Mark 8:22-38

Good News Translation

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

²²They came to Bethsaida, where some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him. ²³Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. After spitting on the man's eyes, Jesus placed his hands on him and asked him, “Can you see anything?”

²⁴The man looked up and said, “Yes, I can see people, but they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵Jesus again placed his hands on the man's eyes. This time the man looked intently, his eyesight returned, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶Jesus then sent him home with the order, “Don't go back into the village.”

Peter's Declaration about Jesus^(A)

²⁷Then Jesus and his disciples went away to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Tell me, who do people say I am?”

²⁸^(B)“Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.”

²⁹^(C)“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.”

Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death^(D)

³¹Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life.” ³²He made this very clear to them. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But Jesus turned around, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter. “Get away from me, Satan,” he said. “Your thoughts don't come from God but from human nature!”

³⁴^(E)Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If any of you want to come with me,” he told them, “you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. ³⁵^(F)For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it. ³⁶Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! ³⁷There is nothing you can give to regain your life. ³⁸If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”