|
The Words of Jesus of Nazareth
|
Everyone who believes in the Son will have life everlasting.
A wealthy man planned a great banquet, and invited many guests. When the preparations were completed, he sent his servant to those who had been invited, announcing: "Come, for all things are now ready."
But all those who had been invited began to make excuses. The first replied: "I have just purchased a piece of land, and I must go and look at it again. Please have me excused."
The second said: "I have just purchased a herd of cattle, and I must go and examine it. Please have me excused."
A third answered: "I have just been married, and cannot attend."
Finally, when the servant returned and reported what had happened, his master commanded: "Go quickly into the streets of the city, and gather the poor, the lame, the ill and the blind."
The servant did this, and then returned, saying: "Sir, I have done as you commanded, and still there is room at the table."
"Go then," the rich man replied, "out along the highways and among the fields, and urge those that you meet to come in, that my table may be filled. For I say to you: none of those that were originally invited will taste of the banquet that I prepared for them."
Whoever hears my word and believes in him who has sent me will have eternal life and will not be condemned; but will pass from death to life. Do not be amazed at this; for the time is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear his voice will live. In their graves, the dead will hear his voice and be raised up; those that have done good will be raised to new life, and those who have lived in sin will be raised to condemnation.
This is the way to eternal life: knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, the one sent down to earth! Take my words to heart. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son to die, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but be saved and have everlasting life. This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then will the end come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the very words of Jesus of Nazereth. Taken originally from the Bible , and arranged here by subject as they appear in Lee Cantelon's book "The Words" (c) 1997. [www.thewords.com]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The_Words
|
010826
|
