#40
What is the Gospel of Mark?
Fast-paced narrative that emphasizes Jesus' actions and miracles. It portrays Jesus as a dynamic figure, revealing his teachings, healings, and the unfolding events of his ministry, leading ultimately to his crucifixion and resurrection.What do scholars and theologians know about the Gospel of Mark?
The Gospel of Mark is commonly attributed to an author named Mark, traditionally identified as John Mark, a companion of the apostle Peter. However, academic scholarship tends to view Mark as an anonymous work, likely composed in the late 60s or early 70s AD, after or during the Jewish-Roman War.
The Gospel of Mark is recognized for its brevity and immediacy, featuring a straightforward narrative style. Scholars often refer to Mark as the "action Gospel" due to its rapid pacing and frequent use of the term "immediately" to move the narrative forward. The Gospel is considered the earliest of the four canonical Gospels, serving as a potential source for both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, which share substantial material with Mark.
Mark's Gospel is marked by its focus on the suffering and humanity of Jesus. Unlike the other Gospels, Mark's portrayal of Jesus emphasizes his emotional experiences, including moments of frustration, anger, and grief. This nuanced depiction contributes to the Gospel's unique theological emphasis on the concept of the "Messianic Secret," where Jesus often urges secrecy about his identity and miracles.
Mark's Gospel is seen as addressing the concerns and challenges faced by early followers of Jesus, providing a narrative that emphasizes the urgency of discipleship and the implications of Jesus' teachings.
1:1. This is the story about the good news of Jesus, the Chosen Child of God.
1:2-3. Isaiah the Prophet once said, “God will send a messenger before you to announce your coming.”
1:4-5. So that’s why John appeared in the wilderness, preaching about changing the way you act in order to make up for the bad things you’ve done. Everyone in Jerusalem was going to the countryside to see him.
1:6. John wore clothes made of camel hair with a leather belt. He only ate bugs and honey.
1:7-8. He said, “Someone more powerful than myself will come soon. I am not worthy to even tie their shoes. I only baptize with water, but they will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
1:9. About that time is when Jesus came from a small town called Nazareth, in the state of Galilee, to see John, to be baptized.
1:10. As Jesus was coming up from the water, the sky spilt open, and the Holy Spirit flew down from heaven like a bird.
1:11. A voice said, “You are my Child! I love you! I’m proud of you!
1:12-13. Then the Holy Spirit sent him into the wilderness with wild animals, where he was tested by Satan and helped by angels for forty days.
1:14-15. John got arrested, and Jesus went back to Galilee, and started preaching about the end of the world.
1:16-18. Jesus walked by the sea, and saw two fishermen named Peter and Andrew. He said, “Follow me! I’ll teach you how to fish for people, instead.” They dropped their equipment and followed.
1:19-20. A little down the road, he saw John and James Zebedee, fishing with their father. Jesus called to them, and the brothers left their father behind, so that they could follow Jesus.
1:21-22. They traveled to another city. Jesus started to teach on the Sabbath. Everyone was amazed because he spoke with authority.
1:23-24. Randomly someone started yelling, “What do you even want with us, Jesus? To destroy us? I know who you are- holy one sent from God!”
1:25-26. Jesus said, “Shut up! Get out of that human!” The demon within the person started violently shaking and screaming and flew out of the person.
1:27. Everyone was super impressed, they said, “He even controls demons!”
1:28. Rumors spread quickly.
1:29-31. When they left, Jesus went to the home of Peter and Andrew. Their mother-in-law was sick and had a bad fever. Jesus took her hand, and helped her stand up. Her fever disappeared.
1:32-34. That night, after the sun went down, tons of people gathered around Jesus, and he healed diseases and fought demons.
1:35-38. Jesus got up while it was still dark out, and went to pray by himself. Peter found him and said everyone was looking for him, so Jesus said they should all go the nearby village to preach.
1:39. He continued to travel through Galilee, preaching and fighting demons.
1:40. Someone with leprosy came forward and said, “Heal me if you want.”
1:41-42. Jesus was kind of annoyed. He said, “Fine, be healed.” The person was healed.
1:43-44. Jesus told the person not to tell anyone, and to go offer sacrifices at the temple, as was their law.
1:45. But the person didn’t listen, they ran around telling everyone. From that point on, Jesus couldn’t walk around as openly, and had to stay on the outskirts of towns.
2:1-2. Jesus went to a home in a small city, and rumor spread quickly. So many people came they couldn't fit in the house.
2:3-4. A paralyzed person was brought to him. They couldn't fit them through the door with all the crowd, so they cut a hole in the roof and in dropped him in.
2:5. Jesus told the person that God forvgives them.
2:6-7. Some of the teachers around said, "Only God is allowed to say if God forgives them! Not you!"
2:8-11. Jesus said, "It's easy to tell someone their forgiven. I have the authority to tell someone they are forgiven. Watch-" he shifted focus to the paralyzed person, "Go, walk, and go home."
2:12. The person got up and was healed. Everyone was amazed.
2:13. Jesus went to go have lunch by the lake.
2:14. He told a tax collector named Levi and told him to follow him.
2:15. They went to go have dinner at Levi's house. A lot of people came, including many tax collectors and sinners.
