First Nations Version

by Terry M. Wildman

  8The unclean spirits said this because Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had said to the man, “Come out of him, you unclean spirit!”

  9Then Creator Sets Free (Jesus) asked, “What is the name of the spirit you represent?”

  “Our name is Many Soldiers,”6 the evil spirits answered, “for our numbers are great.”

  The spirits feared Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and knew he could force them out of the man.

  A HERD OF PIGS

  10They kept begging him not to send them out of the territory. 11There was a large herd of about two thousand pigs feeding nearby on the side of a mountain.

  12“Send us to those pigs over there,” they begged, “so we can enter into them.”

  13So he gave them permission. The unclean spirits then came out of the man and entered into the herd of about two thousand pigs. Then the whole herd stampeded down the mountainside headlong into the lake and drowned in the deep water, making a frightful scene.

  14The local ones who were watching over the pigs rushed away, shaken and afraid. They went to the nearby village and told everyone all that happened. As word spread, people came from the villages and the countryside to see for themselves.

  SET FREE AND MADE WHOLE

  15There they found the man who had been tormented by the unclean spirits, sitting quietly at the feet of Creator Sets Free (Jesus). He was clothed and in his right mind. The people trembled with fear 16as they listened to the story of how the man was set free and to the story about the pigs. 17So they begged Creator Sets Free (Jesus) to go away from their land.

  18As Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was climbing into his canoe to leave, the man who had been set free from the evil spirits begged him to take him along.

  19But Creator Sets Free (Jesus) would not permit it and said to the man, “Return home to your family and friends. Tell them all the good and kind things the Great Spirit has done for you.”

  20The man went his way and told the story far and wide in all the territory of the Ten Villages (Decapolis) of what Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had done for him—and all who heard were amazed.

  A DESPERATE REQUEST

  21Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and his followers canoed back to the other side of the lake. As soon as he arrived, a great crowd began to gather around him at the lakeshore.

  22A man named He Gives Light (Jairus), a headman of the local gathering house, pushed his way through the crowd and fell down on his knees in front of Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

  23“My little girl is almost dead!” he begged him urgently. “She is my only daughter. Please come and lay your hands on her that she may be healed and live!”

  24So Creator Sets Free (Jesus) went with him. The crowd also trailed along, pressing in around him from all sides.

  WHO TOUCHED ME?

  25There was a woman in the crowd who had been bleeding for more than twelve winters. 26She had spent all she had, putting up with medicine men who were not able to heal her, and she was getting worse.

  Under tribal law this woman would be considered unclean and even the things she touched would be unclean also, isolating her from friends and family. She would not be able to marry or participate in the gathering house for prayer.

  27When she heard about Creator Sets Free (Jesus), she pressed through the crowd and came up close behind him. She reached out her hand and touched his outer garment, 28for she had said to herself, “If I can only touch his clothes, I know I will be healed.”

  29She touched him, and right away the blood stopped flowing and she felt in her body that she was healed.

  30Creator Sets Free (Jesus) stopped suddenly, turned, looked around the crowd, and said, “Who touched my clothes?” For he was aware that power had gone out from him.

  Fear gripped the heart of this woman, for she had not announced herself as unclean, and even worse, she had touched a spiritual leader. The crowd might turn against her or even have her stoned to death. So she remained silent and said nothing.

  31His followers looked around, shrugged their shoulders, and said to him, “You can see that the crowds are pushing and shoving you. How can you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

  32Creator Sets Free (Jesus) continued to look around to see who had touched him. 33The woman knew she could hide no longer, so she came forward trembling with fear, fell to the ground in front of him, and told the whole truth.

  34“Daughter,” he said to her with great loving kindness in his eyes, “your trust in me has made you well. Now go in peace, for you have been healed of your disease.”

  POWER OVER DEATH

  35While Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was still speaking, some messengers came from the home of the headman of the gathering house.

  “Your little girl has crossed over to death,” they said with sad faces. “Why trouble the Wisdomkeeper any longer?”

  The man’s heart fell to the ground, and grief began to creep over him.

  36But Creator Sets Free (Jesus) paid no attention to what was said.

  “Do not fear!” he said to the headman. “Trust in me alone, and all will be well.”

  37He would not permit any to go with him except Stands on the Rock (Peter) and He Takes Over (James) along with his brother He Shows Goodwill (John)—his most trusted message bearers.

  38As they came near the house of the headman, they saw and heard an uproar! People were weeping and wailing loudly.

  39When he entered into the house, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you making such a noise? Do not weep. The child is not dead. She only sleeps.”

  40But they only scorned and laughed at him, for they knew she was dead.

  WAKE UP!

  So he put them all out of the house except his most trusted message bearers and the father and mother. He went with them into where the girl lay, 41took hold of her hand, and said in his native language, “Talitha cumi,” meaning, “Little girl, wake up!”

