into his eyes; then, putting his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 Then, seeing once more, he said, “I see people: it’s as if I’m looking at trees walking around.” 25 Next, he placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and he saw with his eyes wide open, and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly and in focus.
Location 1609And he began to teach them that it was necessary for the son of mankind to endure many things and to be tested and rejected by the elders and the high priests and the scholars, and to be killed, and to rise to his feet again after three days.*76 32 And he was giving this discourse with confident freedom.
Location 1622Then when he’d summoned the crowd along with his students, he said to them, “If someone wants to follow behind me, let him renounce all claim to himself, pick up the stake he’ll be hung on, and follow me. 35 Whoever, in fact, wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life because of me and the good news will save it. 36 What kind of profit, tell me, does a person realize from the entire universe, if he loses his life? 37 What would someone give in exchange for his life? 38 Whoever, in fact, is ashamed of me and the things I’ve said among this unfaithful,*77 culpable generation, the son of mankind, when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy messengers, will also be ashamed of him.”
Location 1629there are some standing here who won’t taste death until they see god’s kingdom has arrived
Location 1638Then after six days, Iēsous took Petros and Iakōbos and Iōannēs along with him and brought them up onto a high mountain privately, only them. 3 And his form changed before their eyes, and his clothes turned a glistening, glaring white, to a degree no laundryman on the earth could whiten them.*78 4 And Ēlias along with Mōüsēs was seen by them,*79 and they were talking with Iēsous.
Location 1640Then a cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my son, the beloved*81—listen to him.”
Location 1649when they came down from the mountain, he ordered them not to describe to anyone what they had seen, until the son of mankind was awakened from among the dead.
Location 1653“Teacher, I’ve brought my son to you; he’s got a spirit of muteness in him. 18 And whenever it takes hold of him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and his body goes rigid. So I told your students to expel it from him, but they didn’t have the power to do it.” 19 And in response to them, he said, “You faithless generation!*85 How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you?*86 Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the child to him; and when it saw Iēsous, the spirit seized the boy right away, and he fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Then Iēsous asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And the father said, “Since he was a little child. 22 And often it’s thrown him into fire or into water to try to destroy him. But if you possibly can, come to our aid—if your heart goes out to us.” 23 But Iēsous said to him, “That ‘If you can’!—for someone who trusts, anything can be done.” 24 Right away the child’s father cried out, saying, “I do trust—come to the aid of my failing trust!” 25 But Iēsous, seeing that a crowd was running to the spot from all directions, berated the unclean spirit, telling it, “Mute and blind spirit, it’s me ordering you, come out of him, and don’t enter him again.” 26 And it cried out and threw the boy into long convulsions, and then came out of him. And he became like a corpse, so that most of the people said he’d died. 27 But Iēsous seized his hand and roused him, and he stood up.
Location 1667He instructed his students, in fact, by telling them the son of mankind was about to be given over into human hands, and they would kill him, but after he was killed he would awaken within three days.*88 32 They didn’t know what he was talking about, but they were afraid to question him.
Location 1688he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they were silent, since on the road they’d debated with each other who was greatest. 35 Then he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, he needs to be last of all, and everyone else’s attendant.”*89 36
Location 1692Iōannēs said to him, “Teacher, we saw somebody expelling demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he wasn’t following us.”*91 39 But Iēsous said, “Don’t stop him, since no one who carries out an act of power in my name will be able to bad-mouth me any time soon!
Location 1700“Whoever gives you a drinking cup full of water to drink, because you’re under the name of the Anointed One, amēn I say to you, he certainly won’t go without the payment due him.”
Location 1705So if your hand sets a trap for you, cut it off: it’s better for you to enter into life maimed than to go with two hands to ge’enna, into the fire that can’t be put out. 45 And if your foot sets a trap for you, cut it off: it’s better for you to enter into life crippled than to be thrown into ge’enna with both your feet. 47 And if your eye sets a trap for you, pull it out: it’s better for you to enter into god’s kingdom one-eyed than to be thrown with both your eyes into ge’enna, 48 where their worm doesn’t die and the fire doesn’t go out.*92
Location 1708And approaching, some Farisaioi asked him whether it was lawful for a man to let his wife go: they were putting him to the test. 3 But in response he said to them, “What did Mōüsēs command you to do?” 4 And they said, “Mōüsēs permitted us to write a notice of putting her away and to let her go.” 5 But Iēsous said to them, “It was because your hearts were calloused and unfeeling that Mōüsēs wrote you this command. 6 But from the beginning, from the world’s foundation, male and female he made them. 7 For this reason, a man is to leave his father and mother and be fused together with his wife. 8 And the two will be joined in a single body, so that they’re no longer two people but a single body.*95 9 So what god has yoked together, a human being must not separate.”
