Sermon Notes for Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Part 1: The Fish & The Net

Matthew 4:18-22 - The Calling of the First Disciples

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11 - The Calling of the First Disciples

1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Matthew 13:47-50 - The Parable of the Net

47"…the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

There’s a wrong way to do things, and there’s a right way…

John 21:1-14 - The Miraculous Catch of Fish

1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. 6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The “right side of the boat” is a phrase that most of us take for granted. We assume it literally means the right side, and while this is true in part, it also refers to the preferred fishing style in the Sea of Galilee. Fishermen there place a huge bell in the water when they fish, and when they cast their net and see a large grouping of fish near the net, they ring the bell as loudly as they can, and the startled fish swim into captivity…ring the bell on the wrong side, or cast your net on the wrong side of the bell, and you run the fish off – you scare them away. Jesus offered the disciples a better way of doing things. They were doing it wrong, even though they’d been fishermen for years and years, perhaps even their entire lives…

Part 2 Next Week: The Loaves

A Tribute to the late Mrs. Audrey Bell

Following are the primary notes used for Mrs. Audrey's Funeral:

For the younger generation of Pricetown, where Ms. Audrey grew up, Ms. Audrey was the precious lady who sat at the back left of the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings, and they’d say she lives in the house up the road that has pecan trees with strips of tin around them…many have wondered why those trees had tin. Was it a fashion statement? Were they lawn ornaments? Reflectors for cars, to prevent them from driving into the house? No, they are intended to keep worms from eating the pecans in the trees, and they work just fine - last year Ms. Audrey’s daughter, Blythe, picked a tremendous amount of healthy pecans.

In her prime, Ms. Audrey liked being outside...she loved flowers, and her favorite flowers were always whatever was blooming at the time... she loved the color blue…

An avid quilter, she sewed, and she crocheted, she made everything Blythe and Wanda wore when they were younger, and she did alterations at the little dress shop she tended after she’d spent 16 years working as a supervisor at Jenmark.

Clearly, she loved her loyal daughters, who have ministered to her for many years, and she loved her husband, whom the family refers to as ‘Daddy Bell.’ Audrey, they refer to as “Ma Bell.” When Ms. Audrey worked at Jenmark, she’d come home at lunch to check on her husband, and they’d have lunch together…and then he’d get back to his farming, cane in hand…

She loved her three granddaughters, Sandy, Marsha, and Christian, and each of them have fond memories of her.

Sandy remembers the time she first brought Frank over to meet Ms. Audrey, who asked him if he liked Pecan pie. He told her, yes, and after a time, he got comfortable, and he dozed off in the chair where he sat. As he was sleeping, Ms. Audrey could be heard shuffling around in the kitchen, and when Frank woke up, she handed him a fresh pecan pie! Sandy then looked over at her grandmother and said, “Well, I like cheesecake, Ma Bell…”

Christian remembers Ma Bell letting her drive to the store when she was young, and how Ma Bell was fun to take on trips to the mountains, or to Branson, Missouri. Wanda recalls that, when Christian was about 4 years old, Ma Bell told her, “You’re going to have a high phone bill this month.” - Christian had learned to use the phone, and called her grandmother every day, to keep her abreast of everything that was happening in her life.

Marsha remembers how Ma Bell loved eating in the cafeteria at Mount Olive College, when Marsha was a student there, and how Ma Bell would sometimes bring friends with her. Blythe recalls how she called her mother one afternoon, and was told that Marsha - who was supposed to be doing laundry at the time - was “taking a nap.” When Blythe asked her mother if she was doing Marsha’s laundry, Ma Bell answered her, “Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not. That’s between me and Marsha.” Marsha let Ma Bell do her laundry for four years. She seemed to enjoy doing it. She also enjoyed cooking for Marsha and her friends, and occasionally slipping Marsha lemon meringue pie without the meringue, which Marsha didn’t like, or making her famous blueberry muffins for her.

Ma Bell also loved making Sea Foam Candy, which sometimes sold for up to $100 a plate, even if there were only 12 pieces on it. And, like her older brother Mr. Dorch, she loved something sweet. Mr. Dorch recalls driving his sister to see the evening premiere of GONE WITH THE WIND on the back of his motorcycle in 1939, and how cold it was that night, but they didn’t complain, and they enjoyed the movie a great deal.

When Mr. Dorch was 17, he started driving a school bus, and one afternoon when he had Ms. Audrey with him, Atlas Price - who had just started school, and was younger than the two of them - turned around and said to them, “You two better start calling me Uncle Atlas.” - At Ms. Audrey’s recent birthday party, he gave her a card with the words, “To a special niece” on it…

She was an avid Pepsi drinker, and Blythe would buy them for her in bulk. Ms. Audrey would keep track of when she was running low, and let Blythe know in advance.

She always ate 3 meals a day, and she loved fried pork, and country ham, and she was loyal to Piggly Wiggly. She liked to go out to eat on Friday nights…years ago, she’d spend countless hours with her husband’s cousins, and they’d quilt together in a little store up the road.

When Ms. Audrey was young, she skipped a grade and, after graduation, went to Meredith College for a semester, but got sick, and never returned. She married her husband in 1943, and moved into the house her husband was born in, and helped her sister-in-law, Ruth, take care of Ruth and her husband’s mother, Mama Price. Ms. Audrey took care of others her entire life.

Wanda recalled, “Mama helped me raise Christian; she was a big help to me.” And Blythe remembered how her mother would drop everything to be there for her in a time of need.

A lifelong member of Zion United Methodist Church (she and her sibling walked to church when they were young, and lived down the road from it), Ms. Audrey was never one to complain, even when she was hospitalized. She took her faith very seriously, and respected the pastor’s role. Last Christmas she was in the hospital, and she seemed to know this day was coming; it was scheduled to be warm over the holidays, and she looked at me and said, “A hot Christmas means a fat graveyard.” I’d never heard that turn of phrase before, but she was grimly serious about it, and she was a little low when I next saw her.

Ms. Audrey loved pastoral visits; she cherished small gifts from her pastor, and would put them on display by her chair in the living room. Last year I stopped by to see her at the hospital, and she seemed to be sleeping. Blythe and Wanda were in the room, and before I left, I said, “I’d better say a prayer, because Ms. Audrey wouldn’t like it if she found out I didn’t pray when I stopped by,” and she opened her eyes, and looked at me and said, “Yes, would. Pray.” And so I did. She was always a pleasure to be around, and despite her frustration at not knowing exactly what was making her feel so physically low, she never complained about her situation, at least not to me. The last time I saw her, I told her we missed seeing her at church, and she told me she missed coming to church most of all. I told her how much we all loved her, and she said, “I’ll remember that. I’ll remember that.”

I thank the Lord the last week she had before she fell ill last week was a good one. I’m grateful to God that she was able to attend her birthday party, and felt good for several days when she returned home. I’m grateful for the blessing Wanda received when Ms. Audrey, who was never known to tell jokes despite her dry humor, told her about the ignorant man who wanted to become a chicken farmer, and bought 50 biddies from another farmer. Then he bought 50 more, and then 50 more. Finally, the man who sold the biddies asked, “Are you having any luck?” and the prospective chicken farmer answered, “Well, no, I’m not sure what’s going on. I keep planting them, but nothing seems to want to come up!”

Ms. Audrey is now a part of what the Word of God describes as the Great Cloud of Witnesses, and she’s aware of these proceedings this evening, in some form or fashion. She would want us to celebrate her home going, and to rejoice that she’s now with Daddy Bell, and all her Christian loved ones who are with the Lord above. She’d want us to remember the good times. The pleasant times. The happy things. The things that make us smile when we think of her.

