1Soon after this, he traveled through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God's Kingdom. The twelve disciples were with him,
2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been cast out;
3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, who was Herod's household manager; Susanna; and many other women. They provided for Jesus and his disciples out of their own money.
4When a large crowd gathered, and people from every city were coming to him, Jesus told a parable:
5'A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered the seed, some fell along the path, and it was stepped on, and the birds of the sky ate it up.
6Other seed fell on rocky ground, and as soon as it grew, it withered away because it had no moisture.
7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.'
8Other seeds fell on good soil, grew, and produced 100 times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “If you have ears to hear, then listen!”
9Then his followers asked him, “What does this story mean?”
10He said, “You are allowed to understand the secrets of God’s Kingdom, but for others, I speak in stories, so that ‘even though they look, they might not see, and even though they listen, they might not understand.’
11Now, the meaning of the story is this: The seed is God’s message.
12The seeds along the road represent those who hear the message, but then the devil comes and takes the message from their hearts so they won’t believe and be saved.
13The seeds on the rock represent those who joyfully receive the message when they hear it, but they don’t have deep roots. They believe for a while, but then they give up when temptation comes.
14The seeds that fell among thorns represent those who have heard the message, but as they go about their lives, they are choked by worries, wealth, and life’s pleasures, and their fruit never fully develops.
15The seeds in the good soil represent those who, with an honest and good heart, hear the message, hold on to it tightly, and patiently produce fruit.
16“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light.
17This is because nothing is hidden that will not be uncovered; nor is anything secret that will not eventually be known and brought out into the open.
18So be careful how you listen. Because whoever has much will be given more; but whoever has little, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”
19His mother and brothers came to him, but they couldn't get near him because of the crowd.
20Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear God’s message and obey it.”
22One day, he and his followers got into a boat, and he said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set off.
23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A strong windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat began to fill with water, putting them in danger.
24They went to him, woke him up, and said, “Teacher, teacher, we are going to drown!” He woke up, ordered the wind and the angry waves to stop, and immediately they calmed down completely.
25He asked them, “Where is your faith?” Filled with fear, they were amazed and said to one another, “Who is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”
26They landed in the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
27When Jesus stepped ashore, a man from the town who had been controlled by demons for a long time came to meet him. He wore no clothes and did not live in a house, but among the tombs.
28When the man saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down in front of him, and loudly said, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please don’t torture me!”
29This was because Jesus had been telling the evil spirit to leave the man. The evil spirit had often taken control of the man. Even though he was kept under guard, and tied with chains and shackles, he would break free and be driven by the demon into the desert.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.
31The demons begged Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.
32Nearby on the mountain, there was a large herd of pigs feeding. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he allowed it.
33The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
34When the people who were feeding the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and told everyone in the city and the countryside.
35People went out to see what had occurred. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36Those who had seen it explained to them how the man who had been possessed by demons was healed.
37All the people from the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were very scared. So, he got into the boat and left.
38But the man from whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39“Go back to your home and tell everyone what great things God has done for you.” So, the man left and announced throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because everyone was waiting for him.
41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, came up to Jesus. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house,
42because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went, the crowds pressed in on him.
43A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and had spent all her money on doctors, but no one could heal her,
44came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. Immediately, her bleeding stopped.
45Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When everyone denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Teacher, the crowds are all around you, pushing and bumping you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
46But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, because I felt power leave me.”
47When the woman realized she couldn’t hide, she came forward trembling. She fell down before him and told everyone present why she had touched him and how she was immediately healed.
48He said to her, “Daughter, be encouraged. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue leader’s house arrived, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.”
50But Jesus heard this and answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe, and she will be healed.”
51When he arrived at the house, he didn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, the child's father, and her mother.
52Everyone was crying and mourning for her, but he said, “Don’t cry. She isn’t dead, but asleep.”
53They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead.
54But he sent them all out. Then he took her hand and called out, “Child, get up!”
55Her spirit returned, and she immediately stood up. He told them to give her something to eat.
56Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.