Location 1723You know the commands: You must not commit murder, you must not violate marriage, you must not steal, you must not give false testimony, you must not defraud, you must honor your father and mother.”*98
Location 1745“You’re missing one thing: come on, everything you have you need to sell and give to [the] destitute—and you’ll have a storehouseful in the sky—and come and follow me.” 22 And at this speech, the man’s face clouded over, and he went away, distressed, as he possessed a great deal. 23 Then Iēsous looked around and said to his students, “How hard it’s going to be for those with property to enter god’s kingdom!” 24 And his students were astonished at the things he said.*99 And Iēsous repeated his response, saying to them: “Children, how hard it is to enter god’s kingdom! 25 It’s easier for a camel to go through [the] eye of [the] needle than for a rich man to enter god’s kingdom.”
Location 1749many who are first will be last, and [the] last first.”
Location 1765their great men impose top-down authority on them.*104 43 But it isn’t that way among you. Instead, whoever among you wants to be great is to be the attendant of the rest of you.
Location 1785whoever among you wants to be first is to be everyone else’s slave.
Location 1788even the son of mankind didn’t come to have attendants but to be an attendant, and to give his life as the price to set a lot of other people free.”*105
Location 1789“Get moving to this village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it you’ll find a colt*111 tied up, which nobody’s ridden yet. Untie it and bring it here. 3 And if someone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘His master needs him, and he’ll send him back here right away.’ ”*112
Location 1810And they brought the colt to Iēsous and threw their cloaks on him,*113 and Iēsous sat on him. 8 And many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread there the leafy branches they had cut in the countryside.*114 9 And those who went before him and those who followed him cried out, Hōsanna!*115 Blessed is the one who comes in the lord’s name. 10 Blessed is our father David’s kingdom, which is coming. Hōsanna, in the highest places!*116
Location 1818“Have trust in god. 23 Amēn I tell you: whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and his heart doesn’t waver, but rather he trusts that what he says is about to be done, it will be granted him. 24 Because of this, I say to you all, whatever you pray for and ask for, trust that you’ve gotten it, and it will be granted to you.
Location 1852when you’re standing at prayer, let go whatever you have against anyone, so that your father in the skies lets you go from the blunders you’ve made.”*121
Location 1855The man had no one left but his single beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, saying, ‘They’ll have respect for my son.’ 7 But those farmers said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 Then they seized him and killed him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 [So] what will the owner of the vineyard do? He’ll come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to other people.*124 10 Haven’t you read this, that’s written: ‘The stone that the builders tested and rejected— It turned out to head up the corner: 11 The lord made it turn out this way— And it’s amazing in our eyes’?”*125
Location 1878they knew that they themselves were the target of the story he’d just told;
Location 1890And Saddoukaioi came to him—these are people who say that the dead don’t rise again*129—and they questioned him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Mōüsēs wrote down for us that if someone’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife but doesn’t leave a child, his brother has to take the wife and raise up seed for his brother.*130 20 There were seven brothers. Now the first one took a wife, and when he died, he didn’t leave seed. 21 Then the second took her and died without leaving seed; and the same for the third; 22 and none of the seven left behind seed. Last of all, the wife died too. 23 In the rising [when the dead rise], whose wife will she be? All seven in fact had her as a wife.”
Location 1903when people rise from among the dead, they don’t take wives, and they’re not given as wives, but they’re like messengers in the skies.
Location 1912Then one of the scholars approached, having heard them arguing; seeing that Iēsous had answered them well, he questioned him: “Which is the chief command among them all?” 29 And Iēsous answered: “The chief one is ‘Listen, Israēl: the lord our god is one lord, 30 and you are to love the lord your god with the whole of your heart and the whole of your life, and the whole of your mind and the whole of your strength.’ 31 The next most important command is this one: ‘You are to love the one next to you the way you love yourself.’*132 There is no command greater than these two.” 32 Then the scholar said to him, “That’s right, teacher. It’s true what you said: there is one, and no other, none except him; 33 and to love him with the whole of the heart and the whole of the understanding and the whole of the strength;*133 and to love the one next to you the way you love yourself—this is more than all the animals burnt to ashes as offerings, and all the other sacrifices.”*134 34 Then, seeing that [he] had answered intelligently, Iēsous said to him, “You’re not far from god’s kingdom.” And no one dared to question him any longer.
Location 1918“Watch out for the scholars, who are always ready to walk around in long robes and be greeted respectfully in the marketplaces, 39 and have the seats of highest honor in the synagogues, and the couches of highest honor at banquets. 40 They wolf down the homes of widows and say long prayers as a pretext. They’re going to get a heavier verdict given on them than they ever gave!”*136
Location 1940when he was sitting in front of the treasury, he watched how the crowd was putting copper coins into the treasury, and many rich people put in a lot. 42 But a destitute widow came and put in two lepta, worth a quadrans.*137 43 And he called his students over and said to them, “Amēn I tell you: this destitute widow has put in more than all the others who put money into the treasury. 44 They all of course put in out of their excess, but she did it out of her shortfall, putting in everything she had, the whole of what she was living on.”
