Hi friends, I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles.

So here is how it works. I'll read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray, and that's it. Today is day three, and I'll be reading

John 7 through 9 in the New Living Translation, and we're on page 31 of the Let's Read the

Gospel's Guided Journal. John 7. After this, Jesus traveled around guided journal.

John 7. After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish festival of shelters.

And Jesus' brothers said to him, leave here and go to Judeo where your followers can see your

miracles. You can't become

famous if you hide like this. If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world.

For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, now is not the right time for me to go,

but you can go anytime. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.

You go on. I'm not going to this festival because my time has not yet come. After saying these things,

Jesus remained in Galilee. But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went,

though secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the

festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds.

Some argued he's a good man, but others said he's nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.

But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting

in trouble with the Jewish leaders. Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple

and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. How does he know so much when he

hasn't been trained? They asked. So Jesus told them, my message is not my own. It comes from God who sent me.

Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

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