Then if<n id="1" /> it bears fruit next year,<n id="2" /> very well,<n id="3" /> but if<n id="4" /> not, you can cut it down.&#8217;&#8221;p>

A centurion<n id="1" /> there<n id="2" /> had a slave<n id="3" /> who was highly regarded,<n id="4" /> but who was sick and at the point of death.

They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure<n id="1" /> that he was about to carry out<n id="2" /> at Jerusalem.<n id="3" />

So<n id="1" /> he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree<n id="2" /> to see him, because Jesus<n id="3" /> was going to pass that way.

<p class="bodytext">So John<n id="1" /> said to the crowds<n id="2" /> that came out to be baptized by him, &#8220;You offspring of vipers!<n id="3" /> Who warned you to flee<n id="4" /> from the coming wrath?

&#8220;Take these words to heart,<n id="1" /> for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.&#8221;<n id="2" />

So<n id="1" /> they asked him,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Teacher, when will these things<n id="3" /> happen? And what will be the sign that<n id="4" /> these things are about to take place?&#8221;

But stay alert at all times,<n id="1" /> praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must<n id="2" /> happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.&#8221;p>

So<n id="1" /> they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">After this<n id="1" /> the Lord appointed seventy-two<n id="2" /> others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town<n id="3" /> and place where he himself was about to go.

<t /><p class="bodytext">While the people were listening to these things, Jesus<n id="1" /> proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem,<n id="2" /> and because they thought<n id="3" /> that the kingdom of God<n id="4" /> was going to<n id="5" /> appear immediately.

But we had hoped<n id="1" /> that he was the one who was going to redeem<n id="2" /> Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.