Location 1945“Watch out for yourselves. They’ll hand you over to the governing councils,*140 and in the synagogues you’ll be beaten within an inch of your lives, and you’ll stand before governors and kings because of me, to give testimony to them. 10 But it’s necessary, first of all, for the good news to be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they hand you over and bring you in, don’t worry beforehand about what to say: instead, whatever is given to you at that time, say it; it won’t in fact be you speaking, but the holy life-breath. 12 And one brother will hand over another to death, and a father will hand over his child, and children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 And you’ll be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever holds out to the end will be rescued.*141
Location 1966when you see ‘the annihilating abomination’ set up where it shouldn’t be—the reader has to realize what that means*142—then those in Ioudaia had better run to the hills, 15 and whoever’s on the roof had better not come down or go into his house to get anything, 16 and no one in the field should go back to get his cloak. 17 Pity the women who have children in their wombs, and the women who are nursing, in those days! 18 “Pray that this doesn’t happen in the winter. 19 Those days will be a shattering such as there hasn’t been since the beginning, when the world’s foundations were founded by god, until this moment, and never will be again.
Location 1976if someone says to you, ‘Look, here’s the anointed one’ or ‘Look, he’s right there,’ don’t believe him. 22 False anointed ones and false prophets will emerge, and they’ll perform ‘signs’ and ‘marvels’ to lead the chosen astray, if that were possible. 23 But you, watch out. I’ve told you all this beforehand.
Location 1986“And then they’ll see the son of mankind coming on clouds, with great power and glory. 27 And then he’ll send out his messengers and gather [his] chosen ones from the sources of the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.*144 28 “But from the fig tree, learn the analogy. As soon as her branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer’s near. 29 It’s the same for you too: when you see that these things are happening, you must know that he’s near, right at the gates.
Location 1995“Watch out, stay awake, as you don’t know when the crisis will come.
Location 2005You don’t know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening or in the middle of the night, or when the rooster crows,*145 or at dawn. 36 Make sure that he doesn’t come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 But what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert.”*146
Location 2008“Leave her alone. Why are you making trouble for her? She’s done me a good service. 7 You’ll have the destitute among you forever, and whenever you want you can do good for them. But you’re not going to have me forever. 8 What she had in her power to do, she did. She acted in advance to perfume my body for burial. 9 Amēn I tell you, wherever in the whole world the good news is spread, what she did will be spoken of as part of it, so that she’ll be remembered.”*151
Location 2027And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 Then while they were reclining and eating,*154 Iēsous said, “Amēn I tell you that one among you, eating with me, is going to hand me over.” 19 They grew distressed, saying one by one, “It can’t be me, can it?” 20 But he said to them, “It’s one of the twelve, who’s dipping into the bowl along with me.*155
Location 2046Then while they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, blessed it, and broke it into pieces and gave it to them, saying, “Take it: this is my body.” 23 Then, taking the cup, he gave thanks for it and gave it to them,*158 and they all drank from it.*159 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the dispensation,*160 the blood poured out for the sake of many people.*161 25 Amēn I tell you, I’ll never again drink any of what the vine yields until that day when I drink it new in god’s kingdom.”
Location 2056it’s been written, ‘I’ll strike the shepherd down, And the sheep will be scattered in all directions.’*162
Location 2067And he said, “Abba—father—everything is possible for you. Take away this cup from me. But still it has to be what you want, not what I want.”
Location 2081And right away, while he was still speaking, Ioudas arrived, one of the twelve, and along with him a mob, armed with swords and clubs, who came from the high priests and scholars and elders.*164 44 The one handing Iēsous over had told them a signal to act on, saying, “Whoever I kiss, it’s him. Get hold of him and take him away under guard.” 45 So right when he arrived, Ioudas approached him and said, “Rabbí!” and gave him the kiss of respect.*165 46 And they laid hold and took control of him. 47 And a certain one of the bystanders drew a sword and struck the chief priest’s slave, taking off his ear.
Location 2090“You’ve come out with swords and clubs to seize me, as if I were a bandit?*166 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple precinct teaching, and you didn’t take hold of me. But this is the way the writings can be fulfilled.”
