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Excerpts from THE GOSPELS IN THE NOW (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

“But seek out and search for a revelation of the kingdom of God in and through every circumstance, and in every situation. And seek it first (or first thing)...before you strive with the circumstance... before you start to worry about the situation…before you fret over it…before you allow yourself to become overwhelmed by it or let it become exaggerated in your mind. And along with your primary search, look diligently for His righteousness, (or His rightness) to be revealed somewhere in the thing, as well. When you prioritize the kingdom in this way, then you can be sure that everything in your personal world will come into order, and that all you need for your daily provision will just automatically flow into your life and will be added to you as a result of your quest. So don’t worry or be anxious about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Live in the now, because the kingdom is always revealed in the now. Deal with tomorrow and what it may bring when it gets here, knowing that tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. As you live each day as it comes, God will enable you to successfully handle each day’s trouble, whatever it may be.”

(Matthew 6:33, 34 - Matthew In The Now)

“Let Me reveal this truth to you...you're impressed with what happened to the fig tree, but the fact is that you have the power and ability to say to this entire mountain, "Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea!", and see it obey you! You've seen me actually speak to a storm...or command the dead to live again...well, in the same way, if you can connect the God-kind of faith that is in your own heart with the creative ability that is in your own mouth...if you say what you believe, and believe what you say...you can produce these kinds of results! This is why I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer...whatever you decree...BELIEVE...accept the reality that it exists in another, unseen dimension, simply because you say it. Don't suspend or delay belief until you see it manifested in the physical realm, because what is unseen is more real than what is seen. Be confident that your request is granted to you, and you will get it...your own irresistible faith will attract it to you."

(Mark 11:23, 24 – Mark In The Now)

"And while I'm on the subject of the operation of this new world order, I will also tell you not to pronounce judgment on anyone, and you will live beyond the authority of any one's judgment on your life...do not condemn or pronounce guilt on anyone, and you will exist beyond the reach of condemnation and personal guilt...acquit, forgive and release others from your agendas and opinions, and you will never be limited by the agendas and opinions of others. And give...give generously and freely...because if you do, gifts will be lavished upon you...and these gifts will be abundant (to demonstrate the infinite possibilities of the Kingdom), packed down (to make room for more), shaken together (to make sure that you never receive filler), and running all over the place (so that you never have a sense of lack)! People will come into your life just to give to you, and this is the way that they will pour into the pouch formed by the bosom of your robe and used as a bag. You define your own terms in this, for with the same measure you deal out...with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others...it will be measured back to you!"

(Luke 6:37, 38 - Luke In The Now)

"You see, God’s love for the whole world – His paternal affection for the entire cosmos – was so all-encompassing and complete that He freely gave His unique Son to it, so that anyone from that world who believes in Him would not perish, but would awaken to the fact that eternal life is theirs. It certainly was never God’s intention to send His Son into the world to pronounce a sentence of condemnation upon it. Rather, He was perfectly focused on saving it...on redeeming the whole of humanity, everyone and everything on the planet...through the gift of that unique, manifested Son."

(John 3:16, 17 - John In The Now)

It Is Finished...

Hey bloggers...here is the rest of Luke In The Now, Chapter 24...the last 17 of the 3,779 verses that comprise the four Gospels. Thanks so much for your support of this project. For those of you who have blogged, commented, discussed, encouraged, added your own revelation, and helped proof this, along with Matthew In The Now and Mark In The Now as I have written and posted them here over the last year, a special thanks...I really feel like this has been a collaborative effort, and, in many ways, is the product of this blog community...

John In The Now was put out a couple of years ago, but it will be included with the Synoptic Gospels and published in one volume which will be called THE GOSPELS IN THE NOW: The Four Biographies of the God-Man Re-Imagined in Modern Context, which will be available in a few weeks...



LITN XXIV, Verses 36 - 53

36. And while they were in the process of trying to explain all this, Jesus actually materialized in their presence, stood in the middle of the group, and said to them, "Peace...peace be with all of you."

37. Everyone in the room was startled and frightened, reacting as if they were seeing a ghost...in fact, most of them believed that they were, indeed, seeing an apparition.

38. But He said to them, "Why, after all this time...after everything that you've all seen, especially in the last few days, are you still so quick to be upset and easily spooked? But the bigger question is...why are you still so prone to have doubts about Me in your minds?

39. Look at Me! Look at My hands and My feet! It really is Me! Touch me and see for yourselves. Don't be afraid...a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you obviously can see that I have."

40. As He said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

41. But they still just couldn't grasp it...couldn't believe their eyes...they were excited to see Him, but it just seemed to good to be true. So He said to them, "All right...do you have anything here to eat?"

42. And one of them had the presence of mind to respond to His request and give Him a piece of broiled fish.

43. And He took the fish and ate it in front of them to further prove that He was real.

44. Then He said to them, "Remember...this is what I told you while I was still with you in the earthly dimension. Every single thing must be fulfilled that has been written about Me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms."

45. Then His presence, words, and anointing opened their minds to revelation so that they could understand the Scriptures.

46. He reminded them, "This is what is written...whether you like it or not...whether you understand it, fully, or not...the Messiah will suffer terribly, and then rise triumphantly from the dead on the third day.

47. And a global paradigm shift for the realization of His forgiveness of the world's sins will be preached in His name to all the nations of the earth. What happened in Jerusalem is just the beginning.

48. And you in this room are privileged to be witnesses of the beginning of these things.

49. So I'm going to send you what my Father has promised...but stay here in the city until you have been inundated and infused with power from on high."

50. Then He led them out of that place to the vicinity of Bethany, and once they were there, He lifted up his hands and blessed them.

51. And while He was still speaking a blessing over them, He de-materialized and was translated into the heavenly dimension.

52. Then they instinctively worshiped Him, even though He was no longer physically in their presence. At last they understood that His being...His reality...was greater and more transcendent than anything that could be contained in a finite, physical body. And they returned to Jerusalem with great exuberance.

53. And for the days immediately following, they stayed continually in the Temple, praising, exalting, and increasing in their comprehension of the one, true God.

LITN XXIV, Verses 13 - 35

13. Later that very same day, two of the disciples who were not a part of the remaining Eleven were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14. They were still somewhat in a state of shock from all that had transpired over the weekend, and as they walked along the road together, they could speak of nothing else.

15. In fact, they were so engrossed in deep conversation about their take on the events of the previous few days that they didn't even notice when the freshly-resurrected Jesus, Himself, came up and walked along with them.

16. But they were unable to recognize Him in His post-resurrection incarnation.

17. So He said to them, "Pardon Me, but may I ask what in the world you gentlemen are discussing so intently as you walk along?" The sound of His voice penetrated their intense communication, and jarred them into stopping in their tracks. But they just stood there for a few moments in silence with their faces downcast.

