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Whoever is not against us is for us.

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Jesus’ disciple John said to him “Teacher, we stopped someone from driving out demons in your name because he isn’t one of us.” Jesus said “Don’t stop him, because if anyone is doing miracles in my name he’ll soon support my message. Whoever is not against us is for us. Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Christ, I assure you he will be rewarded.

Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me. Anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. Anyone who welcomes the prophet because he speaks for God will receive the same award the prophet receives. Whoever welcomes a righteous person because of his righteousness will receive the reward of the righteous. Furthermore, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to a little child in the name of the disciple is blessed.”

LK 9:49-50, MK 9:38-41, MT 10:40-42

Not all who say they follow me are saved

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Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and ignore what I say? Calling on my name will not get you into heaven. Only someone who does the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven. On the day of judgment, many will say “Lord we prophesied, did miracles, and drove out demons in your name.” Yet I will say “I never knew you. Get away from me, you evildoers!”

Those who hear what I have to say and act upon it are like the man who built his house on a solid foundation of rock. When the storm comes with strong winds and buckets of rain, it crashes against the house but the house stands firm because it is built on a solid foundation. Those who listen to my message and don’t act upon it are like the man who built his house on top of sand. When the storm came the house was completely destroyed.

Those who were listening to Jesus were completely amazed, because he spoke like a person with authority, not like one of their religious leaders.

MT 7:21-29, LK 6:46-49

A tree and its fruit

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You know trees by their fruit. Healthy trees make good fruit, and sick trees don’t. Likewise, is it possible to get grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Be on the watch for false teachers who pretend they are innocent sheep, when really they are dangerous wolves, eager to tear you apart.

What you have stored up in your heart determines what you say. The good man’s speech proves that he has goodness within him. An evil man is filled with poison and his words reflect that. Evil people are as dangerous as a nest of snakes. It isn’t possible for evil people to speak the truth.

When judgment day comes you will have to give account for every word you have spoken. What you say now impacts on your fate then. Either you will be justified by your words or you will be condemned, just like how a tree that doesn’t produces good fruit is cut down and burned.

MT 12:33-37, MT 7:15-20, LK 6:43-45

Driving out demons (a divided house)

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A man who was possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus. The demon had made him blind and unable to speak. When Jesus healed him, he was suddenly able to speak and see again. The crowds were amazed, saying “We’ve never seen this in Israel. Perhaps this is the son of King David!”

When the Pharisees heard about this they said “This man drives out demons with Beelzebub.” Some, to test him, were demanding to see him perform a miracle. Even his own family thought he was crazy.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said “A divided kingdom cannot stand. No one can enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Thus, if the king of demons drives out demons he is fighting against himself. How can his kingdom stand then? If I drive out demons by the king of demons who is it that your own people drive them out by? Accuse them of the same thing you accuse me of! Now, if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then this is proof that the kingdom of God has arrived among you.”

“People will be forgiven for whatever they do and whatever they say unless they speak against the Holy Spirit. That is unforgivable. Anyone who is not with me is against me, and scatters rather than gathers.” He said this because they were saying he had an evil spirit in him.

MT 9:32-34, MT 12:22-32, MK 3:20-30, LK 11:14-23, LK 12.10

Restoring sight to two blind men

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Two blind men followed Jesus as he was leaving Jairus’ home. They shouted at him – “Have mercy on us, Son of King David!” They followed him into the house where he was staying. Jesus asked them “Do you believe that I can heal your blindness?” They answered “Yes, Lord.” Touching their eyes, he said “Because of your faith it will happen.” Immediately they could see. Jesus gave them strict instructions to not tell, but instead they told everyone they met about how he had healed them.

MT 9:27-31

Cleaning out the Temple complex and authority challenged.

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Jesus went up to Jerusalem because it was nearing the time for the festival of Passover. When he reached the Temple complex he found money changers and people selling the animals that the Jews bought to sacrifice there to atone for their sins. He made a whip of cords and drove everyone and their animals out, even overturning the money tables. He would not permit anyone to bring in anything to sell there. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, (56:7) he said “‘My house will be a house of prayer for all people,’ but you have made it into a den of thieves! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Seeing this, the disciples recalled this verse from the psalmist “Devotion for God’s house will consume me” (PS 69:9)

He was teaching and healing there every day. Children cheered out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The temple leaders said “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus answered “Haven’t you read the Scriptures? ‘From the lips of children The Lord has called forth praise’ (PS 8:2)?”

The chief priests, scribes, and elders started looking for ways to undermine him. They were afraid of him because the crowd of people there was captivated by what he taught.

All the Temple leaders challenged Jesus, saying “Who gave you authority to do these things?”

