28About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray.
29While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
30Suddenly, both Moses and Elijah were talking with him.
31They appeared in heavenly glory and were discussing Jesus' approaching death and what he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.
32Peter and the men with him were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him.
33As Moses and Elijah were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Teacher, it's good that we're here. Let's put up three tents-one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Peter didn't know what he was saying.
34While he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them. They were frightened as they went into the cloud.
35A voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!"
36After the voice had spoken, they saw that Jesus was alone. The disciples said nothing, and for some time they told no one about what they had seen.
37The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38A man in the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He's my only child. 39Whenever a spirit takes control of him, he shrieks, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. After a struggle, the spirit goes away, leaving the child worn out. 40I begged your disciples to force the spirit out of him, but they couldn't do it." 41Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!" 42While he was coming [to Jesus], the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave. He cured the boy and gave him back to his father. 43Everyone was amazed to see God's wonderful power. Everyone was amazed at all the things that Jesus was doing. So he said to his disciples, 44"Listen carefully to what I say. The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people." 45They didn't know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.
46A discussion started among them about who would be the greatest. 47Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest."
49John replied, "Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us." 50Jesus said to him, "Don't stop him! Whoever isn't against you is for you."
51The time was coming closer for Jesus to be taken to heaven. So he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay. 53But the people didn't welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54James and John, his disciples, saw this. They asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" 55But he turned and corrected them. 56So they went to another village.
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to Jesus, "I'll follow you wherever you go." 58Jesus told him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep." 59He told another man, "Follow me!" But the man said, "Sir, first let me go to bury my father." 60But Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God." 61Another said, "I'll follow you, sir, but first let me tell my family goodbye." 62Jesus said to him, "Whoever starts to plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."
