Jesus Predicts His Death

8:31–9:1pp—Mt 16:21–28; Lk 9:22–27

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Manc must suffer many thingsd and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,e and that he must be killedf and after three daysg rise again.h 32 He spoke plainlyi about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!”j he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.k 35 For whoever wants to save their lifeb will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.l 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Manm will be ashamed of themn when he comeso in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

9 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has comep with power.”q

The Transfiguration

9:2–8pp—Lk 9:28–36
9:2–13pp—Mt 17:1–13

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and Johnr with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white,s whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,t it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:u “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”v

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyonew what they had seen until the Son of Manx had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Many must suffer muchz and be rejected?a 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come,b and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit

9:14–28; 30–32pp—Mt 17:14–19; 22,23; Lk 9:37–45

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.c

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”d

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene,e he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,f “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.a”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

9:33–37pp—Mt 18:1–5; Lk 9:46–48

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Mang is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,h and after three daysi he will rise.”j 32 But they did not understand what he meantk and were afraid to ask him about it.

33 They came to Capernaum.l When he was in the house,m he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.n

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”o

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,p he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”q

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

9:38–40pp—Lk 9:49,50

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”r

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.s 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.t

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,u it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.v 43 If your hand causes you to stumble,w cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,x where the fire never goes out.y [44]b 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble,z cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.a [46]c 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble,b pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,c 48 where

“ ‘the worms that eat them do not die,

and the fire is not quenched.’d d

49 Everyone will be saltede with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?f Have salt among yourselves,g and be at peace with each other.”h

Divorce

10:1–12pp—Mt 19:1–9

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan.i Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.j

2 Some Phariseesk came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”l

5 “It was because your hearts were hardm that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’a n 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,b 8 and the two will become one flesh.’c o So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.p 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”q

The Little Children and Jesus

10:13–16pp—Mt 19:13–15; Lk 18:15–17

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.r 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”s 16 And he took the children in his arms,t placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

10:17–31pp—Mt 19:16–30; Lk 18:18–30

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his kneesu before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”v

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’d”w

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,x and you will have treasure in heaven.y Then come, follow me.”z

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the richa to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it ise to enter the kingdom of God!b 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”c

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then