How God's Goodness Changes Everything

Let Your Light Shine by Vance K. Jackson

Politics for People Who Hate Politics

1 Samuel 1-7: The Call of a Prophet

Opening the Road to the Kingdom of God

The Urgency of Slowing Down

Still Standing

Noah: A Covenant With Humanity

Between Borders

House of David

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

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 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand</div><div class="p"> 1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2&#8220;I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4His disciples answered, &#8220;But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5 &#8220;How many loaves do you have?&#8221; Jesus asked.</div><div class="p">&#8220;Seven,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p"> 6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.</div><div class="p"> 11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, &#8220;Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.&#8221; 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.</div><div class="s1">The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod</div><div class="p"> 14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15&#8220;Be careful,&#8221; Jesus warned them. &#8220;Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16They discussed this with one another and said, &#8220;It is because we have no bread.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: &#8220;Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don&#8217;t you remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Twelve,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p"> 20 &#8220;And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?&#8221;</div><div class="p">They answered, &#8220;Seven.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21He said to them, &#8220;Do you still not understand?&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida</div><div class="p"> 22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man&#8217;s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, &#8220;Do you see anything?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24He looked up and said, &#8220;I see people; they look like trees walking around.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man&#8217;s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, &#8220;Don&#8217;t even go into#8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in the village.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah</div><div class="p"> 27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, &#8220;Who do people say I am?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 28They replied, &#8220;Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29 &#8220;But what about you?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Who do you say I am?&#8221;</div><div class="p">Peter answered, &#8220;You are the Messiah.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death</div><div class="p"> 31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.</div><div class="p"> 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. &#8220;Get behind me, Satan!&#8221; he said. &#8220;You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Way of the Cross</div><div class="p"> 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: &#8220;Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life#8:35 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verses 36 and 37. will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father&#8217;s glory with the holy angels.&#8221;</div>
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 <div class="label">9</div><div class="p"> 1And he said to them, &#8220;Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Transfiguration</div><div class="p"> 2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 5Peter said to Jesus, &#8220;Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters&#8212;one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.&#8221; 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)</div><div class="p"> 7Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: &#8220;This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what &#8220;rising from the dead&#8221; meant.</div><div class="p"> 11And they asked him, &#8220;Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12Jesus replied, &#8220;To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit</div><div class="p"> 14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.</div><div class="p"> 16 &#8220;What are you arguing with them about?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p"> 17A man in the crowd answered, &#8220;Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19 &#8220;You unbelieving generation,&#8221; Jesus replied, &#8220;how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.</div><div class="p"> 21Jesus asked the boy&#8217;s father, &#8220;How long has he been like this?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;From childhood,&#8221; he answered. 22&#8220;It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;If you can&#8217;?&#8221; said Jesus. &#8220;Everything is possible for one who believes.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24Immediately the boy&#8217;s father exclaimed, &#8220;I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. &#8220;You deaf and mute spirit,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, &#8220;He&#8217;s dead.&#8221; 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.</div><div class="p"> 28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t we drive it out?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29He replied, &#8220;This kind can come out only by prayer.#9:29 Some manuscripts prayer and fasting&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time</div><div class="p"> 30They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, &#8220;The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.&#8221; 32But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.</div><div class="p"> 33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, &#8220;What were you arguing about on the road?&#8221; 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.</div><div class="p"> 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, &#8220;Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37&#8220;Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us</div><div class="p"> 38&#8220;Teacher,&#8221; said John, &#8220;we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39 &#8220;Do not stop him,&#8221; Jesus said. &#8220;For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.</div><div class="s1">Causing to Stumble</div><div class="p"> 42 &#8220;If anyone causes one of these little ones&#8212;those who believe in me&#8212;to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44]#9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46]#9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;the worms that eat them do not die,</div><div class="q2"> and the fire is not quenched.&#8217; # 9:48 
 Isaiah 66:24
 </div><div class="m"> 49 Everyone will be salted with fire.</div><div class="p"> 50 &#8220;Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.&#8221;</div>
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 <div class="label">10</div><div class="s1">Divorce</div><div class="p"> 1Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.</div><div class="p"> 2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, &#8220;Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3 &#8220;What did Moses command you?&#8221; he replied.</div><div class="p"> 4They said, &#8220;Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5 &#8220;It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,&#8221; Jesus replied. 6&#8220;But at the beginning of creation God &#8216;made them male and female.&#8217;#10:6 Gen. 1:27 7&#8216;For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,#10:7 Some early manuscripts do not have and be united to his wife. 8and the two will become one flesh.&#8217;#10:8 Gen. 2:24 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, &#8220;Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Little Children and Jesus</div><div class="p"> 13People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, &#8220;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.&#8221; 16And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.</div><div class="s1">The Rich and the Kingdom of God</div><div class="p"> 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. &#8220;Good teacher,&#8221; he asked, &#8220;what must I do to inherit eternal life?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18 &#8220;Why do you call me good?&#8221; Jesus answered. &#8220;No one is good&#8212;except God alone. 19You know the commandments: &#8216;You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.&#8217;#10:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20&#8220;Teacher,&#8221; he declared, &#8220;all these I have kept since I was a boy.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. &#8220;One thing you lack,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22At this the man&#8217;s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.</div><div class="p"> 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, &#8220;How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, &#8220;Children, how hard it is#10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, &#8220;Who then can be saved?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27Jesus looked at them and said, &#8220;With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 28Then Peter spoke up, &#8220;We have left everything to follow you!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29 &#8220;Truly I tell you,&#8221; Jesus replied, &#8220;no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields&#8212;along with persecutions&#8212;and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time</div><div class="p"> 32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33&#8220;We are going up to Jerusalem,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Request of James and John</div><div class="p"> 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. &#8220;Teacher,&#8221; they said, &#8220;we want you to do for us whatever we ask.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36 &#8220;What do you want me to do for you?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p"> 37They replied, &#8220;Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 38 &#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you are asking,&#8221; Jesus said. &#8220;Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39&#8220;We can,&#8221; they answered.</div><div class="p">Jesus said to them, &#8220;You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, &#8220;You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight</div><div class="p"> 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means &#8220;son of Timaeus&#8221;), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, &#8220;Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, &#8220;Son of David, have mercy on me!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 49Jesus stopped and said, &#8220;Call him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">So they called to the blind man, &#8220;Cheer up! On your feet! He&#8217;s calling you.&#8221; 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 51 &#8220;What do you want me to do for you?&#8221; Jesus asked him.</div><div class="p">The blind man said, &#8220;Rabbi, I want to see.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 52 &#8220;Go,&#8221; said Jesus, &#8220;your faith has healed you.&#8221; Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.</div>
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