2:16. The guard said, "Why are you eating with gross people?"
2:17. Jesus said, "Healthy people don't need to go to a doctor. These are the people who need help."
2:18. The guard said, "What makes you an expert? You don't even fast like the religious do."
2:19-22. Jesus said, "You don't fast during a wedding, and I'm here to marry the whole world. Wait until I'm gone- then they'll fast. You don't fix something with the wrong parts."
2:23-24. On one Sabbath, Jesus walked through a farm and picked food to eat, along with his students. The guards saw this and called him out.
2:25-28. He said, "Didn't you read what David did? He broke some rules when he was hungry. The Sabbath was made to help humanity, humanity wasn't created to observe the Sabbath. So yeah, the I'm boss of the Sabbath."
3:1. One Sabbath, Jesus went into the temple and saw a person with a broken hand.
3:2. The guard watched to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.
3:3-5. Jesus told the person to stand up, and said to the guard, "Is is better to do good and save a life, or to do evil and destroy it?" He healed the hand.
3:6. The guard started planning out how they would kill Jesus.
3:7-10. Jesus went to a lake. A crowd followed. People came from all around. He had healed so many people, and so many people came and started pushing forward, that they had to get a boat to get him away from everyone.
3:11. Whenever demons saw him, they fell and started yelling, "You are the Child of God!"
3:12. But he made them keep it a secret.
3:13-19. One day, Jesus called his 12 favorite students:
Peter,
James and John Zebedee (The Sons of Thunder)
Andrew,
Phillip and Bartholomew,
Matthew and Thomas,
James Alphaeus,
Thaddeus,
Simon the Zealot,
and Judas Iscariot- the one who would betray him.
3:20. Jesus went to eat dinner at a house, but so many people gathered, there was no room to eat.
3:21. His family heard this and thought he went crazy.
3:22. The guard accused him of being possessed by the devil.
3:23-27. Jesus said, "Why would the devil fight itself? Any team that fights among the members is doomed to fail. You cannot rob a bank without tying up the guard. I already tied up the devil, that's why I'm kicking demon ass."
3:28-30. Someone said, "Seems like an evil spirit to me."
Jesus said, "All crimes will be forgiven, unless you fuck with the Holy Spirit- don't call them evil. That's unforgiveable."
3:31. Jesus' mother and brother were outside. They sent someone in to get him.
3:32-35. The messenger approached Jesus, and Jesus said, "My true family is here! Whoever does God's will is my true family."
4:1-2. Jesus taught some parables by the lake.
4:3-9. Jesus said, "A farmer went to plant some seeds. Some fell on the sidewalk, and birdsate them up. Some fell in the gravel, and they sprouted, but never grew. Some fell in the grass, and they were just mowed down. The seeds the farmer got in the dirt grew to produce plants and hundred times more seeds. Listen up!"
4:10. Later on, his friends asked why he used parables.
4:11-12. Jesus said, "I've told you the secrets more plainly, but otherwise, it's to hide things in plain sight.
4:13. Didn't you understand the one I told earlier?
4:14-20. The farmer is like a preacher- the seeds are the message of God.
Sometimes Satan swoops in and takes the message.
Sometimes, people get exicted about the message, but it never really sinks in.
Sometimes, people want to follow the message, but the weight of real life doesn't let them.
Yet still, sometimes, the message sinks in, and they're able to spread it to even more people.
4:21. Do you turn on a lamp and put it under your bed? Or do you put it out in the open?
4:22-23. Whatever is hidden will be revealed.
4:24. Whatever you do to other people will be done to do.
4:25. Whoever has more, will be given more, and whoever has little will loose everything.
4:26-29. The kingdom of God is like not knowing how a plant grows, but harvesting it anyway.
4:30-32. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed- a small seed becomes a huge tree; home for many birds.
4:33-34. Jesus spoke a lot of parables publically, and explained everything alone to his closest students.
4:35-36. Later that night, Jesus wanted to cross the lake. He left everyone behind and jumped in a boat with his closest students.
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4:37. Suddently it started storming, and the waves were so big, it almost knocked it over.
4:38. Jesus was sleeping downstairs. They went to him and woke him, and said, "Don't you even care if we drown?"
4:39. He got up and yelled at the waves to shut up. They did.
4:40. He asked his disciples, "Where is your faith?"
4:41. They said to each other, "Who is this? Even the weather listens to him!"
5:1. They crossed the lake.
5:2-7. When they got out of the boat, a possessed man came running from the graveyard. They had tried to restrain him with chains and shackles, but the man was constantly able to break them. The man would spend day and night howling and beating himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to him.
He said, "What do you want, Jesus, Child of God? Promise you won't torture me!"
5:8-9. Jesus said, "Come out of that human, demon! What's your name?"
5:10. The demon said, "We are legion! Please don't make us leave."
5:11. There were some pigs nearby.
5:12. "Send us into the pigs instead!" they said.
5:13. Jesus said, "Sure." And they went flying into the pigs- about 2,000 of them. They ran into the lake and drowned.
5:14. Those watching the pigs went back to town and told everyone what happened.
5:15. The townsfolk came and saw the demon-man healed, and were scared of Jesus.
5:16. Everyone was talking about what had happened.
5:17. Everyone asked Jesus to leave the area.
5:18. The man who was possessed begged to go with him.
5:19. Jesus said, "No. Go tell your family what happened."
5:20. He did. Everyone was amazed.
5:21-24. Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake, and a ruler named Jairus came and bowed at Jesus' feet. He said, "My daugher is dying, please come with me." Jesus went.
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5:25-28. While they were walking, a woman with a disease came and touched Jesus because she thought it would heal her.
5:29. She immediately was healed.
5:30. Jesus realized someone took some of his power, so he asked the crowd who touched him.
5:31. His students were like, "You're in a crowd, tons of people are touching you."
5:32. Jesus kept looking around.
5:33. The woman finally admitted it.
5:34. Jesus said, "Your faith has healed you. Leave in peace."
5:35. While this was happening, Jairus got message his daughter died, so it wasn't worth bringing Jesus over anymore.
5:36. Jesus didn't listn and said, "Watch this."
5:37. He brought Peter, James, and John inside the house.
5:38. Everyone was crying.
5:39. Jesus said, "Why are you crying? She's not dead, she's asleep."
5:40. They just laughed at him.
5:41. He kicked them all out of the house, and held the girl's hand. He said, "Wake up, sleepy head."
5:42. Immediately she stood up and started walking around.
5:43. He told everyone not to say anything and gave her something to eat.
6:1. Jesus went back home with his friends.
6:2. He taught in the temple on Sabbath, and everyone was amazed.
6:3. "Isn't this little jesus? With his Mother Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? What happened? How did he get so smart?"
6:4. Jesus said, "I guess a prophet isn't welcome in their hometown."
6:5. He couldn't do any miracles there, except heal a few people.
6:6. He was surprised at their lack of faith.
6:7. Jesus went around teaching from village to village. He sent his 12 closest students out in pairs of two to fight demons.
6:8-9. He told them, "Take nothing except for a staff. No food, bag, or money. Take your sandals, but no extra clothes.
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6:10. When you get to a house, stay there until you leave that town.
6:11. If someone doesn't want to listen to you, shake your foot at them and leave.
6:12. They went out and taught that people should apologize and change their ways.
6:13. They fought many demons and healed a lot of sick people.
6:14-15. King Herod heard about Jesus.
There was also a rumor going around all these miracles were because John the Baptist came back from the dead.
Others called him Elijah.
6:16. Herod liked the idea it was John the Baptist come back from the dead.
6:17-18. Herod was the one who had John arrested when John called him out for marrying his sister-in-law, named Herodias.
6:19-20. The sister-in-law really wanted to kill John, but couldn't, because the people liked him. Herod never really understood what John was saying, but liked to listen to him anyway.
6:21. One day, the perfect opportunity came. Herod had a huge birthday party and all the generals were in town.
6:22. Herodias sent her daughter to dance for everyone. She did a good job.
6:23. Herod said, "You did so good- ask for anything you want. I'll give it to you- up to half of my kingdom."
6:24. She went and asked her mom what she sould ask for. Her mom said, "The head of John the Baptist on a plate."
6:25. The girl went and told Herod.
6:26. This stressed Herod out, but he did not want to go back on his word.
6:27-28. So he sent someone to kill John immediately, and they brought back his head on a plate. She gave it to her mother.
6:29. John's disciples went to get his body and buried it.
6:30. Jesus' students came back to Jesus and filled him on their travels.
6:31-32. There were so many visitors, he didn't even get a chance to eat. So he took them to a quiet place on a boat.
6:33. But while they were heading to the boat, a crowd cut them off.
6:34. Jesus saw the crowd, and it reminded him of lost puppies. So he started teaching them.
6:35-36. It was starting to get late, so Jesus' students said, "It's probably time to send them off so they can find dinner."
6:37. Jesus said, "Nonsense, you give them something to eat."
They said, "That would take a whole year's salary to buy this much bread! Are we really going to spend that all tonight?"
6:38. Jesus said, "Well how much bread do we have?"
"Five loaves. Oh- and two fish." they answered.
6:39-44. Jesus told them all to sit down in groups of 100. He took the bread and fish, said a prayer, and began breaking and handing them out.
There was miraculously enough for everyone, all 5,000 people, to eat- including 12 baskets of bread and fish left over.
6:45-46. Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and head to a city called Bethsaida, while he went up to a mountain to pray.
6:47. Come night time, the boat was halfway there, and he was back on land
6:48. He saw them struggling to row because the wind was so strong. He started walking on the lake up to them, and came up to pass them.
6:49-50. They saw him and thought he was a ghost, and they got scared and screamed.
6:51-52. He said, "It's just me! Don't be scared." He got into the boat with them and the wind calmed. They were even more amazed- they still didn't understand what happened with the bread.
6:53. They got to the other side and tied up the boat there.
6:54. People recognized Jesus as soon as he got out.
6:55-56. People would bring their sick to him from all over the country. He healed them all.
7:1-5. Some of the religious leaders noticed that Jesus was eating without properly washing his hands. They asked him why.
7:6-9. Jesus said, "Isaiah was onto something when he said, 'they'll honor me with their mouth, but I won't be in their hearts. They worship me for no reason, their teachings are only rules taught by humanity.'