18. Then one of them, Cleopas by name, asked Him, "What are we discussing? Are you serious? You must be the only visitor to Jerusalem that doesn't know about or isn't talking about the things that have happened there in the last few days!"

19. "What things?" He asked. "Terrible things", they replied, "Terrible events...the things surrounding the arrest, trial and execution of Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet with a powerful message...a miracle-worker who was blessed by God and all the people.

20. But the Chief Priests, and those in cahoots with them, found a reason and a way to hand Him over to be sentenced to death...and they crucified Him.

21. We're devastated by the whole thing, mainly because we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And today is the third day since all of this took place.

22. To make matters worse, this morning some of our women presented us with this far-fetched story that has us totally confused. They went to the tomb at daybreak to anoint the body of Jesus,

23. but didn't find it in its tomb. They came and told us that they had seen a manifestation of spirit-beings who claimed that He was alive.

24. Then some of our colleagues went to the tomb to see for themselves, and found it exactly as the women had said. But they didn't see Jesus anywhere, dead or alive."

25. Then He said to them, "How clueless you are...and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26. Isn't it written that the Messiah had to suffer these things, and then enter into the fullness of His glory?"

27. But they had no response to His words, so, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He patiently and methodically explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

28. And this continued throughout the entire seven-mile trek, until they approached the village to which they were going. Jesus, however, just kept walking as if He were going farther.

29. But they urged Him to remain with them saying, "No...don't go...stay with us, and continue with what You were saying. Besides, it's nearly evening...the day's almost over." So He obliged, and went in to stay with them.

30. They had dinner together, and when He was at the table with them, He took the initiative and began to act as the host. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to both of them.

31. And that's when it happened. They hadn't recognized Him in His current physicality, even though He had been walking and talking with them all afternoon, but somehow here...at the table...with the bread...in the communion...they had a revelation of Him. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him in the now. But as soon as this happened, He disappeared from their sight.

32. They sat there for a moment, and then when they were able to speak they asked each other, "Wasn't it as if our hearts were on fire while He talked with us on the road, and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures to us?"

33. They didn't even finish the meal...instead, they got right up and made the seven mile trip back to Jerusalem. When they finally got there they found the Eleven and those with them, all together in one place.

34. They said to them, "Everybody...it's true! The Lord really has risen, and has appeared to Simon Peter!"

35. Then the two of them began to unfold the story of how He had appeared to them, as well. They told all that had happened on the way to Emmaus, and how that Jesus in His current incarnation was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread.

LITN XXIV, Verses 1 - 12

1. But on the first day of the week, at the first light of dawn, the women took the spices which they had carefully prepared for His body, and made their way to the tomb.

2. But when they got there, they discovered that the huge, flat stone which fit down into the slot that ran along the front of the sepulcher had been rolled away from the door of it.

3. Without hesitation they entered the enclosure, but the physical remains of Jesus which they had come to anoint were nowhere to be found.

4. The women were stunned by this...they didn't know what to think...didn't know what to say...they just stood there, dumbfounded and confused, staring in disbelief at the empty slab where His body had been just hours earlier. Then, suddenly, two men who were dressed in clothes that seemed to gleam like lightning appeared, and stood right beside them.

5. The sight of these beings from another dimension sent the women into a state of sheer panic. Completely overcome with fear, they collapsed, face forward, onto the stony ground, and lay there in dead silence. But the men in the lightning-lit clothes said to them, "Ladies...why have you come looking for the living among the dead?

6. He is not here! He has risen! Don't you remember how He told you while He was still with you there in Galilee:

7. 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the temporary custody of rebels, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.' "

8. And then, as the messengers repeated Jesus' own self-prophecy to them, the women settled down. The peace that was still attached to those words enveloped them, and soon they became ecstatic as they remembered and finally understood them.

9. When they came back from the tomb, they shared all of these amazing things with the remaining Eleven, and with all the others who were connected to them.

10. The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and some others who came with them. They all went together to find the disciples.

11. But the disciples didn't believe the women at all, because their words seemed to them to be the utter nonsense of hysterical women.

12. Peter, however, wanted to believe them, so he sprang up and ran, by himself, all the way to the tomb. When he got there, he went in, bent down, and saw the strips of linen lying by themselves. After a while he left the empty structure, realizing that something had definitely happened there, but he had no idea what.

LITN XXIII, Verses 13 - 56

13. Then Pilate called together the Chief Priests, the rulers, and the people,

14. and said to them, "Listen...you brought me this Man, claiming that He was inciting the people to rebellion...but I've thoroughly examined Him in your presence, and just haven't found any basis for these charges.

15. And neither has Herod, obviously, because he sent Him right back here to us. In all honesty, you must realize that He hasn't really done anything to deserve death.

16. So, to help you save face...to make you feel satisfied that you've made your point...I'm going to have Him publicly flogged. But then I'm going to release Him. That way, no one has to die, and he'll probably just disappear after all this beating and humiliation.

17.(Verse 17 doesn't exist in the original text.)

18. But they wouldn't hear of it. With one voice they cried out, "We want this Man done away with! Release the prisoner Barabbas to us if you need to pardon someone for the feast!"

19. Barabbas was serving a prison sentence for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.

20. But Pilate really wanted to release Jesus, and made the same appeal to them again.

21. But they refused to acknowledge his words, and just kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

22. Then Pilate spoke to them a third time, saying, "Why are you people so adamant about this? Seriously...what crime has this Man committed, really? There just aren't any legitimate or valid grounds for the death penalty that I can find here. He's already been beaten up, and I'm going to have Him severely punished for whatever you think He's done...but enough is enough...I intend to release Him!"

23. But they just got louder with the shouts and the insistent demands for His crucifixion. Eventually they wore Pilate down, and their shouts prevailed.

24. So he reluctantly decided to grant them what they wanted.

25. And he released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. He gave them the one they asked for, and provided consent for them to do to Jesus whatever they wanted.

26. So the soldiers led Him away, forcing Him to carry the heavy beam that would later form the horizontal part of His cross. But He had stood all night long, and had been beaten repeatedly throughout the night, so He collapsed under the weight of the solid piece of wood, weakened from exhaustion and the loss of blood. So they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was passing by on his way in from the country, and made him carry the cross-beam and follow along behind Jesus as He staggered toward the place of His execution.

27. By this time, a large number of people followed Him on His death-march, including women who mourned and wailed loudly for Him.

28. Jesus turned to some of them who were crying hysterically, and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for Me...weep for yourselves and for your children.

29. For the time will come in this nation when you will say, 'Blessed are the women without children...the barren wombs and the breasts that never nursed!'

30. Then it will be fulfilled: 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" '

31. For if people do this kind of thing to a living, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?"

32. And two other men, both convicted criminals, were also led out with Him to be publicly put to death.

33. When they arrived at the place called 'The Skull'...a rock formation in the side of a hill that eerily resembled the face of a human skull...they crucified Him there beside the road in front of it, along with the criminals. One was on His right, the other on His left.

34. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them...for even though this is ultimately the fulfillment of Your will, they don't understand why they are acting with such physical cruelty." Then the soldiers divided up the clothes that they had stripped off Him by casting lots.

35. And then the people just stood there and watched...some wept, vehemently...others gawked, vacantly... the relentless religious rulers sneered at Him, and mocked Him right up to the very end. They said, "He saved others...let Him save Himself if He is God's Messiah, the Chosen One!"

36. The soldiers also came up to Him and piled on with their unique brand of mockery. They offered Him wine vinegar

37. and said to Him, "Hey! You! If You're really the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

38. They nailed a written notice above His head, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39. One of the two criminals who hung there beside Him kept hurling insults at him. He yelled, "Aren't You the Messiah? Why don't You save yourself...and us!"

40. But the other one rebuked him, saying, "Don't you have any respect for God? How can you say that, seeing that you are under the same sentence?

41. We're being punished justly...getting what our deeds deserve...but everyone knows this Man hasn't done anything wrong."

42. Then he looked over at Jesus and said, "Sir...please remember me when You come into your Kingdom."

43. Jesus raised His head and answered him, "Friend, I'm telling you the truth...this will soon be over, and today you'll be with Me in paradise."

44. Around noon, a strange darkness settled in over the entire area, and remained until about three in the afternoon.

45. At one point, the darkness became so thick that it seemed as though the sun had stopped shining. Then the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, opening up the Holy of Holies to the entire world.

46. Right about then, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father...into Your hands I commit My spirit." And with these words, He took His last breath in the physical body.

47. A Roman Centurion, standing close by and seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "No doubt...this Man was just, righteous, and innocent."

48. All the people who had gathered to witness the whole thing were, for the most part, overcome with sorrow when everything was said and done. They responded and reacted, each in his or her own way, and then left the scene of the execution.

49. But all those who actually knew Him, including the women who had followed Him all the way from Galilee, stood at a distance, keeping vigil.

50. Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the Council...a sincere man...a man of conscience...a man full of integrity.

51. He hadn't consented to the decisions and actions of the rest of the Council. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and had been open to the ministry of Jesus, because he himself had pursued and waited for the manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

52. So he went to Pilate, personally, and asked for permission to be the caretaker of Jesus' body.

53. Pilate allowed it, so he went and carefully took the lifeless corpse down off the cross, wrapped it in clean, linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock. The place was his own, personal property...a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

54. It was the day before Sabbath, known as Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph, saw the tomb, and observed how His body was laid in it.

56. Then they went home immediately and began to prepare spices and perfumes which they could use to anoint the body. But, in obedience to the commandment, they rested on the Sabbath.

LITN XXIII, Verses 1 - 12

1. With this phase of the impromptu trial over, and with the events now taking on an undefinable urgency and life of their own, the entire assembly rose and led Him off to stand before Pilate.

2. As soon as they arrived, the accusations began to fly. "We've found this rabble rouser...this demagogue...
subverting our nation and all that it stands for!", they exclaimed. "He flagrantly opposes payment of taxes to Caesar, and, most disturbing of all, claims to be a Messiah and a king!"

3. So Pilate said to Jesus, "Tell me, sir...is this true? Are You the King of the Jews?" "To you I am whoever you say that I am," Jesus replied.

4. Then Pilate, initially dismissing the whole thing as something harmless...even amusing...certainly something with which he didn't want to be involved...announced to the Chief Priests and the crowd, "Look...I just don't find any basis for a charge against this Man."

5. But they were insistent, saying, "Governor...with all due respect, you don't seem to understand. He stirs up the people all over Judea by His anarchistic rhetoric and blasphemous teaching. He started spreading His poison in Galilee, and has brought it all the way here!"

6. On hearing this, Pilate asked if Jesus was a Galilean.

7. When they answered in the affirmative, he ruled that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, and then sent Him to stand before the king, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8. So they brought Him to Herod, who was actually quite pleased to see Him. For quite some time, Herod had been hoping for a chance to meet Him because of all that he had heard about the signs and wonders He performed. In fact, he hoped to see Him perform one right in front of him.

9. So he plied him with a plethora of questions, but at this point, Jesus had said all He was going to say.

10. But the Chief Priests and religious leaders kept standing there, vehemently accusing Him, anyway.

11. Herod and his soldiers then began to ridicule and mock Him, dressing Him in an elegant robe. Then they sent him back to Pilate.

12. Somehow, during all this circus-like atmosphere of mockery, false accusations, and sending Jesus back and forth from trial to trial, Herod and Pilate became friends. Prior to this they had been hostile enemies.

LITN XXII, Verses 47 - 71

47. But that was all that He could say to them, because while He was in mid-sentence, a mob led by Judas appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere. And once they had converged upon them, Judas immediately went right up to Jesus, and without word or warning, kissed Him.

48. Jesus just looked at him and asked, "Judas...this is how you're going to do it? You're betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

49. When the disciples realized what was happening, they said, "Lord, should we fight with our swords?"

50. But before He could even answer, one of them, who will now remain nameless, just started clumsily wielding a sword, managing to strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51. But Jesus called out, "No...stop it! It doesn't matter now...the fulfillment has begun...there's no reason to fight it now!" And He stooped and picked up the startled man's bloody, severed ear from off the ground, re-attached it, and healed him. This was His last miracle performed as the Son of Man.

52. Then He turned to the chief priests, officers of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for Him, and said, "Is all this really necessary? Do you honestly perceive that I'm leading some kind of physical rebellion that demands you come for Me with swords and clubs?

53. I mean, every single day I was with you in the Temple courts, and you didn't lay a hand on Me then. But I suppose that this is appropriate...this is fitting for you, and for how you think...acting out your methods of control when darkness reigns depending on physical weapons to protect your interests."

54. But His words fell on deaf ears. They seized Him as a criminal, anyway, led Him away, and took Him straight to the house of the High Priest. Peter followed along after them at a safe distance.

55. And when he arrived at the house, he saw that some people there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, so he sat down with them.

56. One of the High Priest's serving maids walked outside to where they were sitting, and when she saw Peter warming himself, she just stopped in her tracks and stared at him. Unable to take her eyes off Him, she said, "Hey...this man was with Him."

57. But he completely denied it, saying, "Lady, I don't even know what you're talking about."

58. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You are definitely one of them...one of Jesus' close followers!" Agitated, Peter replied. "Man, I'm telling you...I am not!"

59. About an hour later another bystander spoke up and said, "Come on...admit it...you really are one of them...you are a Galilean...your dialect gives you away!"

60. Peter replied, "Look...I'm telling you for the last time...I don't know Him...never did...you people don't even know what you're talking about...shut up and leave me alone!" And as these words were still lingering in the air, a rooster crowed.