Audrey Bell, for example, was ahead of the curve when it came to recycling; she saved her Pepsi pull tabs for years, and took them down to the beauty parlor so they could be donated toward good causes, and to help school children, long before it became a widely known practice. She kept a stack of mixed papers in the living room to recycle, and she threw food scraps into the garden to return them to nature.

In her later years, her schedule revolved around going to the beauty parlor to have her hair done; even her Home Health workers and doctors made notes of when Ms. Audrey was to have her hair done - Ms. Audrey never felt so bad that she couldn’t make it to the beauty parlor.

Ms. Audrey was practical, raised on a farm to be a hard worker alongside her siblings; their father hung scissors on the branches of the apple trees, so they could cut worms in two when their wasn’t work to be done. Ms. Audrey lived by the adage that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” and “everyone ought to try to do their best,” and this applied to her, too.

Hanging on the wall of her living room, where she could see it from where she sat, is a cross stitched print that reads as follows,

I shall pass this way but once.
Therefore, any good I can do,
Or any kindness that I can show,
Let me do it now.
For I shall not pass this way again.”

This, too, is how she lived her life. And this is the legacy she leaves with us.

When I reflect on Ms. Audrey in the future, I’ll see her rising up from the back pew, where young Jesse Grady will stand waiting to take her arm. I’ll see her interlace her arm with his, and envision him escorting her out the church. “That boy’s a politician,” she once told me, because of his lineage, and because of his eagerness to see her to her car each week when she came to church. I’m going to remember their last conversation, where he looked over at her and said, “You know, I think you’re getting a little better,” to which she replied, “You think so?” - He responded, “I do,” and I rejoice this evening, because I know she’s now more than a little better. She’s a lot better. She has a new body, and she’s in the presence of the Lord, and she’s no longer sick, or suffering; in fact, I’m sure she feels better than she ever has in this life - and she’s waiting for us. Her Christian legacy offers us the promise that if we, like her, have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and we’re faithful to our Christian duties and responsibilities, one day we will see her again, and there will never again be a separation, and there will never again be sickness, or sorrow, or pain.

In His name, and in His presence, Amen.

From the News-Argus Obituary, with an amendment:

May 21, 1924-June 13, 2009

MOUNT OLIVE -- Audrey Price Bell, 85, 674 Bennetts Bridge Road, died Saturday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Tyndall Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bud Jenness officiating, after which the family will receive friends. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Bell Family Cemetery located at the home.

Mrs. Bell was a lifelong member of Zion United Methodist Church. A homemaker and an accomplished seamstress, she was known for her love of quilting, and had been an employee at the former Jan-Mark sewing room. She was very fond of her native community at Pricetown, as well as the White Flash/Scott's Store community, which had been her home for many, many years.

She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Blythe Bell Tillett of Elizabeth City and Wanda Bell Lanier and Douglas Lanier of Chinquapin; three granddaughters, Sandy Tillett and husband, Frank Pando, of New York, Marsha Tillett and husband, Brantley Sawyer, of Raleigh and Christian Lanier of Chinquapin; a brother and sister-in-law, Dortch and Iva Lois Price of the Pricetown community; two other sisters-in-law, Ruth Bell Uzzell of Goldsboro and Mamie Price Barwick and husband, Marian, of the Pricetown community; and numerous nieces and nephews, and a younger uncle, Mr. Atlas Price.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Waters Bell; a son-in-law, Marshall Tillett; her parents, Darius and Alice Price; a brother, Rex Price; and a sister, Dorothy P. Sandford.

A Special Visitor on Father's Day

Our church was packed this morning, and we were honored with a visit by a very special member of our church community, Miss Lisa Mozingo, who was given a pass to come see us for Father's Day!

What a special service we had, starting with her entering the Sanctuary, and culminating with the Baptism of Lisa's younger brother, Tyler.

Sunday, June 21st, 2009 - Father's Day

What is an “ideal” father?

