Abstract

The Original Gospel Revealed

The critical principles and their use in making this reconstruction of Mark’s gospel are explained in The Hidden Jesus. You must get it!

© Dr M D Magee
Contents Updated: Sunday, November 14, 1999

1. Jesus Flees from Herod over the border into Phoenicia then ventures back by another route convinced he has to free Jerusalem from the Romans to prove to God that the Children of Israel are still worthy
2. Jesus is Transfigured—crowned as That Prophet making him The Messiah in preparation for his attempt to capture the Holy City and cleanse the Temple

Abstract

Jesus Flees from Herod over the border into Phoenicia

…then ventures back by another route convinced he has to free Jerusalem from the Romans to prove to God that the Children of Israel are still worthy.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came running, a Sadducee, and kneeled to him, and asked him:

Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the law of Moses; obey God’s commandments.

And he answered and said unto him:

Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him:

One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross of baptism, and be of God’s elect.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples:

How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And one of the scribes came, and hearing them reasoning together, and perceiving that he answered them well, asked him:

What shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said:

What is written in the law?

And he answering said:

The Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

And Jesus said:

Thou hast answered right; for this is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

And one of the multitude said:

Master, I have brought unto thee my son, a man which hath a dumb spirit, for he denieth the kingdom of God.

And Jesus would have him brought him unto him. And when they brought him unto them, Jesus said unto him:

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. The kingdom of God cometh.

But he raged and foamed at them, saying:

You will bring us all trouble; we have no king but Caesar.

Straightway they did tare him, until he fell on the ground. And he cried, and they rent him sore; and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said:

He is dead.

A man came to Jesus calling out and decrying him, for he was a leper, a high priest of the temple. And Jesus, moved with anger, put forth his hand and smote him, and they set their hands upon him, until he was beseeching him, and kneeling down to him. And he was cleansed. And Jesus took him and angrily ordered him:

Go seekest thou God with all thine heart and soul; repent and doest that which is good and right before Him as He commanded by the hand of Moses. And sayest thou nothing to any man, lest thy demon trip thee.

And forthwith he sent him away. But he walketh in the way of deceit, and goeth out and telleth the authorities, and blazeth abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter the city for fear of the authorities, for the towns were unsafe, and soldiers sought them; and they were without, in desert places.

Now when John had heard in the prison these works of Jesus, he was troubled, and sent two of his disciples, And said unto him:

Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus answered and said unto them:

Go and shew John the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the glad tidings preached to them. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying: We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came offering the bread and wine, and they say, He is mad. And this son of man came offering the bread and wine, and they say, Behold a friend of publicans and sinners. Is the wisdom of the just of her children?

And they departed.

And Jesus began to say unto the multitudes:

What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? A man clothed in soft raiment? They that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. A prophet? Yea, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger, which shall prepare the way before me. Truly, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And the signs are that from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

And king Herod heard of it, for his name was spread abroad. And he asked:

is John the Baptist burst free from prison and again preaching sedition?

They replied:

No, it is Elias or that prophet.

But Herod said:

if it cannot be John, whom I imprisoned, then his successor is risen.

And in the night, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and escaped into a solitary place, and there prayed for he was sore afraid. And Simon and they that were with him followed him. And when they found him, they said unto him:

They seek thee everywhere.

And he said unto them:

Let us go away into another part, that I might start afresh: for therefore came I forth.

And they escaped into another part.

And it came to pass, as the Nazarenes went before Herod’s soldiers that they went through corn fields, and it was the sabbath day; and his disciples hungered and said:

Would that we could enjoy this grain but on the sabbath day we cannot do that which is not lawful.

And Jesus said unto them:

Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Ahimelech the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? Or how that the priests offer up lambs in sacrifice on the sabbath, thereby profaning it, but are blameless.

And he said unto them:

The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore man, the son of man, is Lord also of the sabbath.

And his disciples understood and began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. But then yet others among them found fault saying, Master:

Howbeit that we can do that which is not lawful for we eat with unwashen hands that which is unclean and pleaseth not the Lord?

And he said unto them:

Hearken every one of you, and understand. It is written in the book of Isaiah, Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And they looked one to the other, and Jesus said:

Are ye yet without understanding? Ye are cleansed by the holy waters, for ye have repented that ye be received into the kingdom. Do ye not then perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into God’s perfect, it cannot defile him because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. If a man be truly repentant his heart is pure. If a man be not perfect in his heart then he shall not be cleansed whether he be washed by rivers, yea and even by seas.

And thence he fled into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it; but he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by nation, but she had sought the kingdom of God, and had become a proselyte of the Nazarenes. And she besought him privately that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter, and prepare her for the kingdom. But Jesus said unto her:

Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. For I am come to save the children of Israel alone.

