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The Transfiguration

^1 (C1)Six days later Jesus took with Him ^(C2)Peter and James and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. ^(VR1)2 And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone with heavenly glory, clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.⁴ Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good and delightful and auspicious that we are here; if You wish, ^(C1)I will put up three sacred tents here—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and ^(F1)(C1)a voice from the cloud said, "^(F2)(C2)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!" ^(VR1)6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified.⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and ^(C1)do not be afraid."⁸ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

⁹ And ^(C1)as they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "^(C2)Do not tell anyone what you have seen until ^(C3)the Son of Man has been ^(C4)raised from the dead."¹⁰ The disciples asked Him, "Then why do the scribes say that ^(C1)Elijah must come first?"¹¹ He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;¹² but I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wished. ^(C1)The Son of Man is also going to suffer at their hands."¹³ Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist. ^(VR1)

The Demoniac

^14 (C1)When they approached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, kneeling before Him and saying, ^(VR1)15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a ^(C1)lunatic (moonstruck) and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.¹⁶ "And I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to heal him."¹⁷ And Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me."¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed at once.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why could we not drive it out?"²⁰ He answered, "Because of your little faith your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, ^(F1)(C1)if you have living faith the size of ^(C2)a mustard seed, you will say to ^(C3)this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and if it is God's will it will move; and ^(C4)nothing will be impossible for you. ^(VR1)21 "^(F1)[^(C1)But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]"

^22 (C1)When they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed and handed over to men who are His enemies;²³ and ^(C1)they will kill Him, and He will be raised from death to life on the third day." And they were deeply grieved and distressed.

The Tribute Money

²⁴ When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of ^(C1)the ^(F1)half-shekel temple tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay ^(C1)the half-shekel?" ^(VR1)25 Peter answered, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect ^(C1)duties or ^(C2)taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"²⁶ When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt from taxation.²⁷ "However, so that we do not ^(C1)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for you and Me."