You have forgotten what God wants and are holding onto traditions.
7:10-13. For example, Moses said you should honor your parents, but you get around that by giving to the church instead. That's not very good. You do many things like that."
7:14-15. Jesus called a crowd and said, "Listen up! It's not what goes into you that makes you unlcean, but what comes out of you.
7:16. If you have ears- listen!"
*Missing from earliest and best manuscripts- added in by scribes.
7:17. Later on, Jesus' students asked him he meant by that last statement.
7:18-23. Jesus said, "Are you stupid? Anything you eat you just poop out. It has nothing to do with your heart.
However, the things inside you, what comes out of your heart, can make you unclean- including evil, sexual assualt, theft, murder, and adultery, greed, lies, envy, and foolishness."
7:24. Jesus left and went to another town so they wouldn't know where he was, but still they found out.
7:25-26. Almost immediatley, a woman brought her possessed daughter to Jesus. She was Phoenician, not Jewish. She begged Jesus to heal her daughter.
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7:27. Jesus said, "These gifts are for the Jewish people. You don't give fancy gifts to animals."
7:28. The woman said, "Sure, but you can still let them play with the wrapping paper."
7:29. Jesus nodded his head approvingly. He said, "Fair enough. She's healed."
7:30. The woman went home and found her daughter healed.
7:31. Jesus kept moving.
7:32. He left from Tyre, and went towards the sea. Someone escorted a deaf man to him, and begged Jesus to heal him.
7:33. Jesus took the man aside, put his fingers in his ears, then he spit and touched his tongue.
7:34-35. Jesus said, “Be opened.”
The man could suddenly hear.
7:36. The more Jesus told them to keep it secret, the more they told everyone.
7:37. People were amazed.
8:1. One day, another large crowd gathered around Jesus, and they had nothing to eat.
8:2-3. Jesus said, "I feel for them- they've already been here 3 days and they have nothing to eat. They won't even have enough energy to make it back home."
8:4. His students said, "How are we going to get any bread all the way out here?"
8:5-9. Jesus asked how much they had, and they said seven and few fish.
He fed them all again, 4,000 this time, and they still had food left over.
8:10. They left and went to another city.
8:11. Religious leaders gathered around and asked Jesus for a sign he was from heaven.
8:12. Jesus said, "Why are you still looking for signs? There won't be any."
8:13. He got back in the boat with his students.
8:14. The students had forgotten the bread at their last stop.
8:15. Jesus said, "Watch out for that government bread."
8:16. They thought Jesus was mad that they forgot the bread.
8:17-21. Jesus overheard and said, "Are you stupid? It's not about that, I just fed like 10,000 people with a few pieces of bread."
8:22. Next, they went to a town called Bethsaida. A blind man was brought to him.
8:23. He grabbed the man's hand and led him out of the town. He put spit on his eyes, and laid hands on him.
“Can you see anything now?” Jesus asked.
8:24. “Kind of, I can see people, but they look like trees,” the man said.
8:25. Jesus touched his eyes again, and instantly the man could see everything clearly.
8:26. Then he sent him home.
A lot of commentaries split here because it's the first time in this book where Peter recognizes Jesus is the Chosen One.
8:27. Jesus and his students kept traveling. One day, he said, "Who are the people saying I remind them of?"
8:28. They said, "We've heard people say John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the other prophets."
8:29. Jesus said, "But what about you, Peter?"
Peter said, "You are the Chosen One."
8:30. Jesus told them not to tell anyone.
8:31. Jesus than began to teach that the Perfected Human has to suffer and be rejected by the world, killed, and come back to life three days later.
8:32. He said it this plainly, and Peter began to argue with him.
8:33. Jesus told Peter he was being selfish and not thinking about the bigger picture.
8:34. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to come with you, you have to conquer yourself, pick up a cross, and follow me.
8:35. Whoever want to save their life will die, but whoever gives up their life for good will keep their soul.
8:36-37. Why would you sell your soul? What is worth it?
8:38. If you're embarrased of me, then I'll be embarrassed of you when it comes to judgment time.
9:1. Jesus said, "I promise, that the end times and judgment day will happen while some of you are still alive and on this Earth."
9:2-4. A while later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. He changed before them- his clothes became white, and Elijah and Moses appeared next to him. The three started talking.
9:5-6. Peter offered to build temples for the three of them. Peter was so scared he didn't really know what else to say.
9:7. Just then, a cloud appeared, and it said, "Jesus is my Child, and I love him. Listen to him!"
9:8. The three disciples looked around and could now only see Jesus.
9:9. As they were walking down the mountain, Jesus told them to keep it a secret until they came back to life.
9:10. They didn't really know what he meant by "come back to life", but they agreed.
9:11. One of them asked, "Why does tradition say Elijah has to come back first?"
9:12-13. Jesus said, "He does, and he already did."
9:14. They got back to the other students, and saw there was already a crowd wathing them argue with the religious leaders.
9:15. They saw Jesus, and ran to greet him.
9:16. "What's the argument about?" Jesus asked.
9:17-18. Someone said, "I brought your students my child, who is possessed and thrashes on the ground whle foaming at the mouth and biting. And they couldn't do shit about it!"
9:19. "How long do I have to put up with your bullshit?" Jesus said to his students, "Bring the child here."
9:20. The brought the child to Jesus. He was indeed thrashing and foaming.
9:21. Jesus asked the man how long it had been happening.
9:22. The man said, “Since he was a little kid. We’ve done everything we can to do something, but nothing has worked. Please help if you can!”
9:23. “If I can? I can do anything for someone who believes.”
9:24. “I’m sorry, I believe!”
9:25. Jesus turned and exorcised the demon, saying, “Get out! And never come back again!”
9:26-27. The boy started crying and shaking, and then laid completely motionless. Many people thought he was dead, but Jesus took him by the hand and helped him stand.
9:28. Later his disciples asked why they had issues with the demon.
9:29. Jesus said, “That kind can only be beaten with prayer.”
9:30-31. Jesus left with his students, becuase he wanted to teach them secretly. He said, "I'm going to be backstabbed. They will kill me, and after three days, I'll rise."
9:32. This still didn't really know what he meant, and were kind of afraid to ask.
9:33-34. When they got to where they going, he asked his students what they were just arguing about- although he already knew they were arguing over who was best among themselves.
9:35. Jesus told them, "If you want to be the best, you must make yourself the lowest- and serve everything."
9:36-37. He pulled a child out of nowhere, and picked him up. He said, "Whoever is nice to children is nice to me, and nice to God by extension."
9:38. John, one of the students, came up to Jesus and said, "We saw someone fighting demons using your name, but we told him to stop because he doesn't know you."
9:39-40. "What? Why? Don't stop them. Whoever does good in my name can't be bad. Whoever isn't against us is with us.
9:41. Anyone who gives you a cup of water will be blessed.
9:42. Anone who leads the little ones astray to evil, should tie a rope around their neck and jump into the sea.
9:43-48. If your hand, foot, or eye causes you to commit evil, rip it out. It is better to face God missing limbs, than it is to have all your limbs in Hell, where the worms never die and the fire never goes out.
*Verses 44&46 are missing from earliest and best manuscripts. They repeat verse 48, the phrase "where the worms never die and the fire never goes out." Scholars believe the first two times were added in later.
9:49. Everyone will be preserved with fire.
9:50. Salt is good, but if it’s lost it’s potency, how will it work? Be like salt and be at peace with one another.
10:1. Now Jesus went towards Jerusalem.
10:2. Some religious guards wanted to test him, and asked, "When is it okay to get a divorce?"
10:3. Jesus asked, "What did Moses say?"
10:4. They said, "Moses said you could as long as you officially filed for divorce."
10:5-9. Jesus said, "That's only because we were weak enough we needed an out. In Genesis, it says 'you will be united to your partner, no longer two, but one.'
Why would you ever be allowed to separate what God has brought together?"
10:10. Later on, the students asked Jesus what he meant.
10:11-12. Jesus said, "Whoever gets a divorce and gets remarried is guilty of cheating."
10:13. People were bringing their children up to Jesus, but his students were turning them away.
10:14-16. Jesus was pissed. He said, "Children are holy- anyone who doesn't have the perspective of a child will not find heaven. Bring them to me." He healed them.
10:17. A person came up to Jesus and said, "Good teacher! What are the rules to getting eternal life?"
10:18-19. Jesus said, "Don't call me good- no one is good except God. Either way, you know the rules- don't murder, cheat, steal, or lie; and be sure to respect your parents."
*The traditional Christian interpretation for this verse would be, "You are only calling me good because I am God. ..." I don't think this interpretation makes sense because of it's place in the gospel, and the earliness of Mark.
10:20. The person said, "But teacher, I've done all of these my whole life."
10:21. Jesus said, "That's true, but still haven't sold everything you own and given it to the poor. Then you can follow me."
10:22. The person's mouth dropped. They got sad and walked away, thinking about all their money.
10:23-25. Jesus said, "It's easier to fit my foot in a rich peron's ass than it is for them to get into heaven."
10:26. The students were suprised and said, "Then who gets to go?"
10:27. Jesus said, "Nothing you can do will help, but God can."
10:28. Peter said, "But we already abandoned everything in order to follow you!"
10:29-31. Jesus said, "That's true, whatever you've given up will be given back to you a hundred times in the age to come.
The highest will be brought down, and the lowest will be elevated."
10:32. They were finally on their way directly to Jerusalem, and people were generally surprised and afraid.
Again, he took his 12 closest aside to explain to them what was going to happen.
10:33-34. Jesus said, "When we get there, the goverment will kill me, and I'll come back to life."
10:35. James and John said, "We have a favor to ask."
10:36. Jesus said, "Go ahead."
10:37. They said, "Let us sit and your right and left side in heaven."
10:38. Jesus said, "You don't know the severity of what you're asking. Are you willing to go through the same things I am going to go through?"
10:39-40. They said yes.
Jesus said, "Then prove yourself, but it's not for me to say anyway."
10:41. The other 10 got angry at James and John.
10:42-45. Jesus interrupted and said, "The rulers of this world are assholes. By my rulers won't be. Whoever wants to be in charge has to be the best servant of all- just like I did- giving my life for many."
