9 Jesus said to them, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Some who are standing here will not die before they see God’s kingdom coming with power.”

Jesus’ Appearance Is Changed

2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him. He led them up a high mountain. They were all alone. There in front of them his appearance was changed. 3His clothes became so white they shone. They were whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4Elijah and Moses appeared in front of Jesus and his disciples. The two of them were talking with Jesus.

5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6Peter didn’t really know what to say, because they were so afraid.

7Then a cloud appeared and surrounded them. A voice came from the cloud. It said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him!”

8They looked around. Suddenly they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9They came down the mountain. On the way down, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. He told them to wait until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves. But they asked each other what “rising from the dead” meant.

11Then they asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?”

12Jesus replied, “That’s right. Elijah does come first. He makes all things new again. So why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and not be accepted? 13I tell you, Elijah has come. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. They did it just as it is written about him.”

Jesus Heals a Boy Who Had an Evil Spirit

14When Jesus and those who were with him came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with them. 15When all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with wonder. And they ran to greet him.

16“What are you arguing with them about?” Jesus asked.

17A man in the crowd answered. “Teacher,” he said, “I brought you my son. He is controlled by a spirit. Because of this, my son can’t speak anymore. 18When the spirit takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth. He grinds his teeth. And his body becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit. But they couldn’t do it.”

19“You unbelieving people!” Jesus replied. “How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20So they brought him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a fit. He fell to the ground. He rolled around and foamed at the mouth.

21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“Since he was a child,” he answered. 22“The spirit has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us. Please help us.”

23“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

24Right away the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”

25Jesus saw that a crowd was running over to see what was happening. Then he ordered the evil spirit to leave the boy. “You spirit that makes him unable to hear and speak!” he said. “I command you, come out of him. Never enter him again.”

26The spirit screamed. It shook the boy wildly. Then it came out of him. The boy looked so lifeless that many people said, “He’s dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand. He lifted the boy to his feet, and the boy stood up.

28Jesus went indoors. Then his disciples asked him in private, “Why couldn’t we drive out the evil spirit?”

29He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

30They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were. 31That was because he was teaching his disciples.

He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. They will kill him. After three days he will rise from the dead.” 32But they didn’t understand what he meant. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

Who Is the Most Important Person?

33Jesus and his disciples came to a house in Capernaum. There he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34But they kept quiet. On the way, they had argued about which one of them was the most important person.

35Jesus sat down and called for the Twelve to come to him. Then he said, “If you want to be first, you must be the very last. You must be the servant of everyone.”

36Jesus took a little child and had the child stand among them. Then he took the child in his arms. He said to them, 37“Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me doesn’t welcome only me but also the One who sent me.”

Anyone Who Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me. 40Anyone who is not against us is for us.

41“What I’m about to tell you is true. Suppose someone gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to me. That one will certainly not go without a reward.

Leading People to Sin

42“What if someone leads one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If he does, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

43/44“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one hand than to go into hell with two hands. In hell the fire never goes out.

45/46“If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

47“If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48In hell,

“ ‘The worms do not die.

The fire is not put out.’ (Isaiah 66:24)

49Everyone will be salted with fire.

50“Salt is good. But suppose it loses its saltiness. How can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves. And be at peace with each other.”

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

10 Jesus left that place and went into the area of Judea and across the Jordan River. Again crowds of people came to him. As usual, he taught them.

2Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?”

3“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send her away.”

5“You were stubborn. That’s why Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6“But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ (Genesis 1:27) 7‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. 8The two of them will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one. 9So a man must not separate what God has joined together.”

10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.

11He answered, “What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her. 12And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery.”

Little Children Are Brought to Jesus

13People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.

14When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 15What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”

16Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus and the Rich Young Man

17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him. He fell on his knees before Jesus. “Good teacher,” he said, “what must I do to receive eternal life?”

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God. 19You know what the commandments say. ‘Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’ ” (Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20)

20“Teacher,” he said, “I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy.”

