Cost of Discipleship

Matt. 16:24–27; Luke 9:22–26

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, b“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For cwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 dFor whoever eis ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

The Transfiguration

Matt. 16:28–17:3; Luke 9:27–36

9 And He said to them, a“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see bthe kingdom of God 1present with power.”

2 cNow after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly dwhite, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

7 And a ecloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is fMy beloved Son. gHear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9 hNow as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning iwhat the rising from the dead meant.

11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say jthat Elijah must come first?”

12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And khow is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and lbe treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that mElijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

Demon-Possessed Son is Delivered

Matt. 17:14–21; Luke 9:37–42

14 nAnd when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

17 Then oone of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered him and said, “O pfaithless 2generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I 3bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And qwhen he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, r“If 4you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; shelp my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He trebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 uAnd when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but vprayer 5and fasting.”