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The Duel in the Desert

¹ God led Jesus out into the dry country to be tempted by the devil. ² Jesus was famished after not eating for forty days and nights. ³ That old devil rode up and said, "If you're God's Boy, you can easily turn these rocks into bread. What're you waitin' on?"

⁴ Jesus said, "Man don't live on just bread, but on every word that comes out of God's mouth."

⁵ The devil snatched Jesus up and took him to the holy city and they stood at the highest point of the church. ⁶ "If you're God's Boy," the devil said, "bail off of here. 'Cause it's written that, 'God's angels are gonna look out for you. They won't let a scratch of harm come to you.'"

⁷ Jesus answered and said, "It's also said, 'Don't be a fool and try to test God.'"

⁸ The devil whisked him off again and took him to a tall mountain where they could see all of the territories. ⁹ "I'll make a horse trade with you. I'll swap you everything you see below us if you'll take off your hat and call me boss."

¹⁰ Jesus told him, "Get away from me, Satan! It's written that we are to 'Only bow down and call God the boss; him and him only.'"

¹¹ The devil then hightailed it out of there and God sent some angels to take care of his Boy.

Jesus Starts Tellin' Folks the Truth

¹² Jesus heard that his buddy John the Baptist had been thrown in jail so he rode back to Galilee. ¹³ When he left Nazareth, he bunked out in Capernaum ¹⁴ to prove what was once said by Isaiah, ¹⁵ "In the land around Capernaum and along the Jordan, and in Galilee, the land of those who ain't Jews, ¹⁶ the folks livin' in the dark have seen a bright light; those livin' in the land shadowed by death, a great lantern has been lit in the darkness."

¹⁷ From the first time Jesus told folks the truth, he said, "Change the way you think and live, for God's Green Pastures are close."

Some Cowboys Decide to Ride with Jesus

¹⁸ When Jesus was walkin' down by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two cowboys, Peter and his brother Andrew. They were gatherin' some cattle and puttin' 'em in some pens. ¹⁹ "Come and ride with me," Jesus said to 'em, "and help me gather mavericks. I'll make you gatherers of men." ²⁰ They left the herd right there and rode off with him.

²¹ As they rode along, Jesus saw two more cowboys—James and his brother John. They were also gettin' ready to work some cattle. Jesus hollered at them to come on ²² and they immediately dropped what they were doin' and rode off with him.

²³ Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He was teachin', preachin', and healin' all kinds of folks. ²⁴ Word traveled near and far about what he was doin'. People came from everywhere so Jesus could help them. ²⁵ Huge herds of mavericks, from Galilee to the region on the other side of Jordan Creek, began to follow him.