Jesus heals a man

(Mark 1.40-45; Luke 5.12-16)

1As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2Suddenly a man with leprosy8.2 leprosy: In biblical times the word “leprosy” was used for many different kinds of skin diseases. came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”

3Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man's leprosy disappeared. 4Jesus told him, “Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed.”8.4 everyone will know that you have been healed: People with leprosy had to be examined by a priest and told that they were well (that is “clean”) before they could once again live a normal life in the Jewish community. The gift that Moses commanded was the sacrifice of some lambs together with flour mixed with olive oil.8.4: Lv 14.1-32.

Jesus heals an army officer's servant

(Luke 7.1-10; John 4.43-54)

5When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, 6“Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move.”

7“I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.

8But the officer said, “Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 9I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”

10When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith! 11Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.8.11: Lk 13.29. 12But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”8.12: Mt 22.13; 25.30; Lk 13.28.

13Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.”

At once his servant was healed.

Jesus heals many people

(Mark 1.29-34; Luke 4.38-41)

14Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 15He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.

16That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,8.17: Is 53.4.

“He healed our diseases

and made us well.”

Some who wanted to go with Jesus

(Luke 9.57-62)

18When Jesus saw the crowd,8.18 saw the crowd: Some manuscripts have “large crowd”. Others have “large crowds”. he went across Lake Galilee. 19A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him and said, “Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!”

20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.”

21Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”

22Jesus answered, “Come with me, and let the dead bury their dead.”8.22 let the dead bury their dead: For the Jewish people a proper burial of their dead was a very important duty. But Jesus teaches that following him is even more important.

A storm

(Mark 4.35-41; Luke 8.22-25)

23After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, 24a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat.

Jesus was sound asleep, 25so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, “Lord, save us! We're going to drown!”

26But Jesus replied, “Why are you so afraid? You don't have much faith.” Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm.

27The men in the boat were amazed and said, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.”

Two men with demons in them

(Mark 5.1-20; Luke 8.26-39)

28After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara8.28 Gadara: Some manuscripts have “Gergesa”. Others have “Gerasa”. and started down the road. Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs.8.28 tombs: It was thought that demons and evil spirits lived in tombs and in caves that were used for burying the dead. They were so fierce that no one could travel that way. 29Suddenly they shouted, “Jesus, Son of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to punish us before our time?”

30Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31So the demons begged Jesus, “If you force us out, please send us into those pigs!” 32Jesus told them to go, and they went out of the men and into the pigs. All at once the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

33The people taking care of the pigs ran to the town and told everything, especially what had happened to the two men. 34Everyone in town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their part of the country.