Luke 9:7–27

Herod’s Desire to See Jesus

⁷Herod the tetrarch ^yheard about everything that was going on. ^zHe was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸some that Elijah had appeared, ^aand others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. ^b9“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about?” And he wanted to see Him. ^c

Feeding 5,000

¹⁰When the apostles returned, ^dthey reported to Jesus all that they had done. ^eHe took them along and withdrew privately to a ^ftown called Bethsaida. ^g11When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them, ^hspoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured ⁱthose who needed healing.

¹²Late in the day, ^jkthe Twelve approached and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, ^lso they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”

¹³“You give them something to eat,” He told them.

“We have no more than five loaves ^mand two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴(For about 5,000 men were there.)

Then He told His disciples, “Have them sit down ⁿin groups of about 50 each.” ¹⁵They did so, and had them all sit down. ¹⁶Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, ^oHe blessed and broke them. ^pHe kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up ^q12 baskets of leftover pieces.

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

¹⁸While He was praying in private ^rand His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

¹⁹They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.” ^st

²⁰“But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah!” ^u

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

²¹But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, ^v22saying, ^w“The ^•Son of Man ^xmust suffer many things ^yand be rejected ^zby the elders, ^•chief priests, and ^•scribes, ^abe killed, and be raised the third day.” ^b

Take Up Your Cross

²³Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with ^cMe, he must deny himself, ^dtake up his cross daily, ^eand follow Me. ^f24For whoever wants to save his ^•life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. ^g25What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? ^h26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, ⁱthe Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory ^jand that of the Father and the holy angels. ^k27I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death ^luntil they see the kingdom of God.” ^m