46
Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest.
47
But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.
48
Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”
49
John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”
50
But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”
51
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
52
He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.
53
But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.
54
When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up ?”
[c].
Some manuscripts add an expanded conclusion to verse 55 and an additional sentence in verse 56: And he said, “You don’t realize what your hearts are like. For the Son of Man has not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.”