The Harmonized Gospel of JESUS CHRIST Part 5

 The Harmonized Gospel of JESUS CHRIST Part 5

Chapter 5

 

Another day when JESUS saw great multitudes about Him He gave a command to depart to the other side of the lake. Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” JESUS said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “LORD, let me first go and bury my father.” JESUS said to him, “Follow Me and let the dead bury their own dead.”

 

When they had left the multitude they got in the boat and other little boats were also with them. A great windstorm arose and the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling. JESUS was in the stern asleep on a pillow and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher do You not care that we are perishing?” He rose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace be still!” then the wind ceased and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?” Then they were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

 

Then they came to the other side of the sea to the country of the Gadarenes. When He had come out of the boat immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit who had his dwelling among the tombs and no one could bind him not even with chains. He had often been bound with shackles and chains and the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces neither could anyone tame him. Always night and day he was in the mountains and in the tombs crying out and cutting himself with stones.

 

When he saw JESUS he ran and worshiped Him. JESUS said to him, “Come out of the man unclean spirit!” and he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You JESUS, Son of the Most High GOD? I implore You by GOD that You do not torment me.” Then JESUS asked him, “What is your name?” and he answered, “My name is Legion for we are many.” he begged JESUS earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. A large herd of swine was feeding near the mountains, and all the demons begged Him saying, “Send us to the swine that we may enter them.” At once JESUS gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea and drowned. So those who fed the swine fled and they told it in the city and in the country and they went out to see what it was that had happened. They came to JESUS and saw the one who had been demon possessed and had the legion sitting clothed and in his right mind. They were afraid and those who had seen it told them how JESUS had cat the demons out of him who had been demon possessed and how they entered the swine. Then they began to plead with JESUS to depart from their region. When He got into the boat he who had been demon possessed begged Him that he might go with Him. However JESUS did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them what great things GOD has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.” Then he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that JESUS had done for him and all marveled.

 

When JESUS had crossed back over by boat to the other side a great multitude gathered to Him. Then one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name, and when he saw JESUS he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death come and lay Your hands on her that she may be healed and she will live.” So JESUS went with him and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. A certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better but rather grew worse. When she heard about JESUS she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes I will be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. JESUS immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched Me?” His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You and You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” He looked around to see her who had done it, the woman fearing and trembling knowing what had happened to her came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

 

While He was still speaking some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as JESUS heard what was said, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid only believe.” JESUS permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James and his brother John. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead only sleeping.” and they ridiculed Him.  When He had put them all outside He took the father and the mother of the child and those who were with Him and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl I say to you arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked for she was twelve years of age. They were overcome with great amazement. He commanded them strictly that no one should know it and said that something should be given her to eat.

 

When JESUS departed from there two blind men followed Him crying out and saying, “Son of David have mercy on us!” and when He had come into the house the blind men came to Him. JESUS said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes LORD.” then He touched their eyes saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” their eyes were opened and JESUS sternly warned them saying, “See that no one knows it.” When they had departed they spread the news about Him in all that country.

 

Then He went out from there and came to His own country and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath had come He began to teach in the synagogue and many hearing Him were astonished saying, “Where did this Man get these things and what wisdom is this which is given to Him that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon and are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him then JESUS said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country among his own relatives and in his own house.” He could do no mighty work there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit teaching.

JESUS called His twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and disease. Then He sent them out in pairs and commanded them saying, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go preach saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received freely give. Provide neither gold or silver or copper in your money belts, or bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or staffs;  for a worker is worthy of his food. Whatever city or town you enter inquire who in it is worthy and stay there till you go out. When you go into a household greet it, if the household is worthy let your peace come upon it. If it is not worthy let your peace return to you, whoever will not receive you or hear your words when you depart from that house or city shake off the dust from your feet. I tell you the truth it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city! I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Beware of men for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. When they deliver you up do not worry about how or what you should speak. It will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Brother will deliver up brother to death and a father his child and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all for My name’s sake only he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city flee to another, truthfully I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher neither a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he is like his teacher and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more will they call those of his household! Do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be made known. Whatever I tell you in the dark speak in the light and what you hear in the ear preach on the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin, and not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will? The very hairs of your head are all numbered do not fear because you are of more value than many sparrows.

 

Whoever confesses Me before men him I will confess before My Father who is in Heaven. Whoever denies Me before men him I will deny before My Father who is in Heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword, I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple truly I say to you he will by no means lose his reward.” Then they departed and went through the towns preaching that men should repent they cast out many demons and anointing with oil healed many. When JESUS finished commanding His twelve disciples He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

 

To all the evils Herod had done he added this above all for He had sent John to prison for the sake of Herodias; his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him but she could not for Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man, so he protected him and listened to him whenever he could.

 

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers and the chief men of Galilee. When Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced and pleased Herod and those who sat with him the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you ask me I will give you up to half my kingdom.” So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately the girl came in to the king saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was exceedingly sorry yet because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded John’s head to be brought. So they beheaded John in prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of it they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb and went and told JESUS.

 

Then the apostles returned to JESUS and told Him everything that they had done and what they had taught. He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many people coming and going and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place belonging to the city of Bethsaidia in the boat by themselves.

 

The multitudes saw them departing and many knew where and ran there on foot. The multitudes arrived before them and JESUS when He came out saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them about the Kingdom of GOD and healed those who needed healing. When the day was far spent His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place and already the hour is late. Send them away that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy bread for themselves for they have nothing to eat.” He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out Simon Peter said, “There is a lad here who has five loves and two small fish, but what is that among so many?” Then JESUS commanded them to make the people all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups in hundreds and fifties. When JESUS had taken the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to heaven blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples to set before the people and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled and they took up twelve baskets full of fragments of bread and fish. Those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men besides women and children.