“If you try to hang on to your life,
you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake
and for the sake of the Good News,
you will save it.
And what do you benefit
if you gain the whole world
but lose your own soul?”
“And when you are brought to trial
in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
don’t worry about how to defend yourself
or what to say,
for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what needs to be said.”
Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again,
and his eyes were opened.
His sight was completely restored,
and he could see everything clearly.
…About three o’clock in the morning
Jesus came toward them,
walking on the water…
They were all terrified when they saw him…
“Don’t be afraid,”
he said,
“Take courage!
I am here!”
…They were totally amazed,
for they still didn’t understand the significance
of the miracle of the loaves.
Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
(Jamaica Beach, TX)
Then Jesus told them,
“A prophet is honored everywhere except
in his own hometown and among his relatives
and his own family.”
And because of their unbelief,
he couldn’t do any miracles among them
except to place his hands on a few sick people
and heal them.
And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus realized at once
that healing power had gone out from him,
so he turned around in the crowd
and asked,
“Who touched my robe?”
“Look,
I am coming soon!
Blessed are those who obey
the words of prophecy
written in this book.”
The wall was made of jasper,
and the city was pure gold,
as clear as glass.
The wall of the city was built on foundation stones
inlaid with twelve precious stones:
the first was jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third agate,
the fourth emerald,
the fifth onyx,
the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth,
the twelfth amethyst.
The twelve gates were made of pearls—
each gate from a single pearl!
And the main street was pure gold,
as clear as glass.
The city wall was broad and high,
with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels.
and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel
were written on the gates.
The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones,
and on them were written the names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The wall was made of jasper,
and the city was pure gold,
as clear as glass.
