The Gospels in Four Part Harmony Part 13

22 And they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. 23 So he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands on him, he asked him "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." 25 Then he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored, and saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."

58.10 Herod's Fear of Jesus

MT 14:1-2

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has risen from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."

MK 6:14-16

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become well known.

Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

LK 9:7-9

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 And Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" So he sought to see him.

59.10 Jesus Goes to the Feast Secretly.

He Teaches in the Temple.

Officers are Sent to Arrest Him.

An Adulteress is Brought Before Jesus.

A Blind Man is Restored to Sight.

Jesus Claims to be the Son of G.o.d.

JN 7:1 - 10:21

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him. 6 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 Having said this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much complaining among the people about him. Some said, "He is a good man"; others said, "No, on the contrary, he deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How did this man get such learning, having never studied?" 16 Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone is willing to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from G.o.d or whether I speak on my own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Did not Moses give you the law?

Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The people answered, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circ.u.mcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circ.u.mcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circ.u.mcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that he is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from." 28 Then Jesus cried out, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come on my own, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 But I know him, for I am from him, and he sent me." 30 Then they sought to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in him, and they said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me, and you will not find me; where I am you cannot come." 35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him?

Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean when he said, 'You will seek me and you will not find me,' and, 'Where I am you cannot come'?"

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, "Surely this is the prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from David, and from Bethlehem, the town where David was?" 43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

44 Some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees answered them, "Are you deceived, you also? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he is doing?" 52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search and look, and you will find that no prophet is to rise out of Galilee."

8 53 Then each went to his own house. 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say?" 6 They said this to test him, that they might have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 And when they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it went away one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last, and Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more."

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees then said to him, "You are bearing witness of yourself; your testimony is not true." 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I bear witness of myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 In your own law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness of me." 19 Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come." 22 Then the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I go you cannot come'?" 23 He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I told to you that you would die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father.

28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak just what the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." 30 As he spoke these words, many believed in him.

31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone.

How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not continue in the house forever, but a son continues forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your Father."

39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the things Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from G.o.d. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You do the deeds of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father - G.o.d." 42 Jesus said to them, "If G.o.d were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from G.o.d; I have not come of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you are not able to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of G.o.d hears the words of G.o.d; the reason you do not hear them is that you are not of G.o.d."

48 The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will be the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he will never see death." 52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon!

Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you claim to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your G.o.d. 55 But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I would be a liar like you; but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad." 57 The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

9 1 As he pa.s.sed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man sinned nor his parents sinned. But that the works of G.o.d might be revealed in him, 4 we must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the saliva, and anointed the man's eyes with the clay. 7 And he said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man."10 They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." 12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from G.o.d, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. 17 So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give G.o.d the glory; we know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know.

One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"

28 Then they reviled him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that G.o.d spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we do not know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that G.o.d does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of G.o.d and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from G.o.d, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this, and said to him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,'

your sin remains.

10 1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 But he who is a hireling and not the shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf s.n.a.t.c.hes the sheep and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and my sheep know me-15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 For this reason my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father."

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is mad. Why listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the sayings of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

59.20 The Evils of the Pharisees

MT 23:1-39

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must observe and do whatever they tell you. But do not do what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and the ta.s.sels of their garments long. 6 And they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi.' 8 But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master, and you are all brethren. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your 'Father,' for you have one Father, he who is in heaven.

MK 12:38-40

38 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places 39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

LK 20:45-47

45 And in the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive greater condemnation."

60.10 Jesus Questions His Disciples. Peter's Confession.

Jesus Warns His Disciples of His Coming Pa.s.sion

MT 16:13-28

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

21 From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not mindful of the things of G.o.d, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each man according to what he has done.

28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

MK 8:27 - 9:1

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." 30 And he charged them to tell no one about him.

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of G.o.d, but the things of men." 34 And he called to him the mult.i.tude with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

9 1 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of G.o.d come with power."

LK 9:18-27

18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone his disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19 So they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again." 20 And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of G.o.d."

21 But he strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." 23 Then he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of G.o.d."

Part 8 - THE TRANSFIGURATION

61.10 The Transfiguration.