And she answered and said unto him:

Yes, Master, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs,

for she knew there was a time to come when the gentiles would be called. And he said unto her:

For this saying, so be it; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And he sent disciples to heal her. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laying bruised upon the bed.

Jesus fled with his disciples to the Great Sea to the north in the land of the gentiles where Herod could not go; but a vengeful throng followed him, and about Tyre and Sidon, this multitude came angrily unto him. And he charged his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should mob him and harm him. For, though he had straitly charged them not to make him known and they had fallen down before them, unclean spirits had exposed him, saying:

Thou art the Son of God.

And they did scream in anger when they saw him, and pressed upon him for to take hold of him, as many as had scourges to avenge them.

And the multitude cometh together again, besieging them in his house so that they could not so much as bring in bread for the holy meal. And his companions were fearful and went to lay hold on him, for they said:

He is beside himself.

And some of the Nazarenes said:

He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

And Jesus answered them, saying:

If this son of man hath Beelzebub he could not have cast out a single demon. Yet ye have repented. How can Satan cast out Satan? If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand, not even Satan’s house. And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand, not even Satan’s kingdom. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. Yet he doth not end. How then can Satan be cast out? When a strong man is armed and defendeth his house, his possessions are in peace; but when a man stronger than he first binds him then takes away his weapons, his possessions are lost. In like wise must we be stronger than Satan and bind him. But if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand; and if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. The house of Israel must needs stand as one if Satan is to be bound and cast out. And for this reason all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men who repent, save a blasphemy against His holy spirit.

He that is not with God is against God; and he that gathereth not with God scattereth. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother and sister in God’s remnant. But whoever hath slandered the congregation shall be expelled from among them and shall return no more. And whoever hath murmured against the authority of the community shall be expelled and shall not return. Every idle word that men speak, they shall give account of in God’s day of vengeance, for by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

And they murmured no more.

Jesus is Transfigured

…crowned as That Prophet making him The Messiah in preparation for his attempt to capture the Holy City and cleanse the Temple.

And Jesus goeth out, and his disciples, into the region of Caesarea Philippi. And he saith unto them:

Whom say ye that I am?

And Peter answereth and saith unto him:

Thou art the nasi, the prince of the many.

And Jesus said:

Blessed art thou Simon barjona, for is not the prince the messiah at the holy meal of the saints? And saith the Lord: Is not this a brand that must be plucked from the fire? This son of man must lead you upon Jerusalem.

And Peter was perplexed, saying he was beside himself. And Jesus taught them that, at God’s appointed time, Israel would have a prince, and a priest, and a prophet; and, like Moses, the prince, and the priest, and the prophet would lead them into a promised land. And they heard him and wondered. And he charged them that they should tell no man. And from that time forth he began to teach them that they must go unto Jerusalem, and must suffer many things in the coming battle, even death but, on the third day would rise again in God’s kingdom, with God’s elect; for God had sent His messiah. And he spake that saying privily.

And they stood before him, saying:

Before the messiah cometh, it is written, Elias must first come.

And he told them:

Elias truly cometh first, and restoreth all things; but, that Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

For he was imprisoned. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him but when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter.

And after six days of purification in readiness Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves. And Peter said to Jesus:

Master, this is a good place. Let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

And they built a smoky fire, and he appeared, transfigured, before them, in raiment, shining exceeding white. And there appeared the prophets Elias and Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying:

This is my beloved Son: hear him,

as it is written that the prophet must be heard. And Satan came and he rebuked him, saying:

Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men

And, suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, for first they must go up to Jerusalem. And there they would commence the battle for the kingdom in which they would die; but God would resurrect them all, the righteous, on the third day, as it is written in the prophet Hosea. And they kept it close, with themselves.

And returning thence to Galilee he came to some of his disciples with a great multitude about them, and the disciples questioning with each other. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed that he had appeared again in Galilee, for Herod would imprison him, and running to him saluted him.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them:

Whosoever would be saved, let him take the cross of repentance in baptism, obey God and fear not. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for God’s sake, the same will save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed to take the cross of repentance in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of God with the holy angels.

And addressing a multitude, Jesus spoke a parable, saying:

Hearken! A sower went out to sow and as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside and perished, for it is written: Those who hearken not to the voice of God shall be meat unto the fowls of the air. And some seed fell upon stony ground, and immediately it sprang up, and because it had no depth of earth, when the sun was up, it was scorched because it had no root and it withered away, for it is written: Their stock shall not take root in the earth. And some seed fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and choked them and they yielded no fruit, for it is written: Sow not among thorns. But other seed fell on good ground and did yield fruit that increased and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred, for it is written: The seed shall be prosperous and the ground shall give her increase. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them:

Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick? The Lord hath seven eyes and, from Him, nothing is hid. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested to the elect in God’s kingdom; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad in God’s kingdom. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them:

Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For if what ye mete is God’s will then it pleaseth the Lord and ye shall be rewarded with everlasting life.

