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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth
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Let those who are spiritually dead attend to their earthly concerns; but you go and proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God to the waiting world.
There is a great harvest before you; but, sadly, the labourers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he will send more labourers to collect his harvest. No one who puts his hand to the plough and then looks back is suitable for the kingdom of God.
You who believe in me will do the same works that I do, and greater; for I must return to my Father in Heaven. If you wish to serve me, follow me; and where I am, there you, my servant, will be as well, and honoured by my Father.
Go announce: "The kingdom of heaven has come to you."
Heal the sick, restore the lepers to health; raise the dead; cast out devils! Remember what I have told you: "Freely you have received this new life. Freely give!"
If you are not for me, you are against me; and they that do not gather with me scatter.
Whenever you are invited into a house, offer a blessing, and say: "Peace be to this house." If those in the house be for peace, your blessing will be accepted, and they will be benefited. If not, the benefits of your blessing will return to you.
Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, yet remain purposeful, and resist wandering about aimlessly. Enjoy whatever food and drink is offered you, for one that labours is worthy of his wages.
Those who receive the person I send out with this message, also receive me, and they that receive me receive the Father who sent me.
Be warned: there are some who would attempt to silence your voices; who would take you to court, and deal unfairly with you, even seek your imprisonment. Because of my message, you will be called to testify before those who do not believe: rulers, governors, and kings.
If you are accused and brought to court, don't fear for your lack of words. They will be given to you in that instant. You need not rely on your words alone, for the Spirit of your Father will speak through you. Remember that in the earthly kingdom no servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, punishing you for my cause, not realizing who it was that sent me into the world. If, however, they accept and follow my message, they will accept and follow yours as well.
If I had not come with the message of truth, the inhabitants of the world would not have been aware of their failings and sinful behaviour. Now they are unable to hide behind their former ignorance of the truth. If I had not performed such mighty miracles among them, they would not have realized their shortcomings. But now those who have rejected the truth have seen the miracles, and hate me and my Father. This is come to pass, that the prophecy might be fulfilled: "They hated me without a cause."
It is a fire that I have come to bring upon the earth. How I long to see it ablaze! Did you imagine that I had come to bring calm and tranquillity to earth? No, I tell you, I have come to bring division: For from now on there will be five in one house, divided on what they should believe, three against two, and two against three. When you are confronted by the world's hatred, remember how it hated me before. And when they persecute you in one place, move on to the next. You will not have reached all the cities of the world before the Messiah returns. If a city refuses to accept you, or listen to your message, shake the dust of that city from your feet as you leave. Believe me, in the day of the final judgment, it will have been better to be from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than from that city.
Whoever hears the words that you speak, hears me; and those that despise you, because of your true words, despise me. In rejecting me, they reject the Father who sent me. Endure the criticism of sceptics and doubters for my name's sake. Stand firm; in so doing, you will be saved.
These words I have spoken to you, that in me, and in following my words, you might find peace. In the world you will have pain and trouble; but be happy, for I have overcome the world.
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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]
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