  42She stood up right away and began to walk, for she was twelve winters old. Her father and mother stood there, amazed beyond words, weeping for joy, for their little girl was alive!

  43Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had them give her some food to eat and then firmly told them not to tell anyone what had happened.

  HIS OWN VILLAGE REJECTS HIM

  1Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and his followers left there and went to Seed Planter Village (Nazareth), where he grew up as a boy. 2On the following Day of Resting at the local gathering house, he began to teach the people. When they heard him, they were amazed and wondered at his words.

  “Where did he learn about these things?” they asked with contempt in their voices. “Who gave him this wisdom and ability to perform such powerful medicine? 3Is he not the wood carver, son of Bitter Tears (Mary) and brother to He Leads the Way (James), He Gives More (Joseph), Strong of Heart (Jude), and He Hears (Simon)? Look, his sisters are also here with us!”

  And so they were offended and turned their faces away from him.

  4“A prophet is given much honor,” he said to them, “except in his own village, among his own clan and relatives, and even in his own family.”

  5Because of this he could do no great miracles among them, except to touch and heal a few sick people. 6He was troubled by their lack of trust in him. So he left his boyhood village and went about teaching in other villages.

  HE SENDS HIS MESSAGE BEARERS

  7He then gathered his twelve message bearers together, gave them power over unclean evil spirits, and began to send them out two by two. 8He told them to take nothing with them except a walking stick—no traveling bundle, food, or money pouches. 9They were to wear only one outer garment and have one pair of moccasins for their feet.

  10“When you come to a village, stay in one home until you leave. 11If no one in that village welcomes you or will listen to your message, then go from there and shake the dust from your moccasins as a sign against them.”

  12So the twelve went out traveling two by two, and everywhere they went, they told people to return to Creator’s r
ight ways. 13They forced out evil spirits and poured herbal oils on many who were sick and healed them.

  LOOKS BRAVE WONDERS ABOUT HIM

  14The reputation of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) reached the ears of Chief Looks Brave (Herod). Some told him, “Gift of Goodwill (John) has come back from the world of the dead. That is why he can work so much power!”

  15At the same time others said, “He must be Great Spirit Is Creator (Elijah),” and still others said, “He is a prophet! Just like one of the ancient prophets.”

  16But Looks Brave (Herod), after hearing all this, said, “Gift of Goodwill (John), the one whose head I cut off, has come back from the dead to haunt me.”

  17-18He said this because he was the one who had Gift of Goodwill (John) arrested and put in prison. Gift of Goodwill (John) had spoken out against Looks Brave (Herod) for marrying the wife of his brother Friend of Horses (Philip).

  “It is not permitted in the Sacred Teachings for you to be with your brother’s wife!” he told Looks Brave (Herod).

  19So Daring Woman (Herodias) held this against Gift of Goodwill (John) and wanted to kill him. 20But Looks Brave (Herod) knew he was a man who walked in an upright and holy manner, so he was afraid and protected him. From time to time Looks Brave (Herod) liked to sit and listen to Gift of Goodwill (John), even though his words troubled him.

  A DAY OF SORROW

  21Daring Woman (Herodias) was waiting for a chance to have him killed. This chance came on the birthday of Looks Brave (Herod). He had a great feast prepared to celebrate his birthday and invited government officials, head soldiers, and important dignitaries from Circle of Nations (Galilee).

  22-23The daughter of Daring Woman (Herodias) came in and danced before them, pleasing Looks Brave (Herod) and all the guests.

  “Ask anything from me and I will give it to you,” he said to her, making a solemn promise, “up to half of all that I rule over.”

  24So she went out to her mother and said, “What shall I ask for?”

  “Ask for the head of Gift of Goodwill (John), the one who performs the purification ceremony,”7 she replied with a sly grin on her face.

  25Right away she hurried back to the feast, went right up to the chief, and said, “Give to me, here and now, the head of Gift of Goodwill (John) in a basket!”

  26The heart of Chief Looks Brave (Herod) fell to the ground, but because he had made a solemn promise in front of his guests, he could not refuse her request. 27So right then he ordered a soldier to bring him the head of Gift of Goodwill (John). So the soldier went to where he was in prison and cut off his head. 28He brought his head to the young girl in a basket, and she gave it to her mother.

  29Now, when the followers of Gift of Goodwill (John) heard about his tragic death, they came for his body and buried it properly.

  THE MESSAGE BEARERS RETURN

  30The message bearers returned from their journeys and with full hearts told Creator Sets Free (Jesus) about all that they had done and taught. 31There were so many people coming and going all around them that they did not even have time to eat.

  So Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said to them, “Come with me, and we will find a quiet place in the wilderness to rest for a while.”

  32Then they left in a canoe to go to an out-of-the-way place to be alone and rest. 33But the people saw where they were going and ran ahead of them. They came from all the surrounding villages and were waiting for them when they arrived.

