People ¹  from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem ²  were going out to him, and he was baptizing them ³  in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

He proclaimed, ¹  “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy ²  to bend down and untie the strap ³  of his sandals.

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse.

He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry –

But ¹  a suitable day ²  came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee.

Immediately Jesus ¹  made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd.

They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him.

So ¹  Peter said to Jesus, ²  “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters ³  – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Then ¹  a cloud ²  overshadowed them, ³  and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. ⁴  Listen to him!” ⁵ 

Then ¹  they came to Capernaum. ²  After Jesus ³  was inside the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

“Whoever welcomes ¹  one of these little children ²  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

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.”

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me.

For I tell you the truth, ¹  whoever gives you a cup of water because ²  you bear Christ’s ³  name will never lose his reward.

The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, ¹  “Children, how hard it is ²  to enter the kingdom of God!

Then ¹  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Many scolded ¹  him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it ¹  and will send it back here soon.’”

Then ¹  he ²  sat down opposite the offering box, ³  and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts.

Now ¹  as Jesus ²  was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” ³