Matthew 16:13-28; Matthew 17:1-20

13 When He arrived in the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" He asked.

14 "Some say John the Baptist," they replied; "others Elijah; others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets."

15 "But you, who do you say that I am?" He asked again.

16 "You," replied Simon Peter, "are the Christ, the Son of the ever-living God."

17 "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah," said Jesus; "for mere human nature has not revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven.

18 And I declare to you that you are Peter, and that upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the might of Hades shall not triumph over it.

19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens; and whatever you bind on earth shall remain bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall remain loosed in Heaven."

20 Then He urged His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

21 From this time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer much cruelty from the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again.

22 Then Peter took Him aside and began taking Him to task. "Master," he said, "God forbid; this will not be your lot."

23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Adversary; you are a hindrance to me, because your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's."

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.

25 For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.

26 Why, what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give to buy back his life?

27 For the Son of Man is soon to come in the glory of the Father with His angels, and then will He requite every man according to his actions.

28 I solemnly tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom."

1 Six day later, Jesus took with Him Peter and the brothers James and John, and brought them up a high mountain to a solitary place.

2 There in their presence His form underwent a change; His face shone like the sun, and His raiment became as white as the light.

3 And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him.

4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Master, we are thankful to you that we are here. If you approve, I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

5 He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them; and a voice was heard from within the cloud, which said, "This is My Son dearly beloved, in whom is My delight. Listen to Him."

6 On hearing this voice, the disciples fell on their faces and were filled with terror.

7 But Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Rouse yourselves and have no fear."

8 So they looked up, and saw no one but Jesus.

9 As they were descending the mountain, Jesus laid a command upon them. "Tell no one," He said, "of the sight you have seen till the Son of Man has risen from among the dead."

10 "Why then," asked the disciples, "do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?"

11 "Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything.

12 But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

13 Then it dawned upon the disciples that it was John the Baptist about whom He had spoken to them.

14 When they had returned to the people, there came to Him a man who fell on his knees before Him and besought Him.

15 "Sir," he said, "have pity on my son, for he is an epileptic and is very ill. Often he falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 I have brought him to your disciples, and they have not been able to cure him."

17 "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" replied Jesus; "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him to me."

18 Then Jesus reprimanded the demon, and it came out and left him; and the boy was cured from that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked Him, "Why could not we expel the demon?"

20 "Because your faith is so small," He replied; "for I solemnly declare to you that if you have faith like a mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, `Remove from this place to that,' and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.