Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God.

Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”

Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,

But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Then they were all astonished at the mighty power of God.But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples,

But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith!

When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!”

“The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,

Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?

I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”