61. When this happened, Peter instinctively looked up to try to see Jesus, and when he spotted Him, He saw that Jesus was already standing there, staring at him. As they made eye contact, Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will utterly deny Me...you will deny any connection to Me three times."

62. And when the realization of what had just happened came crashing in on him, Peter went out and broke down and cried loud and hard.

63. Then the men who were guarding Jesus began to mock Him and pummel Him with their fists.

64. As a kind of frenzy set in among them, they blindfolded Him, and began to say while striking Him, "Prophesy, Prophet!...tell us who hit You!". They did this until they grew tired of it, then the guards took Him away, and started another round of beatings.

65. And they also continued the verbal abuse, peppered with constant insults and obscenities.

66. This went on all through the night, but at daybreak, the Council of the Elders of the people, the Chief Priests, and religious leaders all met together. Jesus was then led before them.

67. They said to Him, "If you really are the Messiah, tell us!" Jesus answered, "You men have proven that there's nothing I could tell you that you would believe;

68. And there's no question that I could ask you that you would actually answer.

69. But whether you believe Me or not, from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand...the place of authority...with God."

70. They replied, "So now You're saying that You are the Son of God?" He answered, "To you I am Whoever you say that I am."

71. Then they said, "We obviously don't need any more testimony...we've heard the blasphemy from His own lips."

LITN XXII, Verses 28 - 46

28. And as I serve you, I also honor and bless you for standing by Me in all My trials...you were more or less apprehended by this whole thing...plucked out of your normal, natural lives, and thrust into the supernatural realm, and all that it entails...and yet you have stuck with Me through thick and thin.

29. That's why I confer on you all a Kingdom...just as My Father conferred one on Me.

30. And all twelve of you will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones with Me, leading and guiding even those outside of the Kingdom...those who are represented by the twelve Tribes of Israel.

31. Then Jesus spoke to Peter, calling him by his natural, pre-revelation name, saying, "Simon, Simon...satan has asked permission to sift you as wheat.

32. And permission has been granted him...you will, indeed, be sifted in the next few hours. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and that through this sifting process, the 'Simon' in you will be removed, and 'Peter, the Rock', will finally emerge, fully intact. As I have said before...one man will be taken, and one man will be left behind. And when the chaff of Simon is gone, and the wheat of Peter is defined and refined, go back and strengthen your brothers."

33. But this concept basically went over his head, and he replied, "Lord, I don't know about satan's request, and I don't understand all this talk of sifting, but You should know that I'm ready right now to go with You to prison...I'm even prepared to follow You to death."

34. But Jesus, declaring the end from the beginning, called him Peter again, and said, "Buddy, I know that you think you mean that. But I tell you, Peter, that before the rooster crows this morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me."

35. Then Jesus asked them all, "When I sent you out with nothing but the internal, spiritual gifts that had been imparted to you, did you lack any physical thing?" "No...not a thing," they answered.

36. "Well", He said to them, "now, if you have some things to help you get by, take them with you...and if you don't have a sword, pawn your coat and buy one.

37. It is written: 'And He was numbered with the rebels'...and I tell you that this Scripture must be confirmed in Me. Please try to understand that what is written about Me is about to be fulfilled."

38. The disciples said, "Look here, Lord, we already have two swords among us."
"Well, on second thought", He said, "that's probably enough protection for you...and that's really enough talk about it."

39. Then Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, as He had been doing every night for a while, and His disciples followed Him there.

40. Once they were at the desired spot, He said to them, "Pray that you will remain strong, especially in the next few hours."

41. Then He walked a short distance away from them, and knelt down and prayed, saying,

42 "Father, if there is any alternative at this hour to what is already unfolding, then take this cup away from Me...but that is the Son of Man in His humanity speaking...the Son of God, in His divinity says, 'never mind what the voice of human, self-preservation says'...may Your will be done in this."

43. And immediately a ministering spirit from the heavenly realm manifested to Him, and assisted Him in His transition from flesh to spirit.




















44. But the process was difficult...painful...and His mind kept going in and out of the revelation of the Divine Purpose. So, being in anguish as the temporal engaged in fierce battle with the eternal, He prayed even more earnestly. And as He contended with the conflict between His two worlds...His two realities...the struggle caused His perspiration to morph into drops of blood. But as He gradually and ultimately yielded to the Will of Love, He began to bleed the atonement...before He was scourged...before He was beaten...before He was wounded. He bled because He said 'yes'.

45. And with this final resolution, He rose from prayer and went back to His disciples, but found them asleep...filled with wine, and exhausted from sorrow.

46. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray that you will remain strong!"

Luke XXII, Verses 1 - 27

1. By this time, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was fast approaching.

2. The chief priests and religious leaders were now looking for any and every opportunity to get rid of Jesus, but their fear of the people made it virtually impossible for them to initiate anything.

3. Then satan, to confirm God's purposes and to fulfill prophecy, entered the mind of Judas, Iscariot, one of the original Twelve...and Jesus did nothing to stop it, even though He had proven, time after time, that He had complete authority over the entire spirit-realm.

4. So Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard, and discussed with them a strategy of how he might betray Jesus, and hand Him over to them.

5. And this was the opportunity that they had been waiting for. They were delighted with him, and the satanically-inspired idea that he pitched to them. They even agreed to give him money for it.

6. So Judas sealed the deal with them, and began to watch for the perfect occasion and method of delivering Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

7. Then the actual day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed, finally came.

8. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying to them, "I want the two of you to go and make preparations for us all to eat the Passover together."

9. They replied, "Absolutely. Where do you want us to prepare for it?"

10. He said to them, "As soon as you enter the city, you'll see a man carrying a jar of water. When he approaches you, follow him to the house that he enters.

11. When you get there, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher wants to know where your guest room is, because that's where He wants to eat the Passover with His disciples.'

12. He'll show you a large upper room, which will be all furnished. Make the preparations for this important celebration there."

13. So they left immediately, found the exact scenario which Jesus had described, and they went right into making preparations for the Passover.

14. When the designated hour arrived, Jesus and His disciples came and ate and reclined at the table.

15. During the dinner, He said to them, "Boys, I've really been anticipating this evening...it was important to Me to have this opportunity to eat the Passover with you before I suffer.

16. You should know that I won't eat it again until it finds spiritual fulfillment and manifestation in the Kingdom of God."

17. After taking the cup, He gave thanks for it, and said, "Take this and pass it among yourselves.

18. For neither will I drink wine again with you until the Kingdom of God comes in revelation and in power."

19. Then He took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it...and He personally handed a portion of it to each of them at the table. As He distributed the broken pieces around the unbroken circle of His closest followers, He said to them, "THIS...this broken bread...this special night...this unique experience...this holy celebration...this final gathering in the physical realm of those I love...all of 'this' is my body, given for you. Do this...celebrate this...comprehend this...understand this...embrace this...in remembrance, or rather, in 're-member'-ance...in a re-assembling of the disconnected members of the Christ...do this in remembrance of Me."

