<t /><p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> Jesus, in the power of the Spirit,<n id="2" /> returned to Galilee, and news about him spread<n id="3" /> throughout the surrounding countryside.<n id="4" />

But the news about him spread even more,<n id="1" /> and large crowds were gathering together to hear him<n id="2" /> and to be healed of their illnesses.

When the centurion<n id="1" /> heard<n id="2" /> about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders<n id="3" /> to him, asking him to come<n id="4" /> and heal his slave.

<p class="bodytext">When<n id="1" /> John&#8217;s messengers had gone, Jesus<n id="2" /> began to speak to the crowds about John: &#8220;What did you go out into the wilderness<n id="3" /> to see? A reed shaken by the wind?<n id="4" />

This is the one about whom it is written, &#8216;<b><i>Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,i>b><n id="1" /> <b><i>who will prepare your way before youi>b>.&#8217;<n id="2" />

Herod said, &#8220;I had John<n id="1" /> beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?&#8221; So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now<n id="1" /> there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.<n id="2" />

But the worker<n id="1" /> answered him, &#8216;Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer<n id="2" /> on it.

It would be better for him to have a millstone<n id="1" /> tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea<n id="2" /> than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.<n id="3" />

but I have prayed for you, Simon,<n id="1" /> that your faith may not fail.<n id="2" /> When<n id="3" /> you have turned back,<n id="4" /> strengthen<n id="5" /> your brothers.&#8221;

While<n id="1" /> they were perplexed<n id="2" /> about this, suddenly<n id="3" /> two men stood beside them in dazzling<n id="4" /> attire.

So<n id="1" /> Simeon,<n id="2" /> directed by the Spirit,<n id="3" /> came into the temple courts,<n id="4" /> and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">After Jesus left<n id="1" /> the synagogue, he entered Simon&#8217;s house. Now Simon&#8217;s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus<n id="2" /> to help her.<n id="3" />

Then<n id="1" /> he ordered the man<n id="2" /> to tell no one,<n id="3" /> but commanded him,<n id="4" /> &#8220;Go<n id="5" /> and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering<n id="6" /> for your cleansing, as Moses commanded,<n id="7" /> as a testimony to them.&#8221;<n id="8" />

But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He<n id="1" /> welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God,<n id="2" /> and cured those who needed healing.<n id="3" />

But they did not understand this statement; its meaning<n id="1" /> had been concealed<n id="2" /> from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet<n id="3" /> they were afraid to ask him about this statement.p>

But Martha was distracted<n id="1" /> with all the preparations she had to make,<n id="2" /> so<n id="3" /> she came up to him and said, &#8220;Lord, don&#8217;t you care<n id="4" /> that my sister has left me to do all the work<n id="5" /> alone? Tell<n id="6" /> her to help me.&#8221;

So<n id="1" /> he called the manager<n id="2" /> in and said to him, &#8216;What is this I hear about you?<n id="3" /> Turn in the account of your administration,<n id="4" /> because you can no longer be my manager.&#8217;

As he approached the road leading down from<n id="1" /> the Mount of Olives,<n id="2" /> the whole crowd of his<n id="3" /> disciples began to rejoice<n id="4" /> and praise<n id="5" /> God with a loud voice for all the mighty works<n id="6" /> they had seen:<n id="7" />

For I tell you that this scripture must be<n id="1" /> fulfilled in me, &#8216;<b><i>And he was counted with the transgressorsi>b>.&#8217;<n id="2" /> For what is written about me is being fulfilled.&#8221;<n id="3" />