• A male parent who can be depended upon/who is around...
• A male parent who sets a good example...who is fair and just…
• A male parent who has attributes about them like the image of a “good” father as spelled out in the Bible, particularly Micah 6:8, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Biblical images of fathers; first, the Old Testament:

• Adam, the first father, of the Book of Genesis; doesn’t really stand out—his sons didn’t get along all that well. Cain killed Abel (first-time fathers have a lot to learn, I guess...
• Noah had an evil son, HAM. (Genesis 9)
• Abraham was instructed by God to kill his son, Isaac. (Genesis 22
• Isaac’s sons squabbled between themselves over their father—Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 25)
  

In the New Testament, there weren’t that many extraordinary fathers…

• The father of John the Baptist was rendered mute when he refused to believe that his wife, Elizabeth could bear a child in her old age (Luke, chapter 1)...
• Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus vanishes from the Gospels once Jesus reaches the age of 12. Apparently, he let Mary discipline Jesus at that age; Luke 2:48-49 says, “when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, 'Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.' 49 And he said unto them, 'How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?' ”

In the New Testament, the “best” father described is the father of the Prodigal Son...and this is understood to be God…(Luke, chapter 15)

• Jesus describes a good father in Matthew 7:7-11, when he says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
  
  Do we “look” like our fathers? It’s a high complement for a father to hear that his children look or act like him—at least when its their good attributes...
  
  Do we ACT like our Father? Jesus said, “I and my father are one,” and in that context he was referring to his Divinity, but he was also referring to his relationship with God. As CHRISTians, we need to ACT like Jesus. We need to be as much like Jesus as we can possibly be.

Sermon Notes for Sunday, June 14th, 2009

“Going Home”

Luke 15
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Perhaps there is no greater story depicting homesickness than the parable of the Prodigal Son, which also, perhaps, offers us the greatest biblical image of someone returning to their home…

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning…set here on earth, it enables us to think of heavenly things, and change our worldly perspective.

Author Henri Nouwen wrote a book about the Prodigal Son that encouraged readers to consider a famous painting about that parable…and imagine the perspectives of all of the individuals depicted within its framework…

What comes to mind when you think of “Home” ?

When you’re “at home,” you take “home” for granted. But when you’re away from home, and you need something that’s at home, it’s aggravating.

There’s nothing worse than getting sick when you’re away from home…you really can’t wait until you can get back home.

Words we connect with the concept of home: Comfort. Food. Rest. Family.

Biblical images of home: Adam and Eve (the first home); Joseph (wanted to go home worse than anything, but never did), Moses (he and the Children of Israel were in search of a home); Job (Lost his home, and everything that comes with a home – but it was all restored to him in the end, because of his faithfulness), …Jesus – couldn’t heal anyone, because of the doubt of the people:

Matthew 13: 54-58 “ And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

The tragedy of the story of Adam and Eve, is that they had to leave their heavenly home.

The beauty of the Gospel is that we may GO to a heavenly home – if we make our live RIGHT WITH GOD, our FATHER…who loves us…and patiently waits for us - where a feast awaits us at the great dining table of God.

When we pass from this life into the next, we are all going to spend eternity somewhere; (I want you to ask yourself) where will my home be in eternity? Where will my last Homecoming be? In a heavenly place of rest and comfort, with God as my heavenly Father, and Christ as my elder brother? Or will my home be a place separated from God, rest, comfort, Christian friends and family for all eternity? We each have to choose our final address…the saints of God who have gone on before us are waiting for us there, and cheering us on…it’s up to us whether we’ll be reunited with them.

Ezekiel 3:18
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 3:20
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Jesus and Healing: Sermon Notes for 6/7/2009

Jesus and Healing

Verses on Healing in the Gospel of Mark...

Chapter 1
30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick…34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.

40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Chapter 2
1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Chapter 3
1Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."

4Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Chapter 5
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "

32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"

36Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." 40But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Chapter 6
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Chapter 7
31Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. 34He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). 35At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Chapter 8
22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"

24He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."

25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Chapter 10
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Chapter 16
(The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.)
9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.