Read the Gospels in 40 Days
The Healing of the Captain’s Helper (A)
7 When Jesus had finished teaching the people, He went back to Capernaum. 2 A captain of the army had a servant whom he thought much of. This servant was very sick and was about to die. 3 When the captain heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish leaders to Him. They were to ask if He would come and heal this servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged Him, saying, “The man is respected and should have this done for him. 5 He loves our nation and has built our Jewish place of worship.”
6 Jesus went with them. When He was not far from the house, the captain told some friends to tell this to Jesus, “Lord, do not take the time to come to my house, because I am not good enough. 7 And I am not good enough to come to You. But just say the word and my servant will be healed. 8 For I am a man who works for someone else also, and I have soldiers who work for me. I say to this man, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I say to my workman, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus was surprised when He heard this. He turned to the people following Him and said, “I tell you, I have not found so much faith even in the Jewish nation.” 10 Those who had been sent went back to the captain’s house and found the servant well again.
The Son of a Woman Whose Husband Had Died Was Raised from the Dead
11 The next day Jesus went to a city called Nain. His followers and many other people went with Him. 12 When they came near the city gate, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of a woman whose husband had died. Many people of the city were with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had loving-pity for her and said, “Do not cry.” 14 He went and put His hand on the box in which the dead man was carried. The men who were carrying it, stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The man who was dead sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Everyone was afraid and they gave thanks to God. They said, “A great Man Who speaks for God has come among us! God has cared for His people!” 17 The news about Jesus went through all the country of Judea and over all the land.
John the Baptist Asks about Jesus (B)
18 The followers of John the Baptist told him about all these things. 19 John called two of his followers and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Are You the One Who is to come? Or are we to look for another?” 20 The men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask You, ‘Are You the One Who is to come? Or are we to look for another?’”
21 At that time Jesus was healing many people of all kinds of sickness and disease and was putting out demons. Many that were blind were able to see. 22 Jesus said to John’s followers, “Go back to John the Baptist and tell him what you have seen and heard. Tell him the blind are made to see. Those who could not walk, are walking. Those with a bad skin disease are healed. Those who could not hear, are hearing. The dead are raised to life and poor people have the Good News preached to them. 23 The person who is not ashamed of Me and does not turn away from Me is happy.”
Jesus Tells about John the Baptist (C)
24 As John’s followers were going away, Jesus began to tell the people about John the Baptist. He said, “Why did you go out to the desert? Did you go out to see a small tree moving in the wind? 25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in good clothes? Those who are dressed in good clothes are in the houses of kings. 26 But what did you go to see? One who speaks for God? Yes, I tell you, he is more than one who speaks for God. 27 This is the man the Holy Writings spoke of when they said, ‘See! I will send My helper to carry news ahead of You. He will make Your way ready for You!’ (D)
28 “I tell you, of those born of women, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. The least in the holy nation of God is greater than he.”
29 All the people who heard Jesus and those who gathered taxes showed they knew God was right and were baptized by John. 30 But the proud religious law-keepers and the men who knew the Law would not listen. They would not be baptized by John and they did not receive what God had for them.
Jesus Speaks Against the People of This Day
31 Then the Lord said, “What are the people of this day like? 32 They are like children playing in front of stores. They call to their friends, ‘We have played music for you, but you did not dance. We have had sorrow for you, but you did not have sorrow.’ 33 John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you say, ‘See! He likes food and wine. He is a friend of men who gather taxes and of sinners!’ 35 Wisdom is shown to be right by those who are wise.”
A Woman Puts Special Perfume on the Feet of Jesus
36 One of the proud religious law-keepers wanted Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37 There was a woman in the city who was a sinner. She knew Jesus was eating in the house of the proud religious law-keeper. She brought a jar of special perfume. 38 Then she stood behind Him by His feet and cried. Her tears wet His feet and she dried them with her hair. She kissed His feet and put the special perfume on them.
