Part 9

008:019 when a Scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

008:020 "Foxes have holes," replied Jesus, "and birds have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

008:021 Another of the disciples said to Him, "Sir, allow me first to go and bury my father."

008:022 "Follow me," said Jesus, "and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

008:023 Then He went on board a fishing-boat, and His disciples followed Him.

008:024 But suddenly there arose a great storm on the Lake, so that the waves threatened to engulf the boat; but He was asleep.

008:025 So they came and woke Him, crying, "Master, save us, we are drowning!"

008:026 "Why are you so easily frightened," He replied, "you men of little faith?" Then He rose and reproved the winds and the waves, and there was a perfect calm;

008:027 and the men, filled with amazement, exclaimed, "What kind of man is this? for the very winds and waves obey him!"

008:028 On His arrival at the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, there met Him two men possessed by demons, coming from among the tombs: they were so dangerously fierce that no one was able to pass that way.

008:029 They cried aloud, "What hast Thou to do with us, Thou Son of God? Hast Thou come here to torment us before the time?"

008:030 Now at some distance from them a vast herd of swine were feeding.

008:031 So the demons entreated Him. "If Thou drivest us out," they said, "send us into the herd of swine."

008:032 "Go," He replied. Then they came out from the men and went into the swine, whereupon the entire herd instantly rushed down the cliff into the Lake and perished in the water.

008:033 The swineherds fled, and went and told the whole story in the town, including what had happened to the demoniacs.

008:034 So at once the whole population came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they besought Him to leave their country.

009:001 Accordingly He went on board, and crossing over came to His own town.

009:002 Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned."

009:003 "Such language is impious," said some of the Scribes among themselves.

009:004 Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts?

009:005 Why, which is easier?--to say, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say `Rise up and walk'?

009:006 But, to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins"--He then says to the paralytic, "Rise, and take up your bed and go home."

009:007 And he got up, and went off home.

009:008 And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.

009:009 Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose, and followed Him.

009:010 And while He was reclining at table, a large number of tax-gathers and notorious sinners were of the party with Jesus and His disciples.

009:011 The Pharisees noticed this, and they inquired of His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?"

009:012 He heard the question and replied, "It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick.