Luke 9:18-29

18Now it happened that as Jesus was praying privately, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19They answered, “John the Baptist, and some say, Elijah; but others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.”

20And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “The Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God!”

21But He strictly warned and admonished them not to tell this to anyone,

22saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be put to death, and on the third day be raised up [from death to life].”

23And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

24For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].

25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], and loses or forfeits himself?

26For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly] Father and of the holy angels.

27But I tell you truthfully, there are some among those standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

28Now about eight days after these teachings, He took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29As He was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning.