So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.

“But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table.

A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed,

and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.”

And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man.

But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them.

Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.

For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.)

but he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!

She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

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?

John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.”

“Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”

Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.”

But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses.