Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.

He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).

Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets.

Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.

The experts in the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.”

And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you.

So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.

So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.

When Jesus had crossed again in a boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea.

In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them,

If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”

For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.

They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.”