  34As Creator Sets Free (Jesus) climbed out of the canoe, he saw the great crowd of people, and his heart went out to them again. He saw that they were like sheep with no shepherd to watch over them. He stayed there with them and began to teach and tell them stories about Creator’s good road.

  A MEAL FOR FIVE THOUSAND

  35It was late in the day, so his followers said to him, “This is a deserted place, and the day is almost over. 36We should send the people away to the villages in the countryside so they can find food to eat.”

  Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked around at the great crowd of people—over five thousand men and also women and children. Then he turned and looked right at his followers.

  37“You feed them!” he said to them.

  They could not believe their ears! How could they feed so many people?

  “It would take over eight moons’ worth of gathered food to feed all these,” they answered him. “Do you want us to go and trade for that much?”

  38Then he said to them, “Go and see how many pieces of frybread we have.”

  After looking around they said, “We have five pieces of frybread and two fish.”

  39Then Creator Sets Free (Jesus) instructed the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So the people gathered up their traveling bundles and their children and sat down, some in groups of one hundred and some in groups of fifty.

  41Then he took the five pieces of frybread and two fish and held them up to the sky. He looked up into the spirit-world above and spoke words of blessing over them. He broke the frybread into smaller pieces and gave them to his followers to give to the people. Then he did the same with the fish.

  42Everyone ate until they could eat no more. 43When they gathered up the leftovers, there were twelve baskets full. 44The number of men fed in this great gathering of people was about five thousand!

  45Right away Creator Sets Free (Jesus) urged his followers to get into their canoe and sent them ahead to the other side of the lake toward House of Fishing (Bethsaida), while he sent the crowd on their way. 46He then left them and went up by himself into the mountainside to send his voice to the Great Spirit.

  HE WALKS ON WATER

  47As the sun was setting, his followers were still in the canoe out in the middle of the lake, while Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was alone on the land. 48He could see them paddling hard against the wind. Then, early in the morning, just before sunrise, he walked out on the lake and was going to pass right past them.

  49His followers looked out in the dim light and saw him walking on the lake. Thinking he was a ghost, 50they wailed and cried out loud as fear took hold of them.

  Right away Creator Sets Free (Jesus) called out to them, “Do not fear. Take heart. It is I!”

  51He then came to them and climbed into the canoe as the wind calmed down. His followers were amazed beyond words, for their hearts were still too hard. 52Even the miracle of the frybread and fishes did not open their eyes to see who Creator Sets Free (Jesus) truly was.

  53They came to shore at the village of Chief Garden (Gennesaret) and tied their canoe to a rock. 54As soon as they got out of their canoe, the people recognized Creator Sets Free (Jesus). 55So they ran to all the nearby villages, gathered up the sick on their sleeping bundles, and brought them to Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

  56Wherever he would go—into villages, camps, or in the countryside—they would take the sick, lay them in front of the trading posts, and beg him to let them touch the fringes of his clothes. And all who touched him were healed.

  TRADITIONS MADE BY MEN

  1The Separated Ones (Pharisees) and some of the scroll keepers had come from Village of Peace (Jerusalem). Like hungry wolves they gathered around Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

  They were looking for ways to accuse him and make him look bad in the eyes of the people, for they were jealous of his reputation.

  2They noticed that some of his followers had not ceremonially washed their hands before eating the food.

  3The Separated Ones (Pharisees) and many of the tribal people will not eat until they ceremonially wash their hands, following the traditions of the elders. 4They will not eat the food offered at the trading posts unless it is first purified by washing. They also follow many other traditions, such as the washing of drinking cups, bowls, and even the benches they sit on.

  5So the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and the scroll keepers asked him, “Why do your followers not walk in the traditions of the elders and ceremonially wash their hands before eating?”

  6“Your false fa
ces do not fool me,” he answered back, “The prophet Creator Will Help Us (Isaiah) was talking about you when he said in the Sacred Teachings: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. 7Their prayers are empty words and their ceremonies are for show. Their teachings are nothing but rules made up by weak human beings.’8”

  He paused to let these words sink into their ears.

  8Then he said to them, “You ignore the instructions given by the Great Spirit and use your traditions to make yourselves look good to others. 9You are as sly as a coyote in the way you set aside Creator’s instructions and replace them with your traditions.

  10“The lawgiver Drawn from the Water (Moses) said, ‘Give honor to your father and mother,’9 and, ‘The ones who dishonor them should be put to death.’10 11But your tradition says, ‘If someone says to their father or mother, “I have given to the Great Spirit the things that were meant to honor and take care of you,” 12then they no longer have to honor and care for their parents.’ 13This is only one of the many ways you use your traditions to do away with the words of the Great Spirit.”

  WHAT MAKES ONE IMPURE?

  14Creator Sets Free (Jesus) then gathered the people around him and said, “Listen with your hearts and understand what I tell you. 15There is nothing you can take into your mouth that will make you impure. It is what comes out of your mouth that makes you impure.”11