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1And it happened that while He was 2prayingalone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the peoplesay that I am?"
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They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risenagain."
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And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peteranswered and said, "3The Christ of God."
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But He 4warned them and instructed them not to tellthis to anyone,
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5saying, "6The Son of Manmustsuffermanythings and be rejected by the elders and chiefpriests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the thirdday."
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And He was saying to them all, "7Ifanyonewishes to comeafter Me, he must denyhimself, and take up his crossdaily* and follow Me.
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"For 8whoever*wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever*loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
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"For what is a manprofited if he gains the wholeworld, and 9losesorforfeitshimself?
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"10For whoever* is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holyangels.
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"But I say to you truthfully, 11there are some of thosestandingherewho will not tastedeathuntil they see the kingdom of God."
The Transfiguration
2812Someeightdaysafterthesesayings, He tookalong13Peter and John and James, and 14went up on the mountain15to pray.
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And while He was 16praying, the appearance of His face17becamedifferent, and His clothing became white and gleaming.
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And behold, twomen were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,
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who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His 18departurewhich He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
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NowPeter and his companions*19had beenovercome with sleep; but when they were fullyawake, they saw His glory and the twomenstanding with Him.
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And as these were leaving Him, Petersaid to Jesus, "20Master, it is good for us to be here; 21let us makethreetabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah "-22not realizingwhat he was saying.
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While he was sayingthis, a cloudformed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
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Then23a voicecame out of the cloud, saying, "24This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"
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And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was foundalone. And 25they keptsilent, and reported to noone in thosedaysany of the things which they had seen.
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26On the nextday, when they camedown from the mountain, a largecrowdmet Him.
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And a man from the crowdshouted, saying, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy,
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and a spiritseizes him, and he suddenlyscreams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.
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"I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not."
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And Jesusanswered and said, "You unbelieving and pervertedgeneration, howlong* shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your sonhere."
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While he was stillapproaching, the demonslammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesusrebuked the uncleanspirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
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And they were allamazed at the 27greatness of God. 28But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,
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"Let thesewordssink into your ears; 29for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men."
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But 30they did not understandthisstatement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him aboutthisstatement.
The Test of Greatness
4631An argumentstartedamong them as to which of them might be the greatest.
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But Jesus, 32knowingwhat they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,
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and said to them, "33Whoever*receivesthischild in My namereceives Me, and whoever*receives Me receives Him who sent Me; 34for the one who is leastamongall of you, this is the one who is great."
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35Johnanswered and said, "36Master, we sawsomeonecasting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us."
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But Jesussaid to him, "Do not hinder him; 37for he who is not against you is for you."