The people brought their babies and small children to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them to bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents and told them to stop troubling the Master. Seeing what was happening, Jesus called for the parents, the children, and his disciples to come and listen to him. Then he told them, “Never hinder a child from coming to me but let them all come, for God’s kingdom belongs to them as much as it does to anyone else. These children demonstrate to you what faith is all about. Learn this well: unless you receive the revelation of the kingdom the same way a little child receives it, you will never be able to enter in.”
One day a wealthy Jewish nobleman of high standing posed this question to Jesus: “Wonderful Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “Why would you call me wonderful when there is only one who is wonderful—and that is God alone? You already know what is right and what the commandments teach: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, and honor your father and your mother.’ ”
The wealthy leader replied, “These are the very things I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember.”
“Ah,” Jesus said, “there’s still one thing you’re missing in your life.”
“What is that?” asked the man.
“You must go and sell everything you own and give all the proceeds to the poor so you will have eternal treasures. Then come and follow me.”
These words devastated the rich leader, for he was extremely wealthy.
Jesus saw his disappointment, and looking right at him said, “It is next to impossible for those who have everything to enter into God’s kingdom. Nothing could be harder! You could compare it to trying to stuff a rope through the eye of a needle.”
Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus responded, “What appears humanly impossible is more than possible with God. For God can do what man cannot.”
Peter said, “Master, see how we’ve left all that we have, our houses and our careers, to follow you.”
Jesus replied, “Listen to my words: anyone who leaves his home behind and chooses God’s kingdom over wife, children, parents, and family, it will come back to him many more times in this lifetime. And in the age to come, he will inherit even more than that—he will inherit eternal life!”
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them in private, “We are going to Jerusalem so that everything prophesied about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. They will betray him and hand him over to the people, and they will mock him, insult him, and spit in his face. And after they have abused and flogged the Son of Man, they will kill him. But in three days he will rise again.”
The disciples had no clue what he was saying, for his words were a mystery that was hidden from them.
As Jesus and his followers arrived at Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting by the roadside. When he heard the crowd approaching, he asked, “What’s all this commotion about?”
“It’s Jesus!” they said. “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
The blind beggar shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity and show me mercy!”
Those in the front of the crowd scolded him and warned him to be quiet, but the blind beggar screamed out even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!”
Suddenly Jesus stopped and directed those nearby, “Bring the man over to me.” When they brought him before Jesus, he asked the man, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Master,” he said, “please, I want to see.”
Jesus said, “Now you will see. Receive your sight this moment, for your faith in me has given you sight and new life.”
Instantly he could see again. His eyes popped open, and he saw Jesus standing in front of him! He shouted loud praises to God and he followed Jesus. And when the crowd saw what happened, they too erupted with shouts of praise to God.
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