Jesus came down the mountain and crowds followed Him. He healed a man with leprosy who had great faith in Him. An army officer asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus told the crowd that the soldier had more faith than anyone he'd met in Israel. Jesus healed the servant. Jesus healed Peter's mother and others who were brought to Him. This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy. When Jesus saw the large crowds, he went across Lake Galilee. While Jesus was in the boat with His disciples a storm blew in that was so terrible, waves splashed into the boat! Jesus was asleep. The disciples were panicked and woke Jesus, with pleas to save them. Jesus asked them why they were so afraid? Didn't they have any faith? He ordered the wind and waves to calm down. So they did. The disciples realized that Jesus could control the wind and waves. Back on dry land, Jesus started down the road to another town and came across two men with demons in them who asked Jesus to put them into a herd of pigs nearby. So He did. Then the pigs rushed down the steep bank and drowned in the lake. The people tending the pigs ran to the town and told everyone what had happened. The people of the town went to meet Jesus and begged Him to leave their section of the country.
Jesus sailed to the town where He lived. Some people brought a crippled man for Jesus to heal. Jesus saw the faith of the people and forgave their sins. Some teachers of the Law of Moses were thinking that Jesus thought He was God. Jesus knew what was in their minds and asked them why they were thinking such evil things? Was it easier to tell the crippled man his sins were forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? Jesus told them He would show them that the "Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth." (CEV Matthew 9:6) Then He told the man to pick up his mat and go home. So he did. The crowds were afraid, but thanked God for giving such authority to people. Jesus saw a tax collector named Matthew and He told him to come with Him. Later at Matthew's house during dinner, some Pharisees asked Jesus disciples why he ate with sinners. Jesus heard them and told them that He came to invite sinners to God's kingdom. One day someone asked Jesus why His disciples didn't fast. He told them that they didn't need to now, but one day they would. Then He told them that using old wineskins on new wine would waste the wine. A man came and knelt in front of Jesus and told Him his daughter had just died and could He please come and touch her and bring her back to life? Jesus and His disciples got up and went with the man. On the way a woman touched Jesus clothes because she believed she would be well if she did this, and she was. Jesus went into the man's house and told the mourners to leave because the girl was only sleeping. They laughed at Jesus. When the crowd left Jesus went to the girl and took her hand and she woke up. News of this spread all over the country. Jesus healed the blind and man who couldn't talk because of a demon. Jesus forced the demon out, the man started talking and the Pharisees said it was because Jesus had made a deal with leader of the demons. As Jesus went throughout the countryside, He taught and preached the good news about God's kingdom. He healed the sick and felt sorry for the confused and helpless people. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He told His disciples to ask the Lord in charge for help with a big harvest, because they were shorthanded.
Jesus called together his 12 disciples. Then he gave them power to force out evil spirits and heal every kind of sickness and disease. After that, they were called apostles. There was Simon or Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddadeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot. Then Jesus sent out the apostles with instructions: Go only to the people of Israel, not Gentiles or Samaritans. Announce the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. Heal the sick, raise the dead, heal the lepers, force out demons. You have been given without paying, so give without being paid. Do not take anything with you. Workers deserve their food, so find someone worthy and stay with them. Give a blessing of peace if it is deserved, if not, take it back. If someone won't listen to you leave their home or town, and shake the dust off your feet.
Tomorrow read Matthew 10:16-12:21
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