Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

^7 (A)Now ^(B)Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that ^(C)John had been raised from the dead, ^8 (D)by some that Elijah had appeared, and ^(E)by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. ⁹ Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And ^(F)he sought to see him.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

^18 (A)Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹ And they answered, ^(B)“John the Baptist. But others say, ^(C)Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” ²⁰ Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, ^(D)“The Christ of God.”

Jesus Foretells His Death

^21 (E)And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, ^22 (F)saying, ^(G)“The Son of Man must ^(H)suffer many things and ^(I)be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on ^(J)the third day be raised.”

¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (A)He is the image of ^(B)the invisible God, ^(C)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[a] him all things were created, ^(D)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(E)thrones or ^(F)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(G)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(H)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(I)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(J)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(K)the beginning, ^(L)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(M)in him all the ^(N)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(O)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(P)making peace ^(Q)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (R)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(S)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(T)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(U)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(V)above reproach before him, ^23 (W)if indeed you continue in the faith, ^(X)stable and steadfast, not shifting from ^(Y)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed ^(Z)in all creation^[b] under heaven, ^(AA)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross ^(C)daily and follow me. ²⁴ For ^(D)whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ^25 (E)For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For ^(F)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed ^(G)when he comes in ^(H)his glory and the glory of the Father and of ^(I)the holy angels. ²⁷ But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not ^(J)taste death ^(K)until they see the kingdom of God.”