All Four Gospels for Readers | Page 3

John forbad Him. He said, Why come to me? I should be baptized by thee. Jesus answered, For now, suffer it to be so because it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.
When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water and the heavens opened to Him. John saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and light upon Him. A voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
4. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He fasted forty days and forty nights He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The devil then took Him up into the holy city and sat Him on a pinnacle of the temple. He said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus countered Him saying, It is also written, Thou shalt not test the Lord thy God.
Next, the devil took Him up into an exceedingly high mountain. He showed Him the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. He said, All these things I will give thee if thou will bow down and worship me. Then Jesus said, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him. And, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
When Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee. And, leaving Nazareth, He dwelt in Capernaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. This He did so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: In the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim by the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw great light. And to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. From this time forward Jesus began His teaching of repentance because the kingdom of God is at hand.
As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. They were fishers and were casting a net into the sea. He said to them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. They left their nets and followed Him.
Going on from there, Jesus saw two other brethren, James, the son of Zebedee, and John. They were in a boat, mending their nets, with Zebedee, their father. Jesus called them and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him. Then Jesus went all about Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people.
His fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought to Him sick people who were taken with diverse diseases, torments, and those who were possessed with devils. They brought those who were lunatic, and those who had palsy. He healed them. Great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan followed Him.
5. Seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain and sat. His disciples came and He taught them: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Great is your reward in heaven. And, likewise, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its savour it is good for nothing except to be cast out and walked on. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. A candle is not lighted to be put under a bushel, but on a