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “You are missing one thing,” he said. “Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

22The man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he was very rich.

23Jesus looked around. He said to his disciples, “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom!”

24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter God’s kingdom! 25Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for the rich to enter God’s kingdom!”

26The disciples were even more amazed. They said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, that is impossible. But not with God. All things are possible with God.”

28Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus replied. “Has anyone left home or family or fields for me and the good news? 30They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever. 31But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first.”

Jesus Again Tells About His Coming Death

32They were on their way up to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the way. The disciples were amazed. Those who followed were afraid.

Again Jesus took the Twelve to one side. He told them what was going to happen to him. 33“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said. “The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jews. 34The people will make fun of him and spit on him. They will whip him and kill him. Three days later he will rise from the dead!”

James and John Ask a Favor of Jesus

35James and John came to Jesus. They were the sons of Zebedee. “Teacher,” they said, “we would like to ask a favor of you.”

36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right hand in your glorious kingdom. Let the other one sit at your left hand.”

38“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup of suffering I drink? Or can you go through the baptism of suffering I must go through?”

39“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink. And you will go through the baptism I go through. 40But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to those they are prepared for.”

41The other ten disciples heard about it. They became angry at James and John.

42Jesus called them together. He said, “You know about those who are rulers of the nations. They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around. 43Don’t be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. 44And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone. 45Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.”

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

46Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. They were leaving the city. A large crowd was with them.

A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. His name was Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus means Son of Timaeus. 47He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. So he began to shout, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

48Many people commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call for him.”

So they called out to the blind man, “Cheer up! Get up on your feet! Jesus is calling for you.”

50He threw his coat to one side. Then he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to be able to see.”

52“Go,” said Jesus. “Your faith has healed you.”

Right away he could see. And he followed Jesus along the road.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

11 As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two of his disciples. 2He said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Just as you enter it, you will find a donkey’s colt tied there. No one has ever ridden it. Untie it and bring it here. 3Someone may ask you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ If so, say, ‘The Lord needs it. But he will send it back here soon.’ ”

4So they left. They found a colt out in the street. It was tied at a doorway. They untied it. 5Some people standing there asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?” 6They answered as Jesus had told them to. So the people let them go.

7They brought the colt to Jesus. They threw their coats over it. Then he sat on it.

8Many people spread their coats on the road. Others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those in front and those in back shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:25, 26)

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything. But it was already late. So he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Clears the Temple

12The next day as Jesus and his disciples were leaving Bethany, they were hungry. 13Not too far away, he saw a fig tree. It was covered with leaves. He went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves. It was not the season for figs.

14Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard him say it.

15When Jesus reached Jerusalem, he entered the temple area. He began chasing out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. 16He would not allow anyone to carry items for sale through the temple courtyards.

17Then he taught them. He told them, “It is written that the Lord said,

“ ‘My house will be called

a house where people from all nations can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7)

But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11)

18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard about this. They began looking for a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19When evening came, Jesus and his disciples left the city.

The Dried-up Fig Tree

20In the morning as Jesus and his disciples walked along, they saw the fig tree. It was dried up all the way down to the roots.

21Peter remembered. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you put a curse on has dried up!”

22“Have faith in God,” Jesus said. 23“What I’m about to tell you is true. Suppose one of you says to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea.’ You must not doubt in your heart. You must believe that what you say will happen. Then it will be done for you.

24“So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours. 25/26And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.”

The Authority of Jesus Is Questioned

27Jesus and his disciples arrived again in Jerusalem. He was walking in the temple courtyards. Then the chief priests came to him. The teachers of the law and the elders came too.

28“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “Who gave you authority to do this?”

29Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30Was John’s baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men? Tell me!”

31They talked to each other about it. They said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32But what if we say, ‘From men’?” They were afraid of the people. Everyone believed that John really was a prophet.

33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things either.”