The Life of Jesus

I tell you, there is in this place something greater than the Temple!

If you knew what `I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifice' meant, you would not condemn the innocent.

For the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat!"

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue.

A man there had a shriveled hand. Looking for a reason to accuse him of something, they asked him, "Is healing permitted on Shabbat?"

But he answered, "If you have a sheep that falls in a pit on Shabbat, which of you won't take hold of it and lift it out?

How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore, what is permitted on Shabbat is to do good." Then to the man he said, "Hold out your hand." As he held it out, it

became restored, as sound as the other one.

But the P'rushim went out and began plotting how they might do away with Yeshua.

Aware of this, he left that area. Many people followed him; and he healed them all

but warned them not to make him known.

This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Yesha`yahu the prophet,

"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will announce justice to the Gentiles.

He will not fight or shout, no one will hear his voice in the streets;

he will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory.

In him the Gentiles will put their hope."

Then some people brought him a man controlled by demons who was blind and mute; and Yeshua healed him, so that he could both speak and see.

The crowds were astounded and asked, "This couldn't be the Son of David, could it?"

But when the P'rushim heard of it, they said, "It is only by Ba`al-Zibbul" -- the ruler of the demons -- "that this man drives out demons."

However, knowing what they were thinking, Yeshua said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not survive.

If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom survive?

Besides, if I drive out demons by Ba`al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges!

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!

"Or again, how can someone break into a strong man's house and make off with his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? After that he can ransack his house.

"Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering.