281Someeightdaysafterthesesayings, He tookalong2Peter and John and James, and 3went up on the mountain4to pray.
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And while He was 5praying, the appearance of His face6becamedifferent, 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 7departurewhich He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
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NowPeter and his companions*8had 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, "9Master, it is good for us to be here; 10let us makethreetabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah "-11not 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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Then12a voicecame out of the cloud, saying, "13This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"
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And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was foundalone. And 14they keptsilent, and reported to noone in thosedaysany of the things which they had seen.
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15On 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 16greatness of God. 17But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,
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"Let thesewordssink into your ears; 18for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men."
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But 19they 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
4620An argumentstartedamong them as to which of them might be the greatest.
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But Jesus, 21knowingwhat they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,
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and said to them, "22Whoever*receivesthischild in My namereceives Me, and whoever*receives Me receives Him who sent Me; 23for the one who is leastamongall of you, this is the one who is great."
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24Johnanswered and said, "25Master, 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; 26for he who is not against you is for you."
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When the days were approaching for 27His ascension, He was determined28to go to Jerusalem;
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and He sentmessengers on ahead* of Him, and they went and entered a village of the 29Samaritans to makearrangements for Him.
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But they did not receive Him, 30because He was travelingtowardJerusalem.
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When His disciples31James and Johnsaw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to 32commandfire to comedown from heaven and consume them?"
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But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not knowwhatkind of spirit you are of;
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for the Son of Man did not come to destroymen'slives, but to save them."] And they went on to anothervillage.
Exacting Discipleship
5733As they were goingalong the road, 34someonesaid to Him, "I will follow You wherever* You go."
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And Jesussaid to him, "The foxeshaveholes and the birds of the air have nests, but 35the Son of Manhasnowhere* to lay His head."
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And He said to another, "36Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."
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But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their owndead; but as for you, go and 37proclaimeverywhere the kingdom of God."
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Anotheralsosaid, "I will follow You, Lord; but 38firstpermit me to saygood-bye to those at home."
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But Jesussaid to him, "39Noone, after putting his hand to the plow and lookingback, is fit for the kingdom of God."