20. Then, in the same way, after the supper He took the common cup, saying, "THIS cup is the ratification of the New Covenant in My blood...this life...this substance...this connection...this kinship and common bloodline...this is the blood which is poured out for you.

21. But the very hand of him who is going to betray Me is with Mine on this table.

22. The Son of Man will and must pass through the door of physical suffering to reveal the Son of God as it has been prophesied. But, even though it must happen according to what has been decreed by God, Himself, the man who betrays the Son will still be traumatized by the acting out of his role in this drama."

23. They immediately began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this thing.

24. And in their confusion, a ridiculous and immature dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest.

25. Jesus said to them, "Stop it! Wake up! Don't you realize that insecure kings need to throw their weight around to feel superior and worthy of their thrones and crowns...that people with authority in the current world system like to hide behind the fancy titles that they've conferred upon themselves?

26. After all that I've revealed to you about the Kingdom-life, you should realize by now that you can't ever be like that! The greatest among you should be the humblest...the one who actually rules should be the one who really serves.

27. For who is greater...the one who is at the table, or the one who serves? Isn't it typically the one who is at the table? But look...I'm among you all as the One who serves you all."

LITN XXI, Verses 20 - 38

20. "When you see armies coming to destroy both Jerusalem and the Temple, take notice and realize that this is the fulfillment of this nation's time of desolation.

21. If you're living in Judea at the time, you’ll need to run for the hills. If you're in the city, get out as soon as possible. If you're out in the country, stay where you are.

22. Heed this advice, because this is the time of retribution, in fulfillment of all that has been written.

23. Unfortunately, pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard during this distressful time of persecution.

24. The inhabitants of this city will fall by the sword, and will eventually be taken as prisoners to many other nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the fall of the Roman Empire.

25. It will be a time of utter chaos, with the sun, moon and stars becoming prophetic symbols of the downfall of rulers and authorities, and of the total upheaval of this nation's current government. On the earth, it will seem as though all the surrounding nations are in anguish...as if the whole world is one big storm-tossed sea.

26. The people of this city will faint from terror as they witness their world, as they now know it, coming to an end. Everything, including the sky above them and the celestial bodies, will seem to be off course and out of order.

27. At that time they will see a great manifestation of the authority of the Son of Man. To them He will no longer be shrouded in a cloud of mystery, but will be revealed to them with power and great glory.

28. So when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads. Even though your present national reality and religious system are coming to an end, in the big picture, your redemption is actually drawing near."

29. Then He told them this illustration: "From the fig tree learn this lesson.

30. As soon as its young shoots become soft and tender, and it starts to put out leaves, you know for a fact that summer is near.

31. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the manifestation of the Kingdom of God is about to appear in its fullness.

32. I'm telling you the truth, so do not take this lightly, or assume that this is some far-off, futuristic prophecy that has no relevance to you. I'm not saying all this for some generation that will live hundreds of years from today. This is for all of you who are alive right now...these are things that will happen in your lifetime! And this era continues until all these things take place.

33. The sky and the earth will fade away before any of My words do, because My words are eternally and absolutely true.

34. Remain alert and aware, or your hearts will be weighed down with drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close in on you suddenly like a trap.

35. For the downfall of this nation will ultimately have an effect on all those who live on the face of the earth.

36. Be vigilant at all times, and pray that you may personally be able to escape the inevitable destruction that is coming on this nation...and that you may be able to look, face to face, at the Son of Man."

37. Jesus continued, for a season, to teach every day at the Temple. And each evening during that time, He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

38. But every morning, all the people came early to hear Him again in the temple.

LITN XXI, Verses 1 - 19

1. After saying these things, Jesus looked up and saw the rich making a big show of putting their financial gifts into the temple treasury.

2. At the same time He saw a poor, little widow put in two very small copper coins.

3. "I want to tell you a truth about perception," He said, "this poor widow has actually put in more than all the rest.

4. These others gave their gifts out of their vast wealth, but in this sense everything is relative...she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on, so she gave the most in reality."

5. And this exchange led to a conversation about the Temple, itself. Some of His disciples were remarking about how it was adorned with beautiful stones, and with gifts dedicated to God, and they began to discuss the buildings of the Temple complex, and how imposing and impressive they thought the architecture to be.














(THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, 70 A.D.)

6. "You may be rightfully impressed with what you see before you", He said to them, "the Temple is, indeed, something to behold. But the truth is, there is not one stone in that magnificent building that is not going to end up in a massive pile of rubble."

7. "Teacher," they asked, "when are these things going to happen? Will that be the sign of Your fully coming into power, and of the completion and consummation of this age and era?”

8. He said to them, “Be careful that no one deceives or misleads you on these points…understand these beginning events, marking the period between My resurrection and the Temple’s destruction. For during this time many will come in falsehood, claiming, ‘I, alone, am the Christ’, and they will lead many away from the truth of Who and what the Christ truly is. Do not follow them.

9. Also, during this time you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place…wars will come and go as they always have…but the end of the Temple-age is not yet.

10. Nation will rise against nation...ruler will fight ruler...kingdom will invade kingdom...the usual earthly conflicts will continue to occur as they always have. These things are nothing new.

11. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilence in various places, and fearful events which are a part of the natural order of things...activity in the sky above you which can be seen as the birth pangs of the destruction that is coming on this nation.

12. But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of your association with My reputation and name.

13. But this will provide an opportunity for you to be witnesses to them, and to the whole world...a chance to give your testimony...to show that, as the Temple era comes to an end, the true Kingdom of God will be simultaneously revealed.

14. But determine now within your own minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves when all this happens.

15. For I, as the Spirit, will personally give you wise words that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

16. As this natural, physical nation is replaced by a supernatural, spiritual one, you may very well be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends...the closest people to you who reject the change that the Kingdom will inevitably bring...and they will even put some of you to death.

17. At one point, the conflict will become so intense that it will seem as if the entire world hates you because of your revelation of Me.

18. But as you continue to embrace this revelation, not a hair of your head will perish.

19. By standing firm in what you have received and perceived, you will gain a more excellent life."

LITN XX, Verses 27 - 47

27. Then some of the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection of the dead, came to Him with a question of their own.

28. “Teacher”, they began, “Moses said that if a man dies, leaving no children, his brother should marry his widowed sister-in-law, and raise a family for his brother with her.

29. Let’s say, hypothetically, that there were seven brothers, and the first married and died, and, having no children, left his wife to his brother.

30. The same with the second brother;

31. And then the third brother married her, and so on until all seven died, leaving no children.

32. Now…stay with us on this…let’s say that, last of all, the woman died also.

33. This is our question…in this scenario, in the resurrection, to which one of the seven brothers will she be wife, since she was married to all of them?”

34. Jesus replied, “Your premise is implausible, if not preposterous. Anyway, the people in this age and dimension marry and are given in marriage.

