Luke 9:28-62

28About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

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

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

31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

32Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him.

33As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he was saying.

34While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.

35Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”

36After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.

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

38Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he’s my only child.

39A spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; severely bruising him, it scarcely ever leaves him.

40I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

41Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing, he told his disciples,

44“Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

45But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.

47But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, took a little child and had him stand next to him.

48He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you — this one is great.”

49John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”

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

51When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem.

52He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him.

53But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem.

54When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

55But he turned and rebuked them,

56and they went to another village.

57As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”

60But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”

61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”

62But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”