The Book of Jesus

Chapter Eleven

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The Trek To Jerusalem Begins

NARRATOR.
And it occurred, that when the time came due him to be taken up to Heaven, he resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem and sent out messengers before him. The messengers left and went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him. However, the people there would not receive him because he was only passing through on his journey to Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said:
JAMES/JOHN.
Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and consume them even as Elijah had done?
NARRATOR.
But he turned and rebuked them:
JESUS.
You don't know what sort of Spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
NARRATOR.
They then went off to another village. And it occurred that when they were on the road, a man said to him:
1ST MAN.
I'll follow you wherever you go.
JESUS.
Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
NARRATOR.
And he said to another:
JESUS.
Follow me!
2ND MAN.
Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.
JESUS.
Let the dead bury their dead, but you, go and preach the Kingdom of God.
NARRATOR.
Another on also said to him:
3RD MAN.
Lord, I'll follow you, but first let me say good-bye to the people who are at home in my house.
JESUS.
No man, having put his hand to the plough is fit for the Kingdom of God if he looks back.

Luke 9:51-62

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Seventy-Two Disciples Are Sent Out

NARRATOR.
The Lord then appointed seventy-two others and sent them out, in pairs, ahead of him into all the towns and places he himself was going to visit. He said to them:
JESUS.
The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few. Therefore, entreat the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest. Now, go your ways, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not carry a purse, or haversack, or sandals. Salute no one on the road. And, whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!" If a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house, accepting whatever food and drink they have to offer you, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say to them, "The kingdom of God is very near to you". But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, "We wipe off the very dust of your city that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Nevertheless, you can be sure of this: that the Kingdom of God is very near to you." But I say to you, that it will not go as hard with Sodom in that day as with that town. Anyone who listens to you, listens to me; anyone who rejects you, rejects me, and those who reject me, reject the One who sent me.
NARRATOR.
The seventy-two returned again back rejoicing.
SEVENTY-TWO.
Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us when we use your name.
JESUS.
I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread serpents and scorpions underfoot and over all the strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you; rather rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20

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Jesus Rejoices

NARRATOR.
It was then that Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said:
JESUS.
I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, that you have hidden these things from the learned and the clever and have revealed them to mere children. Yes, Father, for this is what seemed good in your sight. My Father has entrusted everything to me. No man knows who the Son is except the Father. Just as no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
NARRAATOR.
Then turning to his disciples he said to them privately:
JESUS.
Happy are the eyes that see the things you are seeing. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see, and never saw them; to hear what those things you hear, and have never heard them.' Come to me, all of you who labor and are over burdened and I will give you rest. Place my yoke on your shoulders and learn of me. For I am meek and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:25-30; Luke 10:21-24

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The Good Samaritan

NARRATOR.
Now a lawyer there stood up and trying to put Jesus to the test said:
LAWYER.
Master, what do I have to do to gain eternal life?
JESUS.
What is written in the Law? What do you read there?
LAWYER.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself.
JESUS.
You have answered correctly, do this and you will live.
NARRATOR.
But the man, anxious to justify himself, said to Jesus:
LAWYER.
And who is my neighbor?
JESUS.
There was once a man, who, on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of all his clothes, beat him up and made off, leaving him half dead. Now a Priest happened to be traveling down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite, when he came to that place and saw him, passed by on the other side of the road also.
However, a Samaritan, as he was walking, came to where the man was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion for him. He went to him, bandaged up his wounds, and poured oil and wine on them. He then lifted him up and set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day as he was leaving, he took out two denarii, handed them to the innkeeper and said to him, 'Take care of him, if you spend anymore then what I've given you, I'll reimburse you on my way back.' Which one of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?
LAWYER.
The man that showed mercy on him.
JESUS.
Go and do the same yourself.

Luke 10:25-37

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Martha and Mary

NARRATOR.
Now it occurred in the course of their journey that he entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister Mary, sat at Jesus' feet and listened to his words while Martha was busy serving. Martha however, preoccupied with all the serving, came to Jesus and said:
MARTHA.
Lord, don't you care that my sister isn't helping me and has left all the serving to me? Please tell her to help me.
JESUS.
Martha, Martha, you're anxious and troubled about so many things. Only one thing is needed and Mary has picked the good part and this won't be taken away from her.