Jesus said “Answer me this, and I’ll tell you – was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” They debated amongst themselves, saying “If we say from heaven, then he’ll challenge us, saying ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say it was from men, the crowd will get angry with us because they thought John was a true prophet.” To be safe, they said “We don’t know.”

Jesus said “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Jesus also told them “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will restore it in three days.” The Temple leaders looked at him like he was crazy. “This Temple took 46 years to build! Who are you to say you can do all this in three days?” But Jesus was talking about the sanctuary of his body. Later, after he was resurrected, his disciples remembered these words.

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MT 21:12-17,23-27 MK 11:15-19, 27-33 LK 19:45-48,20:1-8 JN 2:13-22

Many people believed in Jesus while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival because of the miracles he was doing. Jesus, however, did not fully reveal himself to them because he knew mankind’s’ true nature.

JN 2:23-25

A girl raised from the dead and a woman healed from bleeding.

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A synagogue leader named Jairus fell down on his knees at Jesus’ feet, begging him to heal his child. His only child, a 12 year old daughter, was near death. He pleaded with Jesus to come to his house and lay his hands on her so she would live. Immediately Jesus and his disciples followed him to his home.

While they were on their way, a crowd of people surrounded Jesus, almost crushing him. In the crowd was a woman who had suffered from menstrual bleeding for 12 years. She had given all of her money to doctors for a cure, and not only had they not healed her, she had gotten worse. Approaching Jesus from behind, she touched the corner of his robe where his tzitzit were attached, thinking just doing that would be enough to heal her. As soon as she touched his robe, she could tell that she was completely healed.

Immediately Jesus felt power leave him, and he began to look around him, asking “Who touched me?” His disciples looked at him in amazement – how could they know? The crowd was very large and very close. Since her plan to do this secretly was foiled, the woman threw herself at Jesus’ feet and confessed that she was the one who had touched him, and why. He looked at her and said “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Just then, a messenger from Jairus’ house came to say to him “Don’t bother the Teacher anymore – your daughter is dead.” When Jesus heard this he said “Don’t be afraid – just believe, and she will be healed.”

When Jesus got to the house, he saw a crowd of mourners had already arrived, making a lot of noise with their wails of grief. He said “Why are you going on like this? She isn’t dead. She’s just sleeping.” The crowd began to laugh at him.

Jesus got the crowd to leave the house. Going inside with just Peter, James, John, and the girl’s parents, he went up to the girl, and taking her by the hand, he said “Talitha koum!” (Which means, “Little girl, get up!”) Immediately her soul returned to her and she began to walk. Jesus told them to get her something to eat, and strongly told those present to not tell anyone about this.

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MT 9:18-26, MK 5:21-43, LK 8:40-56

Do not judge

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How you treat others is how you will be treated. If you don’t judge or condemn people, you won’t be judged or condemned. Forgive, and you’ll be forgiven. Give, and you will get back more than you gave.

Why do you point out the speck in your brother’s eye, and miss the log in your own? You are a hypocrite to offer to take out the speck in his eye. How can you even see it, with that log in the way? First, fix yourself. Then you can help him.

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LK 6:37-38, MK 4:24-25, MT 7:1-5, LK 6:41-42

Preaching in Galilee

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Jesus went out by himself to pray in a deserted place. Not long after, the crowds found him and begged him to stay in their town. He told them that he couldn’t stay because he had to preach the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns. This is the whole reason he was sent.

He then went all over Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Because he was glorified and praised, he was invited to speak in the synagogues there. He spent his time preaching, healing, and casting out demons. His message was “It is now time! The kingdom of God is near! Return to following God and believe in the good news!”

News that he was there spread and more and more people were brought to him who were sick – those with intense pain, epilepsy, paralysis, or possessed by demons. He healed them all. Large crowds followed him from town to town all over the area.

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MK 1:35-39, LK 4:42-44, MT 4:23-25, MK 1:14-15, LK 4:14-15

Healing a paralyzed man

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One day, Jesus was teaching people at his family’s home. Four men wanted to get a man who was paralyzed to him for healing. The crowd that was there to listen to Jesus was impossible to get through. They decided to cut through the roof tiles to get the man in. Then they lowered him down on a stretcher.

Seeing the faith of the four men, Jesus said to the man “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The scribes and the Pharisees thought to themselves “He’s blaspheming! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them why they were thinking this way, saying “Isn’t it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ than to say ‘Get up and walk’? But so you know that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins, watch this.” He then told the paralytic “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”

Immediately the man did what Jesus said – he was healed! The crowds were amazed and gave glory to God saying “We have never seen anything like this!”

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MT 9:1-8, MK 2:1-12, LK 5:17-26