Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 They came to Bethsaida,u and some people brought a blind manv and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spitw on the man’s eyes and put his hands onx him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go intoa the village.”

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

8:27–29pp—Mt 16:13–16; Lk 9:18–20

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;y others say Elijah;z and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”a

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.b

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.”