The Story of the Farmer
1After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God’s kingdom. His 12 disciples were with him. 2So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her. 3Another was Joanna, the wife of Chuza. He was the manager of Herod’s household. Susanna and many others were there also. These women were helping to support Jesus and the 12 disciples with their own money.
4A large crowd gathered together. People came to Jesus from town after town. As they did, he told a story. He said, 5“A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds ate it up. 6Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water. 7Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted.”
When Jesus said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears should listen.”
9His disciples asked him what the story meant. 10He said, “You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way,
“ ‘They see, but they will not know what they are seeing.
They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.’ (Isaiah 6:9)
11“Here is what the story means. The seed is God’s message. 12The seed on the path stands for God’s message in the hearts of those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won’t believe. Then they can’t be saved. 13The seed on rocky ground stands for those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are tested, they fall away from the faith. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. Those people hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.
A Lamp on a Stand
16“No one lights a lamp and then hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand. Then those who come in can see its light. 17What is hidden will be seen. And what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known. 18So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more. Whoever has nothing, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and do what it says.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and left. 23As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake. It was so bad that the boat was about to sink. They were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke Jesus up. They said, “Master! Master! We’re going to drown!”
He got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop. The storm quieted down. It was completely calm. 25“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
They were amazed and full of fear. They asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him.”
Jesus Heals a Man Controlled by Demons
26Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don’t hurt me!” 29This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. The man’s hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.
34Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside. 35The people went out to see what had happened. Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed. 37Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him, 39“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals a Dead Girl and a Suffering Woman
