Chapter 9

1Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal diseases.

2He sent them out to announce God’s reign and to heal the sick.

3He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, travel bag, food, money, or second shirt.

4Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.

5If people will not welcome you, leave their town and shake its dust from your feet as public evidence that they rejected your message.”

6So they set out and traveled from village to village, announcing the good news and healing people everywhere.

7Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything that was happening. He was confused because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead.

8Others said that Elijah had appeared, while still others said that one of the ancient prophets had risen.

9Herod said, “I had John beheaded. So who is this man I hear such things about?” He kept trying to see Jesus.

10When the twelve messengers returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

11But the crowds learned where he had gone and followed him. Jesus welcomed them, spoke to them about God’s reign, and healed those who needed treatment.

12As the day began to end, the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and somewhere to stay. We are in a remote place here.”

13But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14There were about five thousand men there. Jesus told his followers, “Have the people sit down in groups of about fifty.”

15They did so and had everyone sit down.

16Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up toward heaven, and gave thanks for them. Then he broke them into pieces and kept giving them to his followers to serve to the crowd.

17Everyone ate and had enough. Afterward, the followers collected twelve baskets of leftover pieces.

18Once, while Jesus was praying away from the crowd, his followers were with him. He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19They answered, “Some say John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah, and others say that one of the ancient prophets has risen.”

20Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah, the one he has chosen and appointed.”

21Jesus firmly warned them and ordered them not to tell anyone this.

22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He must be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law, then be killed and raised on the third day.”

23Then Jesus said to everyone, “If anyone wants to follow me, that person must give up the right to live for themselves, take up their cross each day, and follow me.

24Whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life because of me will save it.

25What good does it do to gain the whole world but lose or ruin yourself?

26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his own radiant majesty and in the majesty of the Father and the holy angels.

27I tell you the truth: some standing here will not die before they see God’s kingdom.”

28About eight days after saying these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray.

29While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white.

30Suddenly, two men were talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah.

31They appeared in radiant splendor and spoke about the departure Jesus was about to bring to completion in Jerusalem.

32Peter and the others with him were weighed down with sleep. But when they became fully awake, they saw Jesus’ radiant splendor and the two men standing with him.

33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter did not realize what he was saying.

34While Peter was speaking, a cloud formed and covered them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.

35Then a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, the one I have chosen. Listen to him!”

36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The followers kept silent and, at that time, told no one anything they had seen.

37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.

38A man in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He is my only child.

39The father continued, “A spirit suddenly seizes him, and he screams. It throws him into violent convulsions until he foams at the mouth. It scarcely leaves him and keeps crushing him.

40I begged your followers to drive it out, but they could not.”

41Jesus answered, “You faithless and twisted generation! How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42Even while the boy was approaching, the demon threw him down and sent him into violent convulsions. But Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave, healed the boy, and returned him to his father.

43Everyone was amazed at God’s greatness. While they were all marveling at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his followers,

44“Listen carefully and remember what I am telling you: the Son of Man is about to be handed over into human hands.”

45But they did not understand what he meant. Its meaning was hidden from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46Then an argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest.

47Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a child and had the child stand beside him.

48He told them, “Whoever welcomes this child because of me welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The person who makes themselves least among all of you is the one who is truly great.”

49John said, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow you together with us.”

50Jesus told him, “Do not stop him, because whoever is not against you is for you.”

51As the time approached for Jesus to be taken up, he firmly resolved to go to Jerusalem.

52He sent messengers ahead of him. They entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.

53But the people there would not welcome him because he was traveling toward Jerusalem.

54When James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?”

55But Jesus turned and corrected them sharply.

56Then they went to another village.

57As they traveled along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

59Jesus said to another person, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you must go and announce God’s reign.”

61Another person said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.”

62Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and keeps looking back is fit to serve in God’s kingdom.”