Mark 8:17-38

17Jesus knew what they were talking about. So he said to them, ‘You should not be arguing about the bread. You still do not understand my teaching. You seem unable to learn.

18You are like people who have eyes but they cannot see with them. You are like people who have ears but they cannot hear with them.

19Remember that I used five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 men. How many baskets did you fill with pieces of food that were left?’ ‘There were 12 baskets,’ they replied.

20Jesus asked them, ‘I also used seven loaves to feed 4,000 people. That time, how many baskets did you fill with pieces of food?’ ‘There were seven baskets,’ they replied.

21‘You really should understand about me now,’ he said to them.

22Jesus and his disciples came to a village called Bethsaida. Some people led a blind man to Jesus. They asked Jesus to touch the man.

23Jesus took the blind man's hand and he led the man out of the village. Jesus put water from his own mouth on the man's eyes. And he put his hands on the man. ‘Can you see anything?’ Jesus asked.

24The man looked up. He said, ‘I can see people. But they look like trees that are walking about.’

25So Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes again. The man looked carefully and then his eyes were completely well. Now he could see everything clearly.

26Jesus told the man that he must go back to his home. Jesus said, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

271Then Jesus and his disciples went to visit some villages. They were near to the town of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘When people talk about me, who do they say that I am?’

28They replied, ‘Some people say that you are John the Baptist. Other people say that you are Elijah. And some other people say that you are one of God's prophets.’

29Jesus asked them, ‘But what do you think? Who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’

30Then Jesus warned his disciples that they must not tell anyone about him.

31Then Jesus began to teach his disciples about the things that must happen to the Son of Man. He would have to suffer in many ways. The important Jews, the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law would turn against him. People would kill him. But after three days, he would become alive again.

32What Jesus said was very clear. Then Peter took Jesus away from the other disciples. Peter began to tell Jesus that he must not say things like that.

33Jesus turned round and he looked at his disciples. He said that Peter was not saying good things. He said to Peter, ‘Satan, go away from me! Your thoughts do not come from God. Instead, you are thinking like men think.’

34Then Jesus asked the crowd and his disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘A person who wants to come with me must not think about himself. He must decide that his own life is not important. He must be like someone who carries his own cross to go and die. Then he may come with me as my disciple.

35Whoever wants to keep his own life safe will lose it. But whoever gives his life to serve me and God's good news will have true life.

36A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him.

37There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life.

38People who are living today do not obey God. They are very bad. But you must not be ashamed of me or of my words. If you are, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you. One day he will return and God's holy angels will be with him. He will have the bright glory of his Father. He will be ashamed of you on that day if you are ashamed of him now.’