And Jesus said:

Hearken ye to this other parable: the kingdom of God is as if a man cast good seed upon the earth, and he slept and went not by night or day and cared not how the seed should spring up and grow. But the earth beareth fruit of herself and when the blade was sprung up so too were tares. And the man’s servants said unto him: wilt thou that we go and gather up these tares? But he said: Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come. Then separate the wheat from the tares that it be saved for me, and put the tares in a heap that they may be destroyed by fire. For it is written: Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, for their wickedness is great.

Then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. And the Lord shall roar from Zion; and the heavens and earth shall shake; but the Lord will be a refuge unto his people and a strong hold to the children of Israel. For David said to the Lord: thine hand shall find out all thine enemies; thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger. Thou shalt swallow them up in thy wrath; and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. And the Lord said to David: My covenant shall stand fast with thee; and thy seed will I make to endure forever.

And Jesus still speaking in parables, said:

Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it falleth to earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth; but when it groweth up it becometh greater than all the herbs and shooteth out great branches; so that all the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. For it is written: the Lord will bring down the high tree and will exalt the low tree; and it shall bring forth boughs and bear fruit, and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

And when he was alone, they that were about him asked of him the parables. And he said unto them:

Know ye not the parable of the sower? and how then will ye know all parables? The parable being interpreted is this. The sower soweth the word of God. And these are they by the way side, who understandeth not the word, and to whom Satan cometh immediately and catcheth away that which was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise in which the word is sown on stony ground, who immediately receive the word with gladness, but have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time, and are tempted by hypocrisy. And these are they in which the word is sown among thorns, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they in which the word is sown on good ground, such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. For it is written in the prophet Zechariah, in the word of the Lord: The seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. And ye righteous shall receive that inheritance when the kingdom comes.

And Jesus said:

There is no man, that hath left brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, and hath left them and house or lands, for God, but he shall receive an hundredfold; and in the world to come, everlasting life. The poor, who are last in earth shall be first in heaven.

And he came into his own country, and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come he began to teach in the synagogue. There came thither his brethren and his kinfolk. And he read from the book of the prophet Isaiah:

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears.

And he told them of the kingdom to come calling for their repentance. And many hearing him were astonished saying:

Whence hath this man this authority? Is not this the mason; and his brethren and sisters, are they not with us?

And Jesus said unto them:

Who are my brethren? For the sons of Levi slew their brethren which trespassed against the Lord. My brethren are these which hear the word of God and slayeth the deceiver.

And Jesus could do no mighty works because of their unbelief, and he said:

A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country and among his own kin; nor is a physician able to cure those who know him.

And they were offended at him. They went out to lay hold on him, for they said:

He has gone mad to preach such things.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it, lest Herod should send soldiers. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them:

It pleaseth the Lord that Jerusalem, the brand, is plucked from the fire, and the battle for the kingdom shall then be fierce. If this son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they kill him, fear ye not; for he shall rise with you all on the third day, for so it is written.

And Jesus told them to prepare boats that they might cross the sea into Decapolis. And he said unto them:

They that hate you have said to the Lord: Let us cut off thy people from being a nation. But God is a jealous God and taketh vengeance against his adversaries. He pursueth them with His tempest and terrifieth them with His storm. For the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and the storm; He rebuketh the sea and dries it up. The sea is the people of the waters, and though they be mighty and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down and shall pass away. For of them it is written: the waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Thou alone spreadest out the heavens, and treadest upon the waves of the sea. Know ye then that ye shall have no fear of the storm, for when God sent to Jonah a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken, and the mariners were afraid, Jonah was gone down into the ship, and he lay, and was fast asleep, and the men roweth hard to bring it to the land, but they could not, for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

Even so, when ye are pressed by your enemies, let not your cry be: The Lord sleepeth. Lord carest thou not that we perish? It is written: The Lord of Hosts shall defend them, for as they draw near unto the gates of death, they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He cometh and bringeth them out of their distresses. He stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves. He rebuketh the sea and maketh the storm calm, so the waves thereof are still. And He bringeth them into the haven where they wouldst be, and stilleth the tumult of the people. The haven is the kingdom of God. Be ye of good spirits; be ye of good cheer; for the dawn soon breaketh and the storm will calm, and the kingdom come with everlasting light.

And Jesus bound his disciples to get into boats, saying:

Pass over to the other side.

