Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 4
4
TESTED BY THE EVIL TRICKSTER
1Creator Sets Free (Jesus) followed the guidance of the Spirit, who took him into the desert wilderness to be tested by Accuser (Satan), the evil trickster snake.
In the story of creation, the first man and woman lived in a Garden of Beauty and Harmony. A sly and crafty snake came to them and twisted the words of the Great Spirit to deceive them. They listened to the snake, lost the life of beauty and harmony, and fell under the curse of death. This snake, who opposes Creator’s good road, is the evil spirit who rules over all evil spirits.
2For forty days and nights Creator Sets Free (Jesus) ate nothing. His body became weak, and his hunger grew strong.
3 When the evil snake saw that Creator Sets Free (Jesus)was weak and hungry, he came to him and whispered in his ear.
“Are you the Son of the Great Spirit?” he hissed. “Prove it by turning these stones into frybread.”
4“The Sacred Teachings are clear,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said. “Human beings cannot live only on frybread, but on all the words that come from the mouth of the Great Spirit.”#4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3
5The evil trickster then took him to the Great Spirit’s sacred lodge in Village of Peace (Jerusalem). He set him at the very top, high above the village.
6“Prove you are the Son of the Great Spirit and jump down from here!” the evil snake taunted him. “Do not the Sacred Teachings also say, ‘His spirit-messengers will watch over you to keep you from harm. They will even keep your foot from hitting a stone’#4:6 Psalm 91:11-12?”
7“Yes,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said back to him, “but they also say, ‘Do not test the Great Spirit.’#4:7 Deuteronomy 6:16”
8Once more the evil trickster took him to a high mountain and showed him all the great nations of the world with their power and beauty.
9“All of these I will give you,” the snake said smoothly, “if you will highly honor me and walk in my ways!”
10“Get away from me, Accuser (Satan)!” he responded. “For it is written in the Sacred Teachings, ‘The Great Spirit is the only one to honor and serve.’#4:10 Deuteronomy 6:13”
11The evil trickster could think of nothing more to test him with, so he slithered away to wait for another time.
Then spirit-messengers came to give comfort and strength to Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
GIFT OF GOODWILL JAILED
12After that, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) heard that Gift of Goodwill (John) was put in jail, so he left that place to return to Circle of Nations (Galilee). 13He left his home in Seed Planter Village (Nazareth) and went to live in Village of Comfort (Capernaum) by the sea. This was in the territory of the tribes of Honored Dwelling (Zebulun) and He Will Wrestle (Naphtali).
14The ancient prophecy of Creator Will Help Us (Isaiah) had finally found its full meaning. 15“In the territory of the tribes of Honored Dwelling (Zebulun) and He Will Wrestle (Naphtali), toward the great waters to Circle of Nations (Galilee) where many Nations dwell— 16the ones who sit in darkness, where death casts a great shadow, have seen the light of a new sunrise.”#4:16 Isaiah 9:1-2
THE GOOD ROAD IS CLOSE
17From that time forward Creator Sets Free (Jesus) began to speak out, “Creator’s good road from above is close. It is time to change your thinking and begin your great journey.”
HIS FIRST FOLLOWERS
18Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was walking by the shoreline of Lake of Circle of Nations (Sea of Galilee) when he saw two fishermen throwing out their nets. They were One Who Hears (Simon), also named Stands on the Rock (Peter), and his brother Stands with Courage (Andrew).
19He said to them, “Come, walk the road with me, and I will show you how to fish in a new way—for two-leggeds.”
20They dropped their nets right then and became his followers.
21As Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was leaving, he saw two other brothers, He Takes Over (James) and He Shows Goodwill (John), the sons of Gift of Creator (Zebedee). They were sitting with their father in a canoe getting their nets ready for fishing. 22Creator Sets Free (Jesus) called out to them, and they dropped their nets, left their father, and also became his followers.
WALKING THE GOOD ROAD
23Creator Sets Free (Jesus) traveled throughout Circle of Nations (Galilee). He was teaching in their gathering houses and telling everyone the good story of Creator’s good road. He was healing the people of every kind of sickness and disease. 24His reputation as a healer spread as far as Bright Sun (Syria). Then they brought to him the ones tormented with evil spirits, along with people who suffered from seizures, and he healed them. He even healed the crippled and paralyzed among them.
25Large crowds from all directions began to seek after him—too many to number! They came from Circle of Nations (Galilee) and Ten Villages (Decapolis), and from Village of Peace (Jerusalem), and the Land of Promise (Judea), and from beyond the river Flowing Down (Jordan).
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