35. But in the reality of the resurrection, neither men nor women get married, nor are they considered married when they enter the resurrected state.

36. In that sense they are like the angels who live in the heavenly realm, and they can no longer die. They are God's children...children of the resurrection.

37. But as to your larger question...in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, in that he called the Lord 'The God of Abraham...and the God of Isaac...and the God of Jacob.'

38. Don't you see that He revealed something in the way that he phrased that? Because he spoke of God being the God of all of them in the present tense, he was declaring that He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are ultimately and eternally alive."

39. Some of the teachers of the law who heard this responded, "Excellent...well said, Teacher!"

40. But whether they liked His answer or not, no one dared to ask Him any more questions.

41. But Jesus went on to say to them, "Why do you think it is said that the Messiah is the son of David?

42. I mean, David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: 'The Lord said to my Lord, it at My right hand,

43. until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'

44. Think about it...if David calls him 'Lord', how then can he be his son?"

45. While the people were trying to comprehend all this, Jesus turned to His disciples and said,

46. "Always remember to beware of the teachers of the law. They love to walk around in flowing robes, looking pious and important...love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and treated like celebrities...love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at all the banquets.

47. But while all this high profile show is going on, behind the scenes they devour the fortunes of gullible widows, and for a pretense make lengthy prayers. These men will be justly and severely punished."

LITN XX, Verses 1 - 26

1. One day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, proclaiming the good news, and as He finished up, the ever-vigilant chief priests and teachers of the law, together with the elders, approached Him to talk to Him.

2. And they challenged Him, demanding, “By what power of authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this power of authority?"

3. He replied, "I will answer your question with another question, and if you give Me the answer, then I also will tell you by what power of authority I do these things.

4. The baptism of John…from where did it originate? Did it come from heaven, or did it come from men?”

5. This question immediately set a private meeting among them into motion, in which they said to one another, “Watch out…this is a trick question…if we say that the baptism originated in the heavenlies, He will no doubt ask us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

6. On the other hand, if we say, “It is of mere human origin, we’re going to receive so much flack from the people...they may even stone us...for they all regard John as a prophet.”

7. So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

8. And He said to them, “Fair enough…so neither will I tell you by what power of authority I do these things.”

9. Then He went on to tell them this illustration: "A prominent landowner planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and moved somewhere else for a long time.

10. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servant back to collect his profits. But the tenants took the servant and beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed.

11. He then sent another servant, but they also beat that man, and severely abused him, then they sent him away empty-handed, as well.

12. He even sent a third, and they also met him with violence, wounded him, and threw him out.

13. Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, 'Surely, they will respect my own son whom I love, and not treat him the way that they have treated my servants.'

14. But, as it turned out, when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir to the fortune…let’s kill him so that we can have his inheritance!”

15. And, sure enough, they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him right then and there. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what do you think he’ll do to those horrible, murderous tenants?

16. He will come and put those tenants to death. and give the vineyard to others."
When the people heard this, they said, "God forbid that he would do something like that!"

17. Jesus looked intently at them and asked, “Have you never read in your Scriptures: ‘The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone'?

18. Everyone who stumbles on this Stone will be shattered to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed to powder, scattering him like dust.

19. When the religious leaders heard His dark, illustrative story that day, they perceived that He was talking about them, and began to aggressively look for a way to arrest Him as soon as possible. But they didn't know how to do it because they were cowards.

20. But from that point on they kept a close watch on Him. They even sent spies, pretending to be sincere, in hopes of catching Him in some verbal trap...waiting for Him to snare Himself with His own words so that they might hand Him over to the authorities.

21. These spies came to Him and questioned Him, saying "Teacher, we know that You certainly speak and teach what is right...and we also know that You have integrity, that You teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of possible consequences, that You are uncompromising in Your ethics, and that You don’t pander to Your audience.

22. So tell us...is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23. Of course He saw right through them, and said, “Do you phonies honestly think that I don’t know what you're up to? Surely you can’t be simple enough to assume that I would be rendered gullible by your empty compliments. That kind of flattery may work on you, but it doesn’t work on Me…why do you keep trying to trap Me with these tired old tricks?




















24. All right…I’ll play along with your silly game. Show Me a coin, and tell Me whose image and inscription are on it." "Caesar's", they replied.

25. “Well, then, it should be obvious, shouldn’t it? Pay to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God. It’s that simple.”

26. The Pharisees didn’t have a comeback. Once again the profound simplicity of His words had left them speechless, and they were again unable to entrap Him. Astonished by His answer, they were completely silenced.

LITN XIX, Verses 11 - 48

11. While those who were also at Zacchaeus' house that day were listening to this exchange between him and his self-invited Guest, Jesus proceeded to tell them an illustration. He used this opportunity to tell it, because He was near Jerusalem, and the people thought that the Kingdom of God was going to visibly appear all at once.

12. He said, "There once was a man, a descendant from a royal house, who went to a distant country to have himself appointed king...to get authorization for his rule...and then return.

13. But first he called his ten servants together, and gave them each a sum of money. Then he said to them, 'Operate with this until I return.'

14. However, the citizens there hated him, so they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule. They made no bones about their feelings, and their petition simply stated: 'We don't want this man to rule over us.'

15. When he returned, bringing the authorization of his rule with him, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done with what he left them.

16. The first one said, 'Sir, while you were on your journey, I doubled your money.'

17. He said to him, 'Excellent! Good for you! Now, because you've been trustworthy and productive in this small job, I'm going to make you governor of ten towns.'

18. Then the second one stepped up and said, 'Sir, while you were gone, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'

19. He said to him, 'Great! Because of this I'm going to put you in charge of five towns.'

20. Then a third one came and said, 'Here's your money, just as you left it. I've kept it tied up in a handkerchief and hidden away while you were gone.

21. I thought that it was the right thing to do. Besides, I was really afraid of you. I know you are a stern and severe man. I know that you pick up what you didn't lay down, and that you reap what you didn't sow.'

22. He said to this one, 'Oh, really? You think you know a lot about me, don't you?
Well, your own lack of perception is going to be your downfall! I'll show you how stern and severe I really can be. You knew, did you, that I pick up what I didn't lay down, and reap what I didn't sow?

23. Then why didn't you at least put my money in a bank, so that when I got back I might have collected it with some interest?

24. Then he said to the bystanders, 'Take the money away from him and give it to the man who doubled what I gave him.'

25. But they said to him, 'Sir, he already has double!'

26. But he said, 'This is the way it works...to everyone who gets and has will more be given, but from the man or woman who does not get and does not have, even what he or she has will be taken away from him/her.

27. Oh, and one more thing', said the indignant king, 'as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to reign over them, bring them here and execute them in my presence!'"

28. When He finished this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of His disciples.

29. On the way He came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, and He sent two disciples ahead there.

30. And He said to them “Go into that village over there, and as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. I want you to untie it, and bring it here.