39 The proud religious law-keeper who had asked Jesus to eat with him saw this. He said to himself, “If this Man were One Who speaks for God, He would know who and what kind of a woman put her hands on Him. She is a sinner.” 40 Jesus said to him, “I have something to say to you, Simon.” And Simon said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There were two men who owed a certain man some money. The one man owed 500 pieces of silver money. The other man owed 50 pieces of silver money. 42 Neither one of them had any money, so he told them they did not have to pay him back. Tell Me, which one would love him the most?” 43 Simon said, “I think it would be the one who owed the most.” And Jesus said to him, “You have said the right thing.”
44 He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you gave Me no water to wash My feet. She washed My feet with her tears and dried them with the hairs of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but this woman has kissed my feet from the time I came in. 46 You did not put even oil on My head but this woman has put special perfume on My feet. 47 I tell you, her many sins are forgiven because she loves much. But the one who has been forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those who were eating with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this Man Who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you from the punishment of sin. Go in peace.”
Jesus Teaches in Galilee
8 After this Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching and telling the Good News about the holy nation of God. The twelve followers were with Him. 2 Some women who had been healed of demons and diseases were with Him. Mary Magdalene, who had had seven demons put out of her, was one of them. 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza who was one of Herod’s helpers, was another one. Susanna and many others also cared for Jesus by using what they had.
The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seed (E)
4 Many people came together from every town to Jesus. He told them a picture-story.
5 “A man went out to plant seed. As he planted the seed, some fell by the side of the road. It was walked on and birds came and ate it. 6 Some seed fell between rocks. As soon as it started to grow, it dried up because it had no water. 7 Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seed room to grow. 8 Some seed fell on good ground. It grew and gave one hundred times as much grain.” When Jesus had finished saying this, He cried out, “You have ears, then listen!”
9 His followers asked Him what this picture-story meant. 10 Jesus said, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of God. Others are told picture-stories. As they look, they do not see. As they hear, they do not understand.
Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted Seed
11 “This is what the picture-story means. The seed is the Word of God. 12 Those by the side of the road hear the Word. Then the devil comes and takes the Word from their hearts. He does not want them to believe and be saved from the punishment of sin. 13 Those which fell among rocks are those who when they hear the Word receive it with joy. These have no root. For awhile they believe, but when they are tempted they give up. 14 Those which fell among thorns hear the Word but go their own way. The cares of this life let the thorns grow. A love for money lets the thorns grow also. And the fun of this life lets the thorns grow. Their grain never becomes full-grown. 15 But those which fell on good ground have heard the Word. They keep it in a good and true heart and they keep on giving good grain.
The Picture-Story of the Lamp
16 “No man lights a lamp and puts it under a pail or under a bed. He puts it on a lamp-stand so all who come into the room may see it. 17 Nothing is secret but what will be known. Anything that is hidden will be brought into the light. 18 Be careful how you listen! Whoever has, to him will be given. Whoever does not have, even the little he has will be taken from him.”
The New Kind of Family (F)
19 The mother of Jesus and His brothers came to Him. They could not get near Him because of so many people. 20 Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see You.” 21 Jesus said to them, “My mother and brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.”
The Wind and Waves Obey Jesus (G)
22 On one of those days Jesus and His followers got into a boat. Jesus said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” Then they pushed out into the water. 23 As they were going, Jesus fell asleep. A wind storm came over the lake. The boat was filling with water and they were in danger. 24 The followers came to awake Jesus. They said, “Teacher! Teacher! We are going to die!” Then Jesus got up and spoke sharp words to the wind and the high waves. The wind stopped blowing and there were no more waves. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” The followers were surprised and afraid. They said to each other, “What kind of a man is He? He speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey Him.”
Demons Ask Jesus to Let Them Live in Pigs (H)
26 They came to the land of the Gadarenes, which is on the other side of the country of Galilee. 27 As Jesus stepped out on land, a man met Him who had come from the city. This man had demons in him. For a long time he had worn no clothes. He did not live in a house, but lived among the graves. 28 When he saw Jesus, he got down before Him and cried with a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High? I beg of You not to hurt me!” 29 For Jesus had spoken to the demon to come out of the man. Many times the demon had taken hold of him. The man had to be tied with chains. But he would break the chains and be taken by the demon into the desert.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And the demon answered, “Many,” because many demons had gone into him. 31 The demons asked Jesus not to send them to the hole without a bottom in the earth. 32 There were many pigs feeding on the side of the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. Jesus said they could. 33 The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the many pigs ran down the side of the mountain into the water and died.
34 The men who cared for the pigs ran fast and told what had happened in the town and in the country. 35 People came to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man from whom the demons had been sent. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus with clothes on and had the right use of his mind. The people were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told how the man who had had the demons was healed. 37 Then all the people of the country of the Gadarenes begged Jesus to go away from them. They were very much afraid. Jesus got into the boat and went back to the other side.
38 The man out of whom the demons had gone begged to go with Jesus. But Jesus sent him away and said, 39 “Go back to your house and tell everything God has done for you.” He went back and told all the people of the city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Two Were Healed through Faith (I)
40 Many people were glad to see Jesus when He got back. They were waiting for Him. 41 A man named Jairus was a leader of the Jewish place of worship. As he came to Jesus, he got down at His feet. He asked Jesus if He would come to his house. 42 He had only one daughter and she was dying. This girl was about twelve years old. As Jesus went, the people pushed Him from every side.
43 A woman had been sick for twelve years with a flow of blood. (*She had spent all the money she had on doctors.) But she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came behind Jesus and touched the bottom of His coat. At once the flow of blood stopped. 45 Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” Everyone said that they had not touched Him. Peter said, “Teacher, so many people are pushing You from every side and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 46 Then Jesus said, “Someone touched Me because I know power has gone from Me.” 47 When the woman saw she could not hide it, she came shaking. She got down before Jesus. Then she told Jesus in front of all the people why she had touched Him. She told how she was healed at once. 48 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was yet talking, a man came from the house of the leader of the place of worship. This man said to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Do not make the Teacher use anymore of His time.” 50 Jesus heard it and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid, only believe. She will be made well.”
51 Jesus went into the house. He let only Peter and James and John and the father and mother of the girl go in with Him. 52 Everyone was crying and full of sorrow because of her. Jesus said, “Do not cry. She is not dead, but is sleeping.” 53 Then they laughed at Jesus because they knew she was dead. 54 Jesus sent them all out. He took the girl by the hand and said, “Child, get up!” 55 Her spirit came back and she got up at once. Jesus told them to bring her food. 56 Her parents were surprised and wondered about it. Then Jesus told them they should tell no one what had happened.
Jesus Sends His Twelve Followers Out (J)
9 Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them the right and the power over all demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them to preach about the holy nation of God and to heal the sick. 3 Then He said to them, “Take nothing along for the trip. Do not take a walking stick or a bag or bread or money. Do not take two coats. 4 Whatever house you go into, stay there until you are ready to go on. 5 If anyone will not take you in, as you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet. That will speak against them.”
6 They went out, going from town to town. They preached the Good News and healed the sick everywhere.
John the Baptist Is Killed (K)
7 Now Herod the leader heard of all that had been done by Jesus. He was troubled because some people said that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. 8 Some people said that Elijah had come back. Others thought one of the early preachers had been raised from the dead. 9 Then Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. But who is this Man that I hear these things about?” He wanted to see Jesus.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand (L)
10 The twelve followers came back. They told Jesus what they had done. Jesus took them to a desert near the town of Bethsaida. There they could be alone. 11 When the people knew where Jesus was, they followed Him. Jesus was happy to see them and talked to them about the holy nation of God. He healed all who were sick.
12 When the day was about over, the twelve followers came to Jesus. They said, “Send these many people away so they can go to the towns and country near here. There they can find a place to sleep and get food. We are here in a desert.” 13 But Jesus said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Are we to go and buy food for all these people?” 14 There were about five thousand men. Jesus said to His followers, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty people.” 15 They did as He told them. They made all of the people sit down. 16 As Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish, He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them in pieces and gave them to His followers to give to the people. 17 They all ate and were filled. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish after the people finished eating.