10:46. They stopped at a city along the way. There was a big crowd, and a blind person by the side of the road.
10:47-48. When the blind person heard Jesus was there, they began to shout out for him.
The crowd tried to hush them, but they just shouted louder.
10:49. Jesus said, "Bring them here."
10:50. The person jumped up and walked to Jesus.
10:51. "What do you want?" Jesus asked.
"Simply to see." The person said.
10:52. Jesus said, "Your faith has healed you."
They were healed.
11:1-3. As they got closer to Jersualem, Jesus sent ahead two of his students to steal a donkey.
11:4-6. The students found one and started to untie it. The owners asked why they were taking the donkey. They answered like Jesus told them to, and said God needed it but it will be back soon.
11:7. The brought the donkey back to Jesus. Jesus started riding it.
11:8. People started putting their coats before Jesus' path like a carpet. Some took palm leaves and did the same thing.
11:9-10. The people ran around shouting nice things about Jesus.
11:11. They got to Jerusalem pretty late, and decided to stay at a small village on the outskirts.
11:12. As they were leaving the next day, Jesus was hungry.
11:13-14. He saw an apple tree, and looked, but it had no fruit. He got mad and cursed the tree.
11:15-17. They got to Jerusalem, and Jesus went to the temple, and started flipping over the tables of the merchants. He said, "This is a temple! Not a bar!"
11:18. The guards and religious leaders heard this, and started planning out how they were going to kill him.
11:19-20. When night came, they left the city, and passed the apple tree Jesus had cursed. It was burnt up to the roots.
11:21. Peter said, "Wow!"
11:22-25. Jesus said, "Have faith, and you can do whatever the fuck you want, and whatever you ask God for will be given to you. As long as your forgive others first.
11:26. Otherwise, God won't forgive you."
*Missing from earliest and best manuscripts- added in by scribes.
11:27-28. They went back to Jersalem the next day, and while they were just walking, some guards came up to him and asked, "What are you doing here? On who's authority do you do these things?"
11:29-30. Jesus said, "I will answer you if you can answer a question of mine. Was John the Baptist legitimate, or no?"
11:31-33. They said, "If we say yes, it's admitting we killed a prophet, but if we say no, that's insulting all the people who believed in him. So we don't know."
Jesus said, "Exactly- that's why I won't anwer you, either."
12:1-9. Jesus said, "Someone rented out a few apartment spaces and went on vacation. No one wanted to pay rent while they were away, so they sent someone to collect it. The first person sent was ingnored, the next was beat up, and one person was even killed. They even sent their own child, but still, no rent was paid. When they get back from vacation, the landlord is going to kill all the renters. Literally."
12:10-11. Jesus said, "Didn't you read, 'The stone that makes a bad building block makes a great piece of art'?"
12:12. The guard wanted more than ever to arrest him, but they were worried the crowd would step in, so they went away.
12:13-15. The sent guards again later to ask Jesus some trick questions. They said, "Do you think it's fair we have pay taxes to Caesar?"
12:16-17. Jesus knew saying no would be considered rebellion, and saying yes would turn the public against him.
He held up a coin, and said, "That's a picture of Caesar. Give Caesar what's his, give to God what belongs to God."
12:18-23. Then a group of guards said, "What if someone's spouse dies and they get remarried seven times? Who's wife will she be when all the good people come back to life at the end of time?"
12:24-25. Jesus said, "Are you stupid because you don't know the scriptures, or because you don't know God? That's not how marriage will work at all.
12:26-27. God told Moses I AM the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, not I WAS their God. That proves there is eternal life."
12:28. Someone else asked, "What's the most important rule?"
12:29-31. Jesus said, "God is One. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself."
12:32-33. They said, "Very wise. Loving God and your neighbor is much more important than rituals and sacrifices."
12:34. Jesus said, "You're not far from Heaven, yourself."
12:35-37. Jesus said, "Why do people say the Chosen One is a child of David? Didn't David call the them 'Lord' that one time?"
12:38-40. Jesus said, "Watch out for the religious leaders. They like to be showoffs, but just take from people. They will be punished."
12:41-42. Jesus sat and watched people put money into the temple offering plate. A lot of rich people put in a lot of money, but a poor person put in two pennies.
12:43-44. Jesus said, "This poor person has donated more than all of you combined. You're just donating extra. She just gave everything she has."
13:1. As they were leaving the temple, one of his students admired the building and architecture.
13:2. "Don't get too attached," said Jesus, "It's all going to be destroyed."
13:3-4. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked what the end times will look like.
13:5-6. Jesus said, "Many people will pretend to be me. Make sure no one fools you.
13:7. There will be many wars- but don't be afraid. They have to happen.
13:8. There will be earthquakes and famines. This is just the beginning.
13:9. Watch out. Youll be arrested and forced to stand trial.
13:10. The whole world will know of me.
13:11. At your trial, don't worry about what to say, just let the Holy Spirit speak through you.
13:12. Everyone will fight and kill their family members.
13:13. You will be hated, but stand strong, and you'll be saved.
13:14-19. When you see the giant beast appear, drop whatever you're doing, and run straight to the mountains. Don't stop at home. Better hope you're not pregnant and it's not winter! It will be a horrible time.
