耶穌繼續說:「我實在告訴你們,有些站在這裡的人會在有生之年看見上帝的國帶著能力降臨。」

登山變象

六天後,耶穌帶著彼得、雅各和約翰暗暗地登上一座高山。耶穌在他們面前改變了形像, 衣服變得潔白放光,世上找不到漂得那麼白的布。 這時,以利亞和摩西在他們眼前出現,與耶穌談話。 彼得對耶穌說:「老師,我們在這裡真好!我們搭三座帳篷吧,一座給你,一座給摩西,一座給以利亞。」

其實彼得當時不知說什麼才好,因為他們都很害怕。 就在這時候,有一朵雲彩飄來遮住他們,雲彩中有聲音說:「這是我的愛子,你們要聽從祂。」 門徒立刻四處觀看,發現沒有其他人,只有耶穌和他們在那裡。

下山的時候,耶穌叮囑他們在人子還沒有從死裡復活之前,不要把剛才看見的告訴別人。

10 門徒把這話謹記在心,彼此議論「從死裡復活」這句話的意思。 11 他們問耶穌:「律法教師為什麼說以利亞必須先來?」

12 耶穌回答說:「以利亞固然要先來復興一切,但為什麼聖經上說人子一定會飽受痛苦、遭人蔑視呢? 13 其實我告訴你們,以利亞已經來了,人們卻任意對待他,正如聖經的記載。」

治好污鬼附身的孩子

14 他們與其他門徒會合時,看見一大群人圍住門徒,幾個律法教師正在跟他們辯論。 15 大家一看到耶穌,都十分驚奇,立刻跑上去迎接祂。 16 耶穌問門徒:「你們跟他們辯論什麼?」

17 人群中有一個人說:「老師,我帶了我的兒子來找你,因為他被啞巴鬼附身。 18 每次鬼控制他,把他摔在地上,他就口吐白沫,咬牙切齒,全身僵硬。我請你的門徒趕走那鬼,他們卻辦不到。」

19 耶穌說:「唉,這不信的世代啊!我要跟你們在一起待多久,容忍你們多久呢?把他帶到我這裡吧。」

20 他們把那孩子帶到耶穌面前。那鬼一見耶穌,就使孩子抽搐,倒在地上打滾,口吐白沫。 21 耶穌問孩子的父親:「他這樣子多久了?」孩子的父親回答道:「他從小就這樣, 22 鬼常常將他扔進火裡或水裡,要害他的命。如果你能,求你憐憫我們,幫助我們吧!」

23 耶穌說:「如果你能?對於相信的人,凡事都有可能!」

24 孩子的父親立刻喊著說:「我信!但我信心不足,求你幫助我!」

25 耶穌看見人群都跑了過來,就斥責那污鬼:「你這個聾啞鬼,我命令你從他身上出來,不許再進去!」

26 那鬼發出喊叫,使孩子劇烈地抽搐了一陣,就出來了。孩子躺在地上一動也不動,大家都以為他死了。 27 但耶穌拉著他的手扶他起來,他就站了起來。

28 耶穌進屋後,門徒悄悄問祂:「我們為什麼趕不走那鬼呢?」

29 耶穌說:「要趕走這類鬼只有靠禱告[a]。」

再次預言受難

30 他們離開那裡,途經加利利。耶穌不想任何人知道祂的行蹤, 31 因為祂在教導門徒。祂說:「人子將被交在人的手中,被他們殺害,但三天之後,祂必復活。」 32 門徒卻不明白這句話的意思,又不敢問祂。

誰最偉大

33 他們回到迦百農的住所,耶穌問門徒:「你們一路上爭論些什麼?」

34 他們都沉默不語,因為剛才他們在爭論誰最偉大。 35 耶穌坐下,叫十二個門徒過來,對他們說:「誰想為首,就該在眾人中做最小的,作眾人的僕人。」 36 祂領了一個小孩子來,叫他站在門徒中間,又抱起他,對他們說: 37 「任何人為我的緣故接待這樣一個小孩子,就是接待我;凡接待我的,不單是接待我,也是接待差我來的那位。」

警戒犯罪

38 約翰對耶穌說:「老師,我們看見有人奉你的名趕鬼,就阻止他,因為他不是跟從我們的。」

39 耶穌說:「不要阻止他,因為沒有人奉我的名行過神蹟後,會很快毀謗我。 40 不反對我們的,就是支持我們的。 41 我實在告訴你們,若有人因為你們屬於基督而給你們一杯水喝,他也必得到賞賜。

42 「但若有人使這樣一個小信徒失足犯罪,他的下場比把大磨石掛在他脖子上扔到海裡還要慘。 43 如果你一隻手使你犯罪,就砍掉它! 44 拖著殘廢的身體進入永生,勝過雙手健全卻落入地獄不滅的火中。 45 倘若你一隻腳使你犯罪,就砍掉它!瘸著腿進入永生, 46 勝過雙腳健全卻被丟進地獄! 47 如果你的一隻眼睛使你犯罪,就剜掉它!獨眼進上帝的國,勝過雙目健全卻被丟進地獄。 48 在那裡,

『蟲是不死的,
火是不滅的。』

49 「每個人都要被火煉,像被鹽醃一樣。 50 鹽是好東西,但如果失去鹹味,怎能使它再鹹呢?你們裡面要有鹽,要彼此和睦。」

Footnotes

  1. 9·29 禱告」有古卷作「禱告和禁食」。

Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth. Some people are standing here who will not die before they see the kingdom of God come with power.'

