Part 12

008:019 When I broke up the five loaves for the 5,000 men, how many baskets did you carry away full of broken portions?" "Twelve," they said.

008:020 "And when the seven for the 4,000, how many hampers full of portions did you take away?" "Seven," they answered.

008:021 "Do you not yet understand?" He said.

008:022 And they came to Bethsaida. And a blind man was brought to Jesus and they entreated Him to touch him.

008:023 So He took the blind man by the arm and brought him out of the village, and spitting into his eyes He put His hands on him and asked him, "Can you see anything?"

008:024 He looked up and said, "I can see the people: I see them like trees--only walking."

008:025 Then for the second time He put His hands on the man's eyes, and the man, looking steadily, recovered his sight and saw everything distinctly.

008:026 So He sent him home, and added, "Do not even go into the village."

008:027 From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

008:028 "John the Baptist," they replied, "but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets."

008:029 Then He asked them pointedly, "But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ," answered Peter.

008:030 And He strictly forbad them to tell this about Him to any one.

008:031 And now for the first time He told them, "The Son of Man must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two days rise to life."

008:032 This He told them plainly; whereupon Peter took Him and began to remonstrate with Him.

008:033 But turning round and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Adversary," He said, "for your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's."

008:034 Then calling to Him the crowd and also His disciples, He said to them, "If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.

008:035 For whoever is bent on securing his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, will secure it.

008:036 Why, what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

008:037 For what could a man give to buy back his life?

008:038 Every one, however, who has been ashamed of me and of my teachings in this faithless and sinful age, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels."

009:001 He went on to say, "In solemn truth I tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God already come in power."

009:002 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them alone, apart from the rest, up a high mountain; and in their presence His appearance underwent a change.

009:003 His garments also became dazzling with brilliant whiteness-- such whiteness as no bleaching on earth could give.

009:004 Moreover there appeared to them Elijah accompanied by Moses; and the two were conversing with Jesus,

009:005 when Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

009:006 For he knew not what to say: they were filled with such awe.

009:007 Then there came a cloud spreading over them, and a voice issued from the cloud, "This is my Son, dearly loved: listen to Him."

009:008 Instantly they looked round, and now they could no longer see any one, but themselves and Jesus.