Luke 9

The Twelve Are Sent

1Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases. 2He sent them to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal. 3He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, bag, bread, or money, and do not have two tunics. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that place. 5Wherever people do not welcome you, leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6They went out through the villages, announcing good news and healing everywhere. 7Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening and was perplexed because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8others that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 9Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

10When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately toward a town called Bethsaida. 11But the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about God’s kingdom, and healed those who needed healing. 12The day began to decline. The twelve came and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and food, because we are here in a deserted place.” 13But he said, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have only five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14There were about five thousand men. Jesus told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” 15They did so and had everyone sit down. 16Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17Everyone ate and was satisfied, and twelve baskets of broken pieces were collected from what remained.

Peter’s Confession and the Cross

18Once, while Jesus was praying alone and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19They answered, “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20He asked them, “But you—who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Christ.” 21Jesus strictly warned them and commanded them to tell this to no one. 22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23He said to everyone, “If anyone wants to come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life because of me will save it. 25What does it benefit a person to gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves? 26Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27But truly I tell you, some standing here will certainly not taste death before they see God’s kingdom.”

The Transfiguration

28About eight days after these sayings, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30Look—two men were talking with him: Moses and Elijah. 31Appearing in glory, they were speaking about his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what he was saying. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him!” 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent and told no one in those days anything they had seen.

A Boy Is Healed

37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38Look—a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he is my only child. 39Look—a spirit seizes him, and suddenly he cries out. It convulses him so that he foams, and it barely leaves him after crushing him. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41Jesus answered, “Faithless and twisted generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42While the boy was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43Everyone was astonished at God’s greatness. While everyone was marveling at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be handed over into human hands.” 45But they did not understand this saying. It was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Greatness and the Road to Jerusalem

46An argument arose among the disciples about which of them might be greatest. 47Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and stood the child beside him. 48He said, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you—this one is great.” 49John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.” 50Jesus said, “Do not stop him, because whoever is not against you is for you.” 51When the days were approaching for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52He sent messengers ahead of him. They entered a Samaritan village to prepare for him, 53but the people did not welcome him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went to another village. 57As they were traveling along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58Jesus said, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59He said to another, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first allow me to go and bury my father.” 60Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim God’s kingdom.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say goodbye to those in my house.” 62Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.”