40When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him. 41Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue leader. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Jesus to come to his house. 42His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
43A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her. 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone said they didn’t do it. Then Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you.”
46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.”
47The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant. 48Then he said to her, “Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” the messenger said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed.”
51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. “Stop crying!” Jesus said. “She is not dead. She is sleeping.”
53They laughed at him. They knew she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
撒种的比喻
1此后，耶稣到各城镇去传扬上帝国的福音。同行的有十二使徒， 2还有几个曾被邪灵和疾病缠身、现在已被医治的妇女。其中有抹大拉的玛丽亚，耶稣曾经从她身上赶出七个鬼， 3还有希律的管家苦撒的妻子约亚拿，此外还有苏撒拿等其他妇女。她们用自己的钱财资助耶稣和门徒。
4那时，人群络绎不绝地从各地聚集到耶稣面前，耶稣用比喻教导他们，说： 5“有一个农夫到田里撒种，有些种子落在路旁，被人践踏，又被飞鸟吃掉了； 6有些落在盖着浅土的石头地上，因水分不足，幼苗刚长出来就枯萎了； 7有些落在荆棘丛中，荆棘长起来便把幼苗挤住了； 8有些落在沃土里，发芽生长，结出百倍的果实。”耶稣讲完这番话后，高声说：“有耳可听的，就要留心听。”
9门徒请耶稣解释这比喻的意思， 10耶稣便说：“上帝国的奥秘只让你们知道，对其他人，我就用比喻，使他们看却看不见，听却听不明白。 11这个比喻的意思是这样，种子代表上帝的道， 12种子落在路旁是指人听了道，随后魔鬼来把道从他们心里夺走了，不让他们相信并得救。 13种子落在盖着浅土的石头地上是指人听了道，欣然接受了，但是没有根基，只是暂时相信，一遇到试炼就放弃了。 14种子落在荆棘丛中是指人听了道，后来被生活的忧虑、钱财和享乐缠住了，以致结不出成熟的果实来。 15种子落在沃土里则是指人听了道，用诚实良善的心坚忍持守，至终结出果实。
点灯的比喻
16“没有人点了灯，却用器皿把它盖起来或放到床底下，而是放在灯台上，使进来的人能见到光。 17掩盖的事终会暴露出来，隐藏的秘密终会被人知道。 18因此，你们要留心听，因为凡有的，还要给他更多；凡没有的，连他自以为已经拥有的也要被夺去。”
耶稣的亲属
19这时，耶稣的母亲和兄弟来找祂，由于人太多，他们无法靠近耶稣， 20有人就对祂说：“你的母亲和兄弟在外面想见你。” 21耶稣却说：“听见上帝的话语并遵行的人就是我的母亲、我的弟兄。”
平静风浪
22有一天，耶稣对门徒说：“我们到湖的对岸去吧。”于是他们坐船前往对岸。 23途中耶稣睡着了。不料湖上忽然狂风大作，船灌满了水，非常危险。 24门徒过来唤醒耶稣，说：“主啊，主啊！我们快淹死了！”
耶稣醒来，就斥责风浪，顿时风平浪静了。
25耶稣对他们说：“你们的信心在哪里呢？”
门徒又惊又怕，彼此议论说：“祂究竟是谁？一发命令，连风浪都听祂的！”
格拉森赶鬼
26他们渡过加利利湖，到了格拉森地区。 27耶稣上岸后，迎面遇见当地一个被鬼附身的人。那人长期赤身露体，不住在房屋里，只住在墓穴中。 28他一见到耶稣，就扑倒在祂面前，高声喊叫：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我和你有什么关系？求求你，不要折磨我！” 29这是因为耶稣已命令污鬼离开那人。那人多次被污鬼操纵，人们用铁链脚镣把他锁起来看管，他竟把锁链也扯断，被鬼催逼到荒野。
30耶稣问他：“你叫什么名字？”
他说：“我叫‘群’。”因为有一大群鬼附在那人身上。 31鬼不断央求耶稣不要叫它们到无底坑去。
32当时有一大群猪在附近山坡上觅食，污鬼就央求耶稣准许它们进入猪群，耶稣答应了。 33于是那群鬼便离开那人，进入猪群。那群猪就一路奔下陡坡，冲进湖里淹死了。 34放猪的人见此情形拔腿就跑，把这事告诉了城里和乡下的人。 35人们出来看个究竟，到了耶稣那里，发现那曾被鬼附身的人衣着整齐、神智清醒地坐在耶稣脚前，他们都很害怕。 36目击者把事情的始末告诉了他们。 37格拉森地区的居民都十分害怕，请求耶稣离开那里，耶稣便乘船回去了。
38那从前被鬼附身的人恳求跟耶稣同行，耶稣却对他说： 39“你回家吧，把上帝为你所行的奇事告诉别人。”他就回去，走遍全城，四处传扬耶稣为他所行的奇事。
雅鲁求救
40耶稣回到对岸，受到等候在那里的百姓的欢迎。 41一个名叫雅鲁的会堂主管走过来俯伏在耶稣脚前，求耶稣到他家去，因为他有一个大约十二岁的独生女快要死了。
42耶稣前去雅鲁家的时候，人群拥挤着祂。
患血漏病妇人的信心
43有一个患了十二年血漏病的妇人耗尽了积蓄，到处求医，但没有人能医治她。 44妇人挤到耶稣的背后，摸了一下祂衣服的穗边，她的血漏立刻止住了。
45耶稣问：“谁摸我？”没有人说摸过祂。
彼得说：“老师，众人都在拥挤你。”
46耶稣却说：“一定有人摸了我，因为我感觉有能力从我身上出去。”
47那妇人知道无法隐瞒，就战战兢兢地走过来，俯伏在耶稣脚前，把她摸了耶稣的衣裳后顽疾马上痊愈的始末当众说了出来。
48耶稣对她说：“女儿，你的信心救了你！安心回去吧。”
雅鲁女儿死而复活
49耶稣还在说话的时候，有人从雅鲁家赶来，对雅鲁说：“你的女儿已经死了，不用麻烦老师了。”
50耶稣听见，就对雅鲁说：“不要怕，只要信。你的女儿一定会好的！”
51到了雅鲁家，耶稣只准彼得、雅各、约翰和雅鲁夫妇跟祂进去。 52屋内的人都在为那女孩哀伤哭泣，耶稣说：“不要哭，她没有死，只是睡着了。” 53众人就讥笑祂，因为他们明明知道那女孩死了。 54耶稣拉着那女孩的手，说：“孩子，起来！” 55她的灵魂就回来了，她立刻站了起来。耶稣吩咐人给她东西吃。 56她的父母非常惊讶，耶稣却嘱咐他们不要把这事传开。