Peter Says Jesus Is the Christ (M)
18 While Jesus was praying alone, His followers were with Him. Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” 19 They said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah. Others say that one of the early preachers has been raised from the dead.” 20 Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ of God.”
Jesus Tells of His Death for the First Time (N)
21 Then Jesus spoke to them and told them to tell no one. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. The leaders and the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law will have nothing to do with Him. He must be killed and be raised from the dead three days later.”
Giving Up Self and One’s Own Desires
23 Then Jesus said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must give up himself and his own desires. He must take up his cross everyday and follow Me. 24 If anyone wants to keep his own life safe, he must lose it. If anyone gives up his life because of Me, he will save it. 25 For what does a man have if he gets all the world and loses or gives up his life? 26 Whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His own shining-greatness and of the Father’s and of the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here will not die until they see the holy nation of God.”
A Look at What Jesus Will Be Like (O)
28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took Peter and James and John with Him. They went up on a mountain to pray. 29 As Jesus prayed, He was changed in looks before them. His clothes became white and shining bright. 30 Two men talked with Jesus. They were Moses and Elijah. 31 They looked like the shining-greatness of heaven as they talked about His death in Jerusalem which was soon to happen.
32 But Peter and those with him had gone to sleep. When they woke up, they saw His shining-greatness and the two men who stood with Him. 33 As the two men went from Jesus, Peter said to Him, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three tents to worship in. One will be for You. One will be for Moses. One will be for Elijah.” He did not know what he was saying. 34 While he was talking, a cloud came over them. They were afraid as the cloud came in around them.
35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the One I have chosen. Listen to Him!” 36 When the voice was gone, Jesus was standing there alone. From that time on, they kept these things to themselves. They told no one what they had seen.
A Boy with a Demon Is Healed (P)
37 The next day they came down from the mountain and many people met Jesus. 38 A man from among the people cried out, “Teacher, I beg of You to look at my son. He is my only child. 39 See, a demon takes him and makes him cry out. It takes hold of him and makes him shake. Spit runs from his mouth. He has marks on his body from being hurt. The demon does not want to go from him. 40 I begged Your followers to put the demon out, but they could not.”
41 Then Jesus said, “You people of this day do not have faith. You turn from what is right! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring your son to Me.” 42 While the boy was coming, the demon threw him down and made him lose the use of his mind for awhile. Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon. He healed the child and gave him back to his father.
Jesus Tells of His Death the Second Time (Q)
43 They were all surprised at the great power of God. They all were thinking about the special things Jesus had done. And Jesus said to His followers, 44 “Remember these words. For the Son of Man will be given over into the hands of men.” 45 They did not understand these words because it was hidden from them. They did not know what Jesus meant and were afraid to ask Him.
Jesus Teaches about the Faith of a Child (R)
46 The followers argued among themselves about which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He put a child beside Him. 48 He said to the followers, “Whoever receives this child in My name, receives Me. Whoever receives Me, receives Him Who sent Me. The one who is least among you is the one who is great.”
The Sharp Words Against the Followers
49 John said, “Teacher, we saw someone putting out demons in Your name. We told him to stop because he was not following us.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him. He who is not against us is for us.”
Jesus and His Followers Leave Galilee
51 It was about time for Jesus to be taken up into heaven. He turned toward Jerusalem and was sure that nothing would stop Him from going. 52 He sent men on ahead of Him. They came to a town in Samaria. There they got things ready for Jesus. 53 The people did not want Him there because they knew He was on His way to Jerusalem. 54 James and John, His followers, saw this. They said, “Lord, do You want us to speak so fire will come down from heaven and burn them up as Elijah did?” 55 Jesus turned and spoke sharp words to them. (*He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you have. 56 The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives. He came to save them from the punishment of sin.” They went on their way to another town.)
The Testing of Some Followers (S)
57 As they were going on their way, a man said to Jesus, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes. Birds of the sky have nests. The Son of Man has no place to put His head.” 59 He said to another, “Follow Me.” But the man said, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You go and preach about the holy nation of God.” 61 And another one said, “Lord, I will follow You, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “Anyone who puts his hand on a plow and looks back at the things behind is of no use in the holy nation of God.”
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