13:20. If God wouldn't stop it, everything would be destroyed. But God will decide to end the destruction for the sake of the good people.
13:21-22. During this time, if anyone claims to see me, don't believe them. Many liars will say they are me, and even do miracles.
13:23. So yeah, watch out.
13:24-25. The sun and moon will turn dark, and the stars will fall from the sky.
13:26. Then I'll come riding in on a cloud!
13:27. The angels will gather together all the good people from all over the earth.
13:28-29. Pay attention to the signs I'm telling you- just like leaves changing colors means it's autumn, these things happening mean the end of the world.
13:30. I promise, all of this will happen while some of you are still alive.
13:31. Heaven and earth will be destroyed, but these words will still be true.
13:32-37. No one knows when this will happen, only God, so watch out! Just like when your boss is on vacation, you keep working just as hard or else you get fired. So don't slack!
14:1-2. Passover was only two days away, and the guards were looking even harder for a reason to arrest Jesus, but they knew not to during on the night of the Feast of Flat Bread.
14:3. Jesus and the students were hanging out a house near Jerusalem. A woman came forward and poured expensive perfume on Jesus' head.
14:4-5. Some of those around said, "What a waste of perfume. We could have sold that and given it to the poor."
14:6-7. Jesus said, "Be nice, she's doing something kind. There will always be poor people, but I'm dying soon.
14:8-9. Also, she's getting me ready to die, so maybe we should just tell the world of her good deeds."
14:10-11. Meanwhile, Judas went and made a deal with the cops to turn Jesus in for money.
14:12. On the first day of the feast, Jesus' students asked him where he wanted to eat dinner.
14:13-16. He told them to go into the city, where they'll see someone carrying a jar of water on their head, and to ask them if they can all go over.
They went and found the person, and set everything up.
14:17. Jesus and the twelve ate got to the house at dinner time.
14:18. While they were eating, Jesus said, "I know one of you betrayed me."
14:19. They got sad, and one said, "Not me, right?"
14:20. Jesus said, "It's one of the 12, one of you guys who's eating with me right now.
14:21. Things will still go according to plan, but fuck whoever betrayed me. They'll wish they were never born."
14:22. Jesus took some bread, prayed, and broke it so everyone got a piece. He said, "This is body. Take it."
14:23-24. He took a cup of wine, prayed, and passed it around. He said, "This is my blood."
14:25. Jesus said, "This is my last cup of wine until I'm partying in heaven."
14:26. They sang a song and left for camp.
14:27-28. Jesus said, "There will come a time when you all leave me. But when I come back to life, I will take you back to my hometown."
14:29. Peter said, "They might leave you. But not me!"
14:30. Jesus said, "Yes you will. You'll deny me three times before the rooster crows."
14:31. Peter said, "No, I'd rather die than disown you." All the students agreed.
14:32. The went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus wanted to pray.
14:33. He took Peter, James, and John with him, and started freaking out.
14:34. He said, "I'm so sad I could die. Stay close and watch me."
14:35-36. He stepped forward and fell over, and started praying he wouldn't have to go through with the plan.
14:37. He went back to his students, and found them asleep. He criticized them for not being able to responsible for only one hour.
14:38. He said, "Pray. The heart is strong by the mind is weak."
14:39. He then left and prayed again.
14:40. He came back and found them sleeping again.
14:41-42. He went to pray a third time and got back to find them still sleeping. He said, "Wake up! It's time! The one who betrayed me is coming, it's time for me to die."
14:43. Just then Judas appeared with an army of cops.
14:44. Judas had already arranged a signal with the cops. He was going to kiss Jesus to point out who he was.
14:45. Judas went to Jesus and said, "Teacher!" and gave him a kiss.
14:46. The cops arrested Jesus.
14:47. One of the students nearby took out his sword, and cut off the priest's ear.
14:48-49. Jesus said, "Why did you bring a whole army? Am I that dangerous? I am out in public all day, you've had all the chances all the want."
14:50. All the disciples ran away.
14:51-52. A young man was in the room, wearing nothing but a cloth. The guards went to grab him, too, but only managed to grasp the cloth. He ran away naked.
14:53. The took Jesus before the religious council.
14:54. Peter followed at a distance and watched. He sat outside in the temple courtyard and warmed himself by a fire.
14:55. They interrogated Jesus for a while, but couldn't find anything to charge him with.
14:56. A lot of people gave testimonies against Jesus, but they didn't agree with each other, so it was obvious some were fake.
14:57-59. Someone said they heard Jesus say, "I am going to destroy this whole temple and rebuild it in three days."
But still, other accounts contradicted this.
14:60. Then the high priest said, "Are you going to defend yourself? What do you have to say?"
14:61. Jesus didn't answer.
The priest asked, "Are you the Chosen Child of God?"
14:62. "I am," Jesus said, "And you will see me sitting at the right hand of God, riding in on a cloud."
14:63-64. The high priest ripped Jesus' shirt, and said, "What more do we need to hear?!"
14:65. They all agreed this was enough to get killed. They blindfolded him and began to spit on him and beat him.
14:66. While Peter was in the courtyard, a girl happened to walk by.
14:67. She recognized Peter and said, "Weren't you with Jesus?"
