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1 And he said to them, “Truly I
tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see that the kingdom of God has come with
power.”
The Transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with
him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all
alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes
became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could
bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and
Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be
here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for
Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say,
they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice
came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to
him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw
anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave
them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the
Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter
to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law
say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first,
and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son
of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you,
Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they
wished, just as it is written about him.”
Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Evil Spirit
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a
large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing
with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were
overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you
my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of
speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the
ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes
rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but
they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how
long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with
you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it
immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the
ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been
like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often
thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do
anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “ ‘If you can?’” said Jesus. “Everything is possible
for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do
believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the
scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute
spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never
enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and
came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many
said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and
lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked
him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee.
Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31
because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The
Son of Man is going to be delivered over to human hands. He
will be killed, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But
they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask
him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he
asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about
who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the
servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them.
Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my
name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome
me but the one who sent me.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out
demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was
not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a
miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad
about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41
Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my
name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be
rewarded.
Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who
believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a
large millstone were hung around their neck and they were
thrown into the sea. 43 [44]If your hand causes you to
stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire
never goes out. 45 [46]And if your foot causes you to
stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47
And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is
better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than
to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where
“ ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how
can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be
at peace with each other.”
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
