Calling together the twelve, Jesus gave them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sent them to heal and preach the kingdom of God, and He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, either staff, bag, bread, silver or have two coats apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and don’t depart. As many that may not receive you, when going out from that city shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” They left and passed through every village, preaching the gospel and curing everyone.
Herod the tetrarch heard of all these things that were done and was perplexed because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared and by others that a prophet, someone of the ancients, had risen. Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who is this that I hear so much about?” He sought to see who it was.
The apostles returned and told Him all things that they had done. He took them and withdrew to a city called Bethsaida. The crowds knew it and followed Him. He received them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those that were sick.
The day began to decline. The twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the villages and country and lodge and find food. We are here in a desert place.”
He said to them, “What do you give them to eat?” They replied, “We have not more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
There were about five thousand men. He said to His disciples, “Make them sit in table-parties of fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. All ate and were filled. There was taken up what remained of the broken pieces, twelve traveling baskets full.
As He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. He asked them, “Who do the crowd say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist. Others, Elijah. And others, a prophet, someone of the ancients, has risen.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “The Anointed One of God.”
Charging them strictly, He commanded them to tell this to no one, “The Son of man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be put to death, and rise on the third day.”
He said to all, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, pull up his stake daily and follow me. Whoever will save his life, will lose it, but whoever may lose his life for my sake, will save it. What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but destroys himself or is lost?
“Whoever will be ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he will come into his glory, that of the Father and of the holy angels.
“I tell you truly, there are some of these standing here that will not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God.”
About eight days after this, He took Peter, James, and John up into a mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was changed, and His clothing became glittering white. Moses and Elijah conversed with Him. They appeared in His glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep but keeping awake they saw His glory and the two men that stood with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here, and let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Not knowing what he said.
As he spoke these things there came a cloud and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, “This is my Son, the chosen ones, hear Him.” When the voice had passed, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent and told no one, in those days, any of the things that they had seen.
On the next day coming down from the mountain a great crowd met Him. A man cried out, “Teacher, look upon my son, for he is my only born. A spirit seizes him, suddenly cries out, convulses him so that he foams and after bruising him hardly departs from him. I requested your disciples to cast out the demon, but they were not able to.” Jesus said, “O generation faithless and perverse, how long will I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son hither.” While he was coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him.
Jesus chastised the unclean spirit restoring the child to health and gave him to his father. All were amazed at the majesty of God, but while they were wondering at all the things that He did, He said to His disciples, “Put these words into your ears. The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” They didn’t comprehend this saying, and it was concealed from them that they could not perceive it. They were afraid to ask Him concerning this.
There was a reasoning among them as to who was greatest. Jesus, knowing their hearts, took a little child and set it by Him, and said to them, “Whoever will receive this child in my name receives me. Whoever will receive me, receives Him that sent me. He that is least among you all, he is great.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone that doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him.” Jesus said, “Forbid not, for he that is not against us is for us.”
As the days of His being delivered up were near, He set His path towards Jerusalem, and sent messengers before Him. They went and entered a city of the Samaritans, so as to make ready for Him. They didn’t receive Him, because He was going to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John said, “Lord, will you command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” He turned and chastised them.
They went to another village. As they were going on the way, someone said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have dens, and the birds of the heavens have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”
He said to another, “Follow me.” The man replied, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.” He said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. Go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first permit me to take leave of those at my house.” Jesus said to him, “No one that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”