Luke 10:38-42

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Persistence In Prayer

NARRATOR.
Now it happened that Jesus was in a certain place praying. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him:
DISCIPLE.
Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.
JESUS.
When you pray, say, Our Father, who is in Heaven, may your name be held holy. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in Heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive all those who are indebted to us. Do not put us to the test, but deliver us from evil.
Suppose one of you has a friend and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'My friend, lend me three loaves. A friend of mine, who's on the road, unexpectedly dropped in on me and I don't have anything to offer him.' The man in the house will then answer and say, 'Don't bother me, my door's closed and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up to give it to you.' I tell you, if he doesn't get up and give it to him because he's his friend, persistence will be enough to make him get out of bed and give his friend as many as he needs.
So I say to you, ask and it will be given you, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; everyone who searches, will find; and everyone who knocks will have the door opened to him. If a son would ask for bread from any of you who is a father, would you give him a stone? Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Or if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

Luke 11:1-13

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Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

NARRATOR.
And it occurred, that they brought a man to him who was blind and could not speak, and was possessed by a demon. Jesus cast out the demon, which was mute; and it left the man. The man who had been mute was cured and could speak and see. All the people were astounded and amazed and said, "Can this be the song of David?" When the Pharisees heard this they said: "It is only through Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out devils." Others putting him to a test, asked for a sign [miracle] from heaven. But knowing what was in their thoughts, he said to them:
JESUS.
Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and no town or household can stand when it is divided against itself, it will collapse. This is also true with Satan. Now if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. So how can his kingdom stand, since you assert that is is through Beelzebub that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebub, as you say, that I cast out devils; through whom do you your own sons cast them out? Let them be your judges then. Let me put it this way. How can anyone make his way into a strong man's house and burglarize his property unless he has first tied up the strong man? Only then can he burglarize his house. As long as the strong man, fully armed, guards his palace; his possessions are secure. But, when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger [of the two] takes away all the weapons that [were] relied on and divides the spoil. He who is not for me, is against me. And he that does not gather, scatters.
And so I tell you, every one of men's sins and blasphemies will be forgiven. But the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world or in the world to come.

Matthew 12:22-32; Luke 11:14-23

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A Man Is Judged By His Words

JESUS.
Make a tree sound and its fruit will be sound; make a tree rotten and its fruit will be rotten. For the tree can be recognized by its fruit. Brood of vipers; how can you, who are evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man, out of the good things stored in his heart, brings forth good things and an evil man, out of the bad things stored in his heart, brings forth bad things. So I tell you this, that for every malicious and baseless assertion [unfounded word] men speak, an accounting on the Day of Judgement will be required. For it is by your words that you will be acquitted and it is by your words that you will be condemned.

Matthew 12:33-37

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Return of the Unclean Spirit

JESUS.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest. Not finding one it says, "I will return to the house that I came out of." On arriving, he finds it unoccupied, swept and straightened up. It then goes off and collects and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there. The man ends up in a worse state than he was before. That is what will happen to this evil generation.

Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26

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The Truly Happy

NARRATOR.
While he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said:
WOMAN.
Happy is the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!
JESUS.
Still happier are those who hear the word of God and keep it!

Luke 11:27-28

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The Sign of Jonah

NARRATOR.
The crowds got even bigger and some of the Scribes and Pharisees spoke up:
SCRIBES/PHARISEES.
Master, we would like to see a sign from you.
JESUS.
It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. For as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day, the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-32

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The Parable of the Lamp

JESUS.
No one lights a lamp and puts it in some hidden place or under a measuring cup, but places it in a lamp-stand so that people that come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. When your eye is clear, your whole body too is filled with light; but when it is diseased your body too will be filled with darkness. See to it then that the light which is inside you is not darkness. If therefore, your whole body is filled with light, with no trace of darkness, the whole will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle gives you light.

Luke 11:33-36

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The Pharisees and the Lawyers Attacked

NARRATOR.
When he had just finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to have dinner with him. He went in and sat down at the table to eat. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before dinner. The Lord said to him:
JESUS.
You Pharisees clean the outside of cup and the plate, while inwardly you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools, did not He who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you. But alas for you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! You should have practiced these, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the front seats of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with special regard in the markets! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked graves that men walk on without knowing that they are there!
NARRATOR.
A lawyer then spoke up:
LAWYER.
Master, when you speak like this you insult us also.
JESUS.
Alas for you also, you lawyers! Because you load on men burdens that are hard to carry, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift. Alas for you! You build the tombs of the prophets, the men whom your ancestors killed! You most certainly bear witness that you approve of what your ancestors did. They did the killing, you do the building. The Wisdom of God also said, I will send them prophets and apostles. Some of them they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel, to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all. Alas for you lawyers! For you who have taken away the key of knowledge! You have not gone in yourselves, and those that were entering in, you have hindered.
NARRATOR.
As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and trying to provoke him on many subjects. Laying in wait for him, trying to catch him on something he said so that they might accuse him.