Location 2099a certain young man accompanying him, wearing only a linen cloth over his bare body, and they took hold of him. 52 But he left the linen cloth behind and ran off naked.*168
Location 2104Again the chief priest questioned him, now saying to him, “Are you the anointed one, the son of the blessed one?”*172 62 And Iēsous said, “I am, and you’ll see the son of mankind sitting to the right of the power and coming with the clouds of the sky.”173 63 Then the chief priest tore his tunic174 and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64 You’ve heard the blasphemy. What’s your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.*175
Location 2120some began to spit on him and wrap up his head to hide his face,*176 and to punch him and say to him, “Give us a prophecy!” And the retainers took him and slapped him around.
Location 2130Then after a little while the bystanders in turn said to Petros, “It’s true, you’re one of them—in fact, you’re a Galilaian.” 71 And he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this guy you’re talking about.”*177 72 And right after he’d spoken the rooster crowed a second time. And Petros remembered what Iēsous had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny three times that you know me.” And he broke down and cried.
Location 2137And right at dawn, the high priests had a consultation with the elders and the scholars and the whole of the high council.
Location 2144But Pilatos questioned him again, saying, “Don’t you have any answer? Look how many things they’re accusing you of!” 5 But Iēsous no longer gave any answer, and this surprised Pilatos.
Location 215010 He in fact knew that the high priests had handed him over because of jealousy.
Location 2159Then Pilatos, responding again, said to them, “So what [do you want] me to do with [the one you call] ‘the king of the Ioudaioi’?” 13 Then they yelled back, “Hang him on the stakes!”*182 14 But Pilatos said to them, “What’s he in fact done wrong?” But they yelled even louder, “Hang him on the stakes!”
Note: Why did the people turn on him?
Location 2161The soldiers led Iēsous off into the palace, meaning the provincial government’s headquarters,*184 and they called together their whole cohort. 17 And they put a purple robe on him, and they wove a garland out of thorny branches and put it on him.*185 18 And they began to greet him: “Joy, king of the Ioudaioi!” 19 And they struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and they knelt down and groveled before him. 20 And when they’d finished taunting him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him.
Location 2168they took him out to the place called Golgotha, which translates as “the Place of the Skull,”*187 23 and they tried to give him wine infused with myrrh.*188 But he wouldn’t take it. 24 And they hung him on the stakes, and they divided up his clothes, throwing lots for them to decide who would get what. 25 It was the third hour after dawn when they hung him on the stakes.
Location 2179a written sign*189 had the charge against him written on it: “The king of the Ioudaioi.”
Location 2185“He saved other people, but he can’t save himself. 32 The anointed one, the king of Israēl, needs to come down from the stakes, so that we can see and believe.” And those who were hanging on stakes alongside him berated him.
Location 2196when it was the sixth hour after dawn, there was darkness over the whole earth, and the darkness lasted until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Iēsous shouted in a loud voice: “Elōi elōi, lema sabachthani?” The translation of this is “My god, my god, why have you abandoned me?”*193
Location 2198Iēsous let out a loud cry and breathed his last.
Location 2207when the centurion, who was standing facing him, saw how he breathed his last, he said, “Truly, this man was the son of god.”*197
Location 2210Pilatos was surprised that he was already dead. He called in the centurion and asked him if he’d been dead for some time now. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that this was the case, he granted the corpse to Iōsēf. 46 Then Iōsēf bought linen, and took Iēsous down and wrapped him in the linen and placed him in a tomb hewn out of solid rock and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.*200 47 And Maria the Magdalēnē and Maria the mother of Iōsēs looked on and saw where he was placed.
Location 2220And they said to each other, “Who’s going to roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away; yet it was very large.
Location 2232when they went into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side of it, draped in a white robe, and they were stunned. 6 But he said to them, “Don’t be stunned. You’re looking for Iēsous the Nazarēnos, who was hung on the stakes. He’s awakened; he’s not here. See, this is the place where they laid him. 7 But be on your way, and tell his students, including Petros, that he’s going ahead of you into Galilaia: there you’ll see him, just as he told you.”
Location 2234they went bolting out of the tomb, convulsed and out of their minds with shock. But they said nothing to anyone, as they were terrified.
Location 2239when they heard he was alive and had been seen by her, they didn’t believe it.
Location 2247later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and he berated them for their failure to trust and their calloused, thick-skinned hearts, because they hadn’t believed those who saw him after he awakened. 15 And he said to them, “Travel to the whole world and announce the good news to all that god made. 16 Whoever trusts and is baptized will be rescued; but whoever doesn’t trust will be condemned.*204
Location 2251by using my name they’ll expel demons; they’ll speak in languages unknown to them;*205 18 [and] they’ll lift up snakes [in their hands];*206 and if they drink anything deadly, it won’t hurt them at all; they’ll lay their hands on the sick, who will then get well.”
Location 2256the lord Iēsous, after he’d spoken to them, was taken up into the sky and sat at god’s right side. 20 And they went out and made the announcement everywhere, and the lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.]
Location 2262