14:68. Peter denied it and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
14:69. The girl turned to the others around and said to them all, "Hey! This loser knows Jesus!"
14:70. He denied it a second time.
The crowd started looking at Peter. They said, "Are you sure? You're clearly from the same nation, Galilee, as Jesus."
14:71. Peter started swearing and said, "I don't fuckin' know any God-damned Jesus."
14:72. As soon as he said that, he heard a rooster crow twice. Then Peter remember what Jesus has predicted. He started crying in shame.
15:1. Early in the morning, they packed Jesus up to take him to the Roman government, to Pontius Pilate.
15:2. "Are you king of the jewish people?" Pontius Pilate asked.
"Yes," Jesus said.
15:3. They threw many other accusations at Jesus.
15:4. Pilate said, "What about all that stuff? Any defense for yourself?"
15:5. Jesus was silent.
15:6. Sidenote- it was yearly tradition to pardon one criminal every year on the Feast.
15:7. There was a man named Barabbas who wsa also in prison. He was in a rebellion and murdered someone.
15:8. The crowd reminded Pilate it was time for the pardon.
15:9-10. "Do you want me to release Jesus?" Pilate said, knowing they only turned him in because they were jealous.
15:11. But the religious leaders started chanting Barabbas' name instead, and soon the whole crowd was.
15:12. "What do you want me to do with Jesus?" Pilate asked.
15:13. "Kill him!" They shouted.
15:14. "Wait, for what crime?" Pilate asked, but the crowd was yelling too loud to hear.
15:15. Pilate shrugged and released Barabbas. He had Jesus taken to be flogged and crucified, hung on a cross to die.
15:16-18. The led Jesus to stadium, dressed him in a purple robe and crown of thorns, and began to mock him, yelling, "Look at the 'king' of the Jewish people!"
15:19. They started hitting him with a staff and spitting on him.
15:20-22. When they were done, they took off the robe and put back on his normal clothes, and led him out to the field called Skull Hill. They forced someone to carry his cross behind him.
15:23. They offered him wine, but he didn't drink it.
15:24-25. They hung him on the cross about 3 o'clock. The soldiers gambled over who would get to keep his clothes.
15:26. There was a sign of the official charge, "King of the Jewish people."
15:27. They crucified two criminals along with Jesus, one on the left, one on the right.
15:28. Just like the scripture says- "counted with the criminals"
*Missing from earliest and best manuscripts- added in by scribes, mistakenly copied from Matthew.
15:29-30. People passed him and said, "You thought you could rebuild a whole temple in three days? How about you start with getting yourself off the cross the first?"
15:31-32. Others said, "Yeah, how is he supposed to save other people if he can't even save himself? Come down and prove us wrong!"
15:33. After three hours, it got dark in the sky.
15:34. Jesus cried out, "What the fuck God? Why did you do this to me?" in another language.
15:35. No one knew what he was saying. They thought he was calling on the prophet Elijah.
15:36. Someone filled a sponge with vinegar and gave it to Jesus to drink. They said, "Let's see if Elijah will help him down."
15:37. Jesus cried and died.
15:38. The curtain in front of the temple ripped in two at the exact same time.
15:39. One of the people standing there said, "Wow- this was definitely the Child of God!"
15:40. There were some women watching from a distance- Mary Magdelene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph.
15:41. These women, and many others, had been with him for a while.
15:42-43. It was the day before the Sabbath, so a friend named Joseph of Arimathea asked to bury Jesus.
15:44-45. Pilate was suprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he checked, and gave the body to Joseph.
15:46. Joseph wrapped the body in a cloth, placed it in a cave, and put a giant stone in front of the tomb.
15:47. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph were watching, and saw where he was buried.
16:1-2. Very early the next day, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary mother of James and Joseph, brought spices to annoint Jesus' body.
16:3-4. They were a little bit worried about how they would get into the tomb, but once they got there, they realized the stone was missing.
16:5. They saw a young person dressed in white inside the tomb, and they were scared.
16:6-7. They said, "Don't be afraid- youre looking for Jesus- but he's not here. He has come back to life! Remember where he told you to go look for him. Go with Peter and the disciples to Galilee."
16:8. They ran away from the tomb terrified and said nothing to anyone.
*This is where our earliest and best manuscripts end- verses 9-20 are a later addition, with at least a third alternate ending in some.
16:9. When Jesus came back to life, he first appeared to Mary Magdalene (who he had healed from 7 demons).
16:10. She went and told his student who were still mourning.
16:11. At first, they did not believe her.
16:12. Then Jesus appeared to two more disciples.
16:13. They went and told everyone else, but they still didn’t believe it.
16:14. Later, Jesus appeared up to the 11 remaining Apostles when they were eating. He shamed them for not believing.
16:15. He said, “Go tell all the world the good news.
16:16. Whoever believes and gets baptized is saved, but otherwise they’re not.
16:17-18. Those who come in my name will be able to fight demons, speak in new languages, pick up snakes with their hands, drink deadly poison, and heal sick people.”
16:19. After he was finished speaking, he ascended into Heaven and sat next to God.
16:20. The disciples went out and taught everywhere. The Lord worked with them and helped them do many things.
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