Luke 11:37-54

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Open and Fearless Speech

NARRATOR.
Meanwhile, an extremely large number of people had gathered together. So large in fact that they were treading on one another. Speaking to his disciples first he said:
JESUS.
Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; nothing hidden that will not be made clear. For this reason, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in private chambers will be proclaimed from the housetops. I tell you my friends, Don't be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will forewarn you whom you should fear. Fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I say to you, fear him! Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet, not one is forgotten in God's sight. Why, even the very hairs on your head has been counted. Therefore, do not be afraid. You are more valuable than many sparrows. I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of God's angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God's angels. Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the man who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, because when that time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you ought to say.

Luke 12:1-12

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Storing Up Possessions

NARRATOR.
A man in the crowd said to him:
MAN.
Master, speak to my brother so that he will divide the inheritance with me.
JESUS.
Man, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims? Watch, and be on your guard against covetousness of any kind, for a man's life is not made secure in the amount of things he owns. There was once a rich man whose land produced a very good harvest. The man said to himself, "What shall I do? I don't have enough room to store all my crops. This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them. Then I will say to myself; my soul, you have plenty of good things stored up for many years to come. Take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time. But God said to him, "You fool, tonight your very life will be required of you. All these things you have stored up, who will benefit from them now?" So it is with a man who stores up treasures for himself and does not make himself rich in the sight of God.

Luke 12:13-21

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Seek The Kingdom First

NARRATOR.
He then said to his disciples:
JESUS.
That is why I'm telling you not to worry about your life, what you're to eat, or about your body and the clothes you're going wear. For life means more than food, and the body more than clothing. Think of the ravens. They don't sow or reap; they don't have warehouses or barns; and yet God feeds them. And how much more are you worth than the birds! Can any of you, for all your worrying, add a single step to his life span? If the smallest things, therefore, are outside your control, why worry about the rest?
Consider the lilies and how they grow. They don't have to work or spin, and yet, I assure you that not even Solomon, in all his regalia was clothed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he look after you, you men of little faith! Therefore, don't strive after what you'll eat or what you'll drink or be in a worried state of mind. For all these things are the people in the world who don't know God striving after. Your Father well knows that you have need of these things. Instead of this, seek first the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be given you as well. Little flock, don't be afraid, for it has pleased your Father to give you the Kingdom. Sell the things you have and give alms. Provide for yourselves purses that won't wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in Heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth can destroy it. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:22-34

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The Faithful And Wise Servant

JESUS.
See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit, like men waiting for their master's return from the wedding feast. Be ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you most sincerely, he will put on an apron, sit them down at the table and wait on them. And if it may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, happy are those servants if he finds them prepared. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. You too must therefore be prepared also, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.
PETER.
Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?
JESUS.
Who is the faithful and wise servant, the one whom his master will put in a position of authority over all his household, the one assigned to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if upon his master's arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But if that the servant says to himself, "My master won't be returning for a while" and begins to beat the menservants and the maids, eating and drinking and getting drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and will give him his portion with the unbelievers. Now that servant knew what his master wanted, but had chosen to do what he himself wanted to do and had not followed his master's wishes. This servant will be beaten with very many strokes of the lash. However, the one who did not know, but did commit things worthy of punishment will receive fewer strokes. For the man to whom much is given, of that man will much be required. When men give much responsibility to a man, of that man will they require all the more.

Luke 12:35-48

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Discernment Of The Times

JESUS.
I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it was already blazing. But I have a baptism that I must be baptized with, and it weighs heavy on me until it is over! Do you suppose that I'm here to bring peace on earth? I tell you that I'm not, but rather division. For from this point onward there will five in a household divided: three against two and two against three; the father will be divided against the son, the son against father, the mother against daughter, the daughter against mother, the mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
NARRATOR.
And he also said to the people:
JESUS.
When you see a cloud rise out of the west you immediately say a shower is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it's going to be hot, and it is. Hypocrites, you know how to interpret the face of the sky and the earth, how is it that you're not able to discern this time? Why not judge for yourselves what's right? When you go to court with your opponent, try to settle the matter with him while you're on the way there. Otherwise, he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff throws you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out from there until you have paid the very last penny.

Luke 12:49-59

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