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The Good News Recorded by the Apostles of Jesus Christ Jesus' teaching and
miracles awed the people. Jesus left
there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the
Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were
amazed. “Where
did this man get these things?” they asked. “What's
this wisdom that has been given him, that he even
does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this
Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his
sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus
said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house
is a prophet without honor.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay
his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack
of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Mark 6:1-6 Jesus' teaching and
miracles on the Sabbath provoked the hostility of power-hungry leaders. He then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted
a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a
watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a
journey. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from
them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and
sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck
this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others;
some of them they beat, others they killed. He had
one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying,
`They will respect my son.' But the tenants said to one another, `This is the
heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took
him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the
owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the
vineyard to others. Haven't you read this scripture: `The stone the builders
rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous
in our eyes’?” Then
they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the
parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and
went away. Mark 11:1-22, 32-38, 55-64 Jesus' submitted in prayer
to the Fathers will, was arrested, tried and sentenced to die. Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were
only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were
looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. “But not during the
Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.” ...They
went to a place called He
took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply
distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going
a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour
might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “Everything is possible for
you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then
he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to
Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for
one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The
spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” ...The
chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus
so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many
testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some
stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, `I
will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not
made by man.’” Yet
even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before
them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony
that these men are bringing against you?” But
Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him,
“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I
am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand
of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The
high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked.
“You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as
worthy of death. Excerpts from Mark
chapters 14 & 15 Jesus was crucified. They brought Jesus to the place called Those
who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in
three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the
chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He
saved others,” they said, “but he can't save himself!” Mark 15:22-31 Jesus rose from the dead
and promised forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who repent. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother
of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus'
body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were
on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone
away from the entrance of the tomb?” But
when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been
rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a
white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don't be
alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was
crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16:1-7 While
they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said
to them, “Peace be with you.” They
were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them,
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands
and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh
and bones, as you see I have.” When
he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did
not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have
anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it
and ate it in their presence. He
said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything
must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets
and the Psalms.” Then
he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them,
“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on
the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning at When
he had led them out to the vicinity of Jesus calls us to repent
and believe, to receive forgiveness and eternal life “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have
eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world might be saved through Him.” Jesus, John 3:16-17 (Later, at Pentecost) Peter
raised his voice and declared… “Let all the house of When they heard this,
they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter said to them,
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as
the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly
testified and kept on exhorting them saying, “Be saved from this perverse
generation!” Acts Jesus told us to pray in
His name. “Until now you have not asked
for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be
complete.” John 16:24 If
you would like to talk with someone by telephone about receiving Jesus Christ
as your savior, and have them pray for you, contact any of the mentors listed
on this site—see Item 1, Index (home page). They are all Christians who will
be delighted to help you know the joy and assurance of eternal salvation. |