And when morning came they were at the other side.

And he went through the midst of the region of Decapolis. And they found a man who would betray them, and sought the reason, but he was deaf to their questions and would hardly speak. And they took him aside from the multitude, and they laid hands upon him, and put fingers into his ears, and spat upon him, and fastened his tongue with string. And looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed, and saith unto them:

Ephphatha!

that is:

draw it out!

And straightway he begged them to cease, his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And Jesus charged him that he should tell no man of them. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying:

He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus took to one side the apostles and said:

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and ye shall confront the gentiles: ye will suffer hardships and even death in the battle for the kingdom; but yet, if ye be killed, on the third day ye shall rise again in God’s kingdom.

And they were amazed. And Jesus went before them; and they followed, afraid.

And he said unto them:

Truly, there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. For the kingdom of God is at hand unto this generation, and they might be still live when the kingdom comes. And both sinner and righteous shall depart in the terrible day of God’s vengeance, but the righteous alone will be resurrected on the third day.

And Jesus saw John and some disciples beating a man, and asked:

Has this man an unclean spirit? Is he an enemy of the kingdom of God?

And John answered him, saying:

Master, we saw him punishing one who decried you, and we forbade him because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said:

Forbid him not. For if this man shall speak for God, though he be not repentant, he speaketh not evil of God’s kingdom. For he that is not against us is on our part.

And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan. And he taught his followers what he was about. And he asketh them:

Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?

And they said:

Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away

And Jesus answered and said unto them:

For the hardness of your heart he wrote you that precept. But, if ye wouldst be perfect, know ye from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Let us go up to Jerusalem, that the bride might be freed, and the bridegroom enter in. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Being interpreted, Jesus spoke of the marriage of God and Israel. For God hath made a covenant with His people, Israel; and they shall be like unto a bridegroom and a bride. They are joined together by God, and might not be put asunder by another.

And when they were come to Judaea to Jericho, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said:

Doth not your master pay tribute?

And when he was come to tell his master, Jesus asked:

What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of God’s children, or of strangers?

Peter saith unto him:

Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him:

Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, shouldst thou go to the river, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, shouldst thou find a piece of money, that take, and give unto them for tribute.

For he knew no man would catch such a fish and the tribute would go unpaid.

And the Sadducees tried to incriminate him, and they say unto him:

Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?

But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them:

Why tempt ye me? The answer is not a secret. Bring me a penny, that I may see it.

And they brought it. And he saith unto them:

Whose is this image and superscription?

And they said unto him:

Caesar’s.

And Jesus answering said unto them:

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

And they marvelled at him, for he meant that God had appointed a covenant with the people of His land. Though Caesar was a mighty king, he could make no claim to what is God’s.

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, but no fruit, for the time of figs was not yet, Jesus said:

See ye this fig tree, it beareth no fruit, for it is not the season for figs; but as her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near, and the harvest time of fruit is nigh. So ye in like manner, when ye shall see the signs, know ye that the end time is nigh, even at the doors. This fig tree hath oppressed the children, and it shall not bear fruit, Nay, not ever; for God cometh to establish a new order in which the vine shall be fruitful and the fig barren. Have faith in God. For whosoever shall say unto this mountain: Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore this son of man telleth ye, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive ye your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

And he took a knife and stripped it of its bark. And his disciples saw it.

And as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, an unclean spirit, one of those blind to the the kingdom of God, heard that it was Jesus, the Nazarene, and began to cry out, and say:

Jesus, thou wouldst be a king, a son of David.

And many took hold of him, and charged him that he should hold his peace. And he lost his garment in the commotion, and he cried the more a great deal:

thou wouldst be a son of David, the messiah.

And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be called. And they took the blind man, saying unto him:

Get up, he calleth thee.

And they raised him and pulled him to Jesus, and beat him, and by and by he said:

Have mercy on me, Master.

And Jesus said unto him:

By thy works shalt thou be justified. If thou wouldst be saved, repent and be baptized, for the kingdom is entered only by those who follow the way.

Skeptical Resources—Internet infidels | Jesus Never Existed | Steven Carr’s Website | Christianism | Early Christian Writings | God is Imaginary | “Religion Detoxification” | Our Judaio-Christian Heritage | Archaeoastronomy | No Deity | No Beliefs | Evil Bible | Bible God | ex-Christians | Jesus Police | Islamic Faith Freedom | Atheist Experience | American Atheists | Jovial Atheist | Askwhy! books
Other Resources—Early Christian Docs | Resources for Study | Traditional Bible-History | Traditional Bible World History | Traditional Bible History | about.com biblical history | Apologetics web sites | Advent Ch Fathers | Orion center links | Wikipedia | Traditional Jewish History