31. If anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ just say to them, ‘We're taking it because the Lord needs it.’”

32. So they did exactly as He said, and went and found the colt.

33. And, indeed, the owners saw them taking it and asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

34. And, according to instructions, the disciples simply replied, “We're taking it because the Lord needs it.”

35. Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments over it for Him to ride on into Jerusalem.



















36. And as He rode along, the crowds spontaneously began to spread out their garments on the road ahead of Him.

37. And when He reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles that they had seen manifested through His ministry.

38. They sang, “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in the heavenlies, and glory in the highest part of the heavenly dimension!”

39. But some of the Pharisees were in the crowd, as usual, and, as usual, they were displeased with Him. They said, “Teacher, you should rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

40. But He replied, “You know what? If they were to keep quiet, the stones along the road would burst into shouts of praise!”

41. But as He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He burst into tears and wept over it.

42. And He said, "Jerusalem, if you had only known in this present day what would bring you peace...but right now your religious tradition has hidden it from your eyes.

43. And so the days will come in the not-too-distant future when your enemies will build an embankment against you, and encircle you. They will hem you in on every side.

44. Destruction will be everywhere within your walls, even to you and your children. Your enemies will not leave one stone on another in this city, because you did not recognize the time of God's visitation to you as a nation."

45. Then He continued on into the city, and when He entered the temple courts, He began to personally drive out those who were there selling.

46. He said to them "It's written that 'My house is designed to be a house of prayer!'...but you have degraded it into a den of robbers."

47. For the next several days after this, He was teaching there in the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were, at this point, completely focused on trying to kill Him.

48. But they couldn't find any opportunity or way to do it, because the people were surrounding Him constantly, hanging on to His every word.

LITN XIX, Verses 1 - 10

1. Jesus entered Jericho, although He was just passing through to Jerusalem where His earthly destiny would soon be fulfilled.

2. There was a man who lived in the city by the name of Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was infamous for having built his fortune through the exploitation of the people in that area. He had illegally overtaxed them for years, had stolen from them, and had used the system to oppress and abuse them.

3. He had heard some of the buzz about Jesus, and wanted to see Him for himself as He passed by, but because he was short in stature, he couldn't see over the curious crowd.

4. So he, being the innovator that he was, ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him up close, since the route that Jesus was taking would lead Him that way.

5. When Jesus reached the spot where the tree stood, He looked up at Zacchaeus, and, without asking anyone who he was, called him by name, saying, "Zacchaeus, come down from there immediately! I must stay at your house today!"

6. So Zacchaeus jumped down from the tree at once, and welcomed him, excitedly.

7. All the people in the crowd heard and saw them make this connection, and, scandalized by it, began to gossip and complain about it. They said to one another, "Can you believe this? He has publicly embraced a known criminal, and has publicly invited Himself to the man's house!"

8. But later, after Jesus had graced his home with His presence and unconditional friendship, Zacchaeus stood up and said, "Lord! Your goodness to me has caused me to have a change of heart! Here and now I pledge to give half of my possessions to the poor...and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay him or her back four times the amount!"

9. Jesus said to him, "That's beautiful, my friend. And I announce that today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost in man's self-perception in relationship to God and the world around him."

LITN XVIII, Verses 18 - 43

18. One day a certain ruler came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, You’re good…so I ask You…what good thing must I do to be in full possession of eternal life?"

19. Jesus answered, "Why do you question Me about what's good…in fact, why do you even call Me good? God is the only One who is good.

20. If you want to enter the life of God, just practice His precepts…keep His commandments…and you will manifest His goodness in your life. You know them...'You shall not commit adultery'...'You shall not murder'...'You shall not steal'...'You shall not give false testimony'...'Honor your father and mother.'"

21. “That’s it?", asked the man, "That’s all there is? I’ve kept all those commandments practically my whole life, and I’m still not good."

22. When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “Look, if you’re really that serious about manifesting the character of God in your life, you still lack one thing. Go sell everything that you have, give everything that you make from the sale to the poor, and the entirety of your possessions will then be in the Kingdom, and all that you own will be deposited into the heavenly realm.”

23. When he heard this, he became very sad. The idea of selling everything…this suggestion of total abandon…just seemed too extreme for him, especially because he was wealthy, and had a lot of possessions. Jesus’ words not only caught him off guard, they also overwhelmed and depressed him.

24. Jesus looked at him and said, “I tell you, truthfully, it is really quite difficult…extremely hard…for a rich man to become a subject in the Kingdom of God.

25. In fact, it’s easier for a camel to go through that little gate that they leave open at night in the walls of Jerusalem called ‘The Needle's Eye’…the gate that is so low and narrow that a large animal can only pass through it on its knees, unencumbered with baggage...than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God."

26. For some reason, those who heard this were staggered by these words. They said to Him, “Well, then, if that’s the case, who has any chance of being fit for the Kingdom, at all?”

27. Jesus replied, “Things like this are virtually impossible when only using human strength…but with God’s help, anything and everything is really possible!”

28. Then Peter spoke up and said, "Well, now that you mention it…we may not have had the kind of wealth that that man has, but we’ve left everything that we did have to follow you. What are we going to get for our sacrifice?”

29. "Truthfully, no one who sacrifices home, wife, brothers, sisters, parents or children because of their desire to follow Me, and to manifest the Kingdom-life

30. will fail to get every bit of it back many times over! And this is in addition to the promise of the full blessings of eternal, or ‘now’-life."

31. Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, "All right...we're going to Jerusalem now, and everything that has been written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled there.

32. You should all know that He will be delivered over to the Gentiles, and they will mock Him, insult Him and spit on Him.

33. They will also flog Him, and then they will kill Him...but on the third day, He will rise again."

34. The disciples weren't able to grasp any of this. Even though this wasn't the first time that He had told them about it, they just had no comprehension...no idea of what He was talking about.

35. But they started out for Jerusalem, anyway; and as Jesus approached Jericho, which was on the way, He saw a blind man sitting by the roadside, begging.

36. When the man heard the crowd that was following Jesus going by, he asked someone what was happening.

37. They said to him, "Don't you know? Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!"

38. Without missing a beat, he called out, "Jesus...Son of David...have mercy on me!"

39. The ones at the front of the entourage rebuked him and told him to shut up, but he shouted even louder, "Son of David...have mercy on me!"

40. Jesus heard him and stopped in His tracks. Then He ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he was brought near, Jesus asked him,

41. "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he replied "Lord...I just want to see."

42. Then Jesus said, "All right, then...receive your sight...your own faith has healed you."

43. And, sure enough, he immediately received his sight and started following Jesus, praising God with a loud voice. When all the people around saw what had happened, they praised God, too.

LITN XVIII, Verses 1 - 17

1. Then Jesus told His disciples another illustrative story to show them how that prayer should become their lifestyle, and to reiterate to them that they should never give up on believing for the best.

2. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who had no regard, whatsoever, for God, and was uncaring, unfeeling, and unsympathetic toward people.

3. In the same town was a widow who was involved in a legal dispute with someone, and this lady kept coming to him with the same plea: 'I demand that you grant me justice against my adversary!'

4. For a while he completely ignored her, but finally he said to himself, 'It's quite obvious that I don't care what God or people think.

5. But it's also obvious that, clearly, this woman is not going to give up...she refuses to let this thing go...and I believe that she will keep harassing me until I give her what she wants. I'm going to personally see to it that she receives justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'

6. Then Jesus said, "Listen to what the corrupt judge said.

7. I mean, if an unjust man like him will ultimately respond to the relentless pursuit of a tenacious, little widow, how much more will God, who is loving and kind, bring about justice for those in this nation who cry out to Him day and night? Why would He, in His benevolence, put them off?

8. My point is they will certainly receive justice, and quickly. But the question with which I am most concerned is this...when the Son of Man is revealed, will He find faith on the earth?"

9. Then He told another story, but this one was directed to those in the audience who were smugly self-righteous, and to those who felt superior to everyone else. He said:

10. "One day, two men went up to the temple to pray...one was a Pharisee, and the other one was a tax collector.

11. The Pharisee stood by himself, and, in a pretentiously pious and grandiose fashion, prayed loudly, saying, 'Oh God...I thank You that I am not like other people...scoff-laws...riff raff...robbers, evildoers, adulterers...and I especially thank You that I'm not remotely like this tax collector.

12. You know that I fast twice a week, and that I am a tither, even giving a tenth of my gross income.'

13. But the tax collector stood at a distance, out of the spotlight. He wouldn't even look up, but totally humbled himself and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a rebel.'

14. The truth is that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will eventually be humbled, and those who humble themselves will ultimately be exalted."

15. Right around this time, people were beginning to bring their little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and bless them when He was ministering. But the disciples saw this and started insulting them by preventing them to do this.

16. When Jesus saw what the disciples were doing, He said, indignantly, "You let these little children come right to Me, and don't you dare tell them that they aren't allowed or welcome! Child-likeness is the standard for the Kingdom of God, so, in essence, the Kingdom belongs to such as these.

17. The truth is that anyone who will not perceive and receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it in the first place."

LITN XVII, Verses 20 - 37

20. On another occasion, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. He replied, "The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation...with setting dates...or counting the days on the calendar...in fact, you can't even see it with the physical eye.

21. And no one can ever say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the Kingdom of God is within human hearts and minds...why, it's even within you Pharisees!

22. Then he turned and said to His disciples, "The time will come when you'll want to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it.

23. People will, no doubt, tell you, 'There He is!' or 'Here He is!' Don't bother to go running off after them.

24. For the Son of Man in His day will be revealed, and His revelation will come like lightning flashing...the kind that lights up the sky from one end to the other.

25. But first, it is inevitable that He must suffer many things, and even be rejected by this generation.

26. Then destruction will come on this nation, and it will be just as it was in the days of Noah. But the end result will be the days of the revelation of the Son of Man.

27. Prior to the flood, people were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, right up to the day that Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and brought destruction.

28. The same was in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. Life there was going on as usual.

29. But the very day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from the sky and destroyed them all.

30. It will be like this on the day the power of the Son of Man is revealed to this nation.

31. When that destruction comes, no one who is on the roof of his house with his goods inside should even take the time to go down to get them. In the same way, no one who is out working in the field should go back for anything.

32. To sum it up...just remember Lot's wife!

33. As I've said before, whoever tries to keep his life will end up losing it, and whoever loses his life will ultimately preserve it.

34. I tell you that when that happens, 'two men', as it were, will be in one bed...one will be taken, one left behind. The full revelation of the Son of Man will take away from you the man that needs to be purged, and will leave behind the real you...the righteous you...the man that He has chosen.

35. In the same way, 'two women' will be grinding at the mill...one will be taken in the Son of Man's flood, so to speak...the part of that woman that is subject to His judgment...but one...the real one...will be mercifully left behind, safe in the ark of His redemption.

36. And 'two men' will be working in the field...likewise, one will be taken, and the other will be left intact, safe and sound."

37. "Where is that place of redemption, Lord?" they asked. He replied, "Where the carcass is...in the same way that a gathering of vultures indicates that there is something dead nearby, so these signs will reveal that the end of an era is near."

LITN XVII, Verses 1 - 19

1. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Look...it's inevitable that people are going to do things that cause other people to stumble, but it's so regrettable for that one who causes it to happen.

2. In fact, it would actually be better for an individual to have one of those huge grinding-stones that they use in the mills fastened around his neck, and then be sunk in the depth of the sea, than to hurt one of these precious, little ones…or to abuse them in any way…or take advantage of their simple trust…or cause them to grow up and become less than what they should have been.

3. So watch yourselves. Furthermore, if your brother or sister wrongs you in any way, you should have the integrity to go and tell him or her about it, directly, and keep the conversation and the whole matter between the two of you. And if he or she gets what you're saying and has a change of heart and apologizes, you have no choice but to forgive them.

4. I mean even if they offend you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you saying 'I sincerely apologize,' you must forgive them."

5. When the disciples heard how high His standard was for them in this area, they said to Him, "Lord, increase our faith to be able to deal with people in this way!"

6. He replied, "If you have faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be re-planted in the sea,' and the thing will actually obey you. In other words, you can do this.

7. This is how I want you to look at it. Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing in the field, or tending the sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and just say to him, 'Sit down here and eat'?

8. Wouldn't you be more likely to say, 'Prepare my supper first, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink...and after that you may have your supper.'?

9. Now, does the servant get special thanks for simply doing what's expected of him?

10. Well, it's the same with you. When you've done everything that's expected of you, you should simply say, "We're just doing our job...carrying out what we were told to do.'"

11. Later, on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus was travelling along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

12. And as He was going into a certain village, ten men who were stricken with leprosy came to meet Him, but they stood at a distance.

13. And they all called out together in one, loud voice, "Jesus...Master...have compassion on us!"

14. When He saw and heard them, He said, "All right...go...show yourselves to the priests." And they did as He said, and as they went they were completely cleansed from their disease.










15. But one of them, when he realized that his body was healed and made like new, came right back to find Him, all the while praising God in a loud voice.

16. When He at last saw Jesus, he ran up to Him, threw himself at His feet, and thanked and praised Him, profusely. And, for the record, the man was a Samaritan.

17. Jesus said to him, "Sir, your praise is excellent...but were not all ten men cleansed as you were? Where are the other nine?

18. Seriously...was no one able or thoughtful enough to return and give praise to God except for this one foreigner?"

19. Then he said to the man, "All right...get up and go into your new life as a well man...re-enter society...and know that your own faith has made you well."