Six days after this, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. He led them up a hill by themselves. Jesus was changed in front of them.

His clothes were white like light. No person on earth could make them so white.

Then they saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus, `Master, this is a good place for us. We will make three places, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'

Peter did not know what to say because they were very much afraid.

Then a cloud came over them. A voice in the cloud said, `This is my dear Son. Listen to him.'

They quickly looked around but they saw no one except Jesus there with them.

When they came down the hill, Jesus said to them, `Do not tell anyone what you saw. Do not tell it until after the Son of Man has been raised from death.'

10 So they kept these things to themselves, asking each other what he meant about rising from death.

11 Then they asked Jesus, `Why do the scribes [who know all about the holy writings] say that first Elijah must come?'

12 He said, `Elijah does come first. He will get everything ready. But why do the holy writings say that the Son of Man must have much trouble? They say, "He will have much trouble and the people will not respect him."

13 I tell you that Elijah has come. The people did to him just what they wanted to do. They did just as it is written about him.'

14 When they came to the disciples, they saw many people around them. Some scribes were talking with the disciples.

15 The people were all very much surprised when they saw Jesus. They ran to him and greeted him.

16 Jesus asked his disciples, `What are you talking about with them?'

17 One of the people said, `Teacher, I brought my son to you. A bad spirit is in him so he cannot talk.

18 Wherever it takes hold of him, it throws him around. It makes him foam at his mouth. It makes him make noises with his teeth. He is getting weak and thin. I asked your disciples to drive the bad spirit out, but they could not do it.'

19 Jesus said, `You people today do not believe. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.'

20 So they brought the boy to him. As soon as the bad spirit saw him, he threw the boy around. The boy fell on the ground and rolled around. Foam was coming from his mouth.

21 Jesus asked the father, `How long has he had this spirit?' He answered, `Since he was a child.

22 Often it has thrown him in the fire and in the water. It has tried to kill him. If you can do anything for him, show us that you share our suffering by helping us.'

23 Jesus said to him, `You say, "If you can." Anything can be done for the person who believes.'

24 Right away the father of the child, with tears in his eyes, said loudly, `I do believe! Help me to believe more!'

25 Jesus saw many people come running together. He talked to the bad spirit: `You bad spirit who stops the boy from hearing and talking! I tell you, come out of him and do not go into him again!'

26 The bad spirit screamed and threw the boy around. Then it came out of him and left him like a dead person. Many of the people even said, `The boy is dead.'

27 But Jesus took his hand and helped him to get up. The boy stood up.

28 Jesus went into the house. His disciples were alone with him. They asked him, `Why could we not drive out the bad spirit?'

29 Jesus said to them, `This kind of bad spirit does not come out unless people talk to God and fast.'

30 Then they left that place and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it.

31 He taught his disciples. He said to them, `The Son of Man will be given over to men. They will kill him. When he is killed, he will rise after three days.'

32 The disciples did not understand what he said and they were afraid to ask him.

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked the disciples, `What were you talking about on the way coming?'

34 But they said nothing, because on the road they had been talking among themselves about who was the greatest person.

35 He sat down and called the twelve disciples to him. He said, `The way to be first is to put yourself last and be a servant to the others.'

36 Jesus took a child and had him stand in front of them. Then he took the child in his arms and said,

37 `If anyone takes in a child like this for my sake, he takes in me. If anyone takes in me, he takes in the One who sent me.'

38 John said to him, `Master, we saw a man driving bad spirits out of people. He was using your name, but he is not one of us. So we told him to stop because he is not one of us.'

39 Jesus said, `Do not stop him. Anyone who can do a great work in my name will not be quick to say wrong things about me.

40 He that is not against us is on our side.

41 `I tell you the truth. If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, he will not lose his reward'

42 `These little children believe in me. If anyone makes one of them do wrong, he will be punished. He will have worse trouble than if a big stone were tied to his neck and he were thrown into the deep sea.

43 If your hand makes you do wrong, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell. Hell fire never dies.

44 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.

45 If your foot makes you do wrong, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Hell fire never dies.

46 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.

47 If your eye makes you do wrong, take it out. It is better for you to go into God's kingdom with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

48 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.

49 Everyone must be tested by fire. Every sacrifice must have salt on it.

50 Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? You must have salt in yourselves and live in peace with one another.'