Study Desk

About eight days after these words,^(an) He took along Peter, John, and James^(ao) and went up on the mountain to pray.^(ap)

As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed,^(aq) and His clothes became dazzling white.^(ar)

Suddenly, two men were talking with Him—Moses and Elijah.

They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death,^[j] which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep,^[k](as) and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.

As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master,^(at) it's good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said.^(au)

While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed^(av) them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.

Then a voice came from the cloud,^(aw) saying: This is My Son,^(ax) the Chosen One;^[l](ay) listen to Him!^(az)

After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.

The next day,^(ba) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

Just then a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he's my only child.^(bb)

Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth;^[m] wounding^[n] him, it hardly ever leaves him.

I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."^(bc)

Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious^[o] generation!^(bd) How long will I be with you and put up with you?^(be) Bring your son here."

As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy,^(bf) and gave him back to his father.^(bg)

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.^(bh) While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing,^(bi) He told His disciples,

"Let these words sink in:^[p] The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." ^(bj)

But they did not understand this statement;^(bk) it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it,^(bl) and they were afraid to ask Him about it.^[q]

Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them.^(bm)

But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts,^(bn) took a little child and had him stand next to Him.

He told them, "Whoever welcomes^[r] this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.^(bo) For whoever is least among you—this one is great." ^(bp)

John responded,^(bq) "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name,^(br) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us."^(bs)

"Don't stop him," Jesus told him, "because whoever is not against you is for you." ^[s](bt)

When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up,^[t](bu) He determined^[u](bv) to journey to Jerusalem.^(bw)

He sent messengers ahead of Him,^(bx) and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans^(by) to make preparations for Him.

But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.^(bz)

When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"^[v](ca)

But He turned and rebuked them,^[w]

and they went to another village.

As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him,^(cb) "I will follow You wherever You go!"

Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky^[x] have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."

Then He said to another, "Follow Me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father."^[y]

But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." ^(cc)

Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house."^(cd)

But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."