And he called the twelve together and gave them power and
authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them
out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to
them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread,
nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you
enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not
receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your
feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went
through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he
was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been
raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by
others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John
I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he
sought to see him.
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And
he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When
the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and
spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of
healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and
said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding
villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we
are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them
something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and
two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”
For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his
disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And
they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves
and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over
them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to
set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what
was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were
with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And
they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and
others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to
them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The
Christ of God.”
And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no
one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be
rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised.”
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever
would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my
sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the
whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed
of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when
he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy
angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will
not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter
and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he
was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his
clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking
with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his
departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter
and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they
became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood
with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to
Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three
tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not
knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came
and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the
cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son,
my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus
was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days
anything of what they had seen.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a
great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out,
“Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And
behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It
convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and
will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out,
but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted
generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring
your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the
ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and
healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were
astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing,
Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears:
The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But
they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from
them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to
ask him about this saying.
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the
greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a
child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives
this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives
him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who
is great.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your
name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with
us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is
not against you is for you.”
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face
to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went
and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for
him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set
toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it,
they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from
heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they
went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will
follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he
said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to
him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and
proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you,
Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus
said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God.”
