Luke 9:7-62

71Now 2Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that 3John had risen from the dead, 8and by some that 4Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. 9Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And 5he kept trying to see Him.

106When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. 7Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called 8Bethsaida. 11But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

12Now the day 9was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get 10something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” 13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14(For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them 11sit down to eat 12in groups of about fifty each.” 15They did so, and had them all 13sit down. 16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the 14people. 17And they all ate and were satisfied; and 15the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve 16baskets full.

1817And it happened that while He was 18praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the 19people say that I am?” 19They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “20The 21Christ of God.” 21But He 2223warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 2224saying, “25The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

23And He was saying to them all, “26If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For 27whoever wishes to save his 28life will lose it, but whoever loses his 29life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and 30loses or forfeits himself? 2631For whoever is ashamed 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 Father and of the holy angels. 27But I say to you truthfully, 32there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

2833Some eight days after these sayings, He took along 34Peter and John and James, and 35went up on the mountain 36to pray. 29And while He was 37praying, the appearance of His face 38became different, and His clothing became white and 39gleaming. 30And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31who, appearing in 40glory, were speaking of His 41departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions 42had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33And as 43these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “44Master, it is good for us to be here; 45let us make three 46tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”--47not realizing what he was saying. 34While he was saying this, a cloud 48formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35Then 49a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “50This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36And when the voice 51had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And 52they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

3753On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my 54only boy, 39and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. 40I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” 41And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42While he was still approaching, the demon 55slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43And they were all amazed at the 5657greatness of God.

58But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears; 59for the Son of Man is going to be 60delivered into the hands of men.” 45But 61they 62did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

4663An argument 64started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47But Jesus, 65knowing 66what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48and said to them, “67Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; 68for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

4969John answered and said, “70Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; 71for he who is not against you is 72for you.”

51When the days were approaching for 73His 74ascension, He 75was determined 76to go to Jerusalem; 52and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the 77Samaritans to 78make arrangements for Him. 53But they did not receive Him, 79because 80He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54When His disciples 81James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to 82command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But He turned and rebuked them, [83and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

5784As they were going along the road, 85someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the 86air have 87nests, but 88the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59And He said to another, “89Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and 90proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but 91first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62But Jesus said to him, “92No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”