Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death.

They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.

So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way.

So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

“Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

So they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”

But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.