One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.

One time when Jesus went for a Sabbath meal with one of the top leaders of the Pharisees, all the guests had their eyes on him, watching his every move.

He went on teaching from town to village, village to town, but keeping on a steady course toward Jerusalem.

“I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything rightside up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice?

“Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very Kingdom itself.

Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”

One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.

Then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

Later the Master selected 70 and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go.