The Daily Audio Bible

The transfiguration

²⁸ About eight days after this conversation, Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And, as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became shining white. ³⁰ Two men appeared, talking with him: it was Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was going to fulfill in Jerusalem.

³² Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but they managed to stay awake. They saw his glory, and the two men who were standing there with him.

³³ As they were going away from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!” He didn’t know what he was saying; ³⁴ but as the words were coming out of his mouth a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came from the cloud: “This is my son, my chosen one: listen to him.” ³⁶ As the voice spoke, there was Jesus by himself. They kept silent, and told nobody at that time anything of what they had seen.

³⁷ The next day, as they were going down from the mountain, a large crowd met them. ³⁸ A man from the crowd shouted out, “Teacher! Please, please have a look at my son! He’s my only child, ³⁹ and look what’s happening to him! A spirit seizes him, and suddenly it shrieks and convulses him, so that he foams at the mouth. It goes on savaging him, and it’s almost impossible to get it to leave him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”

⁴¹ “You faithless and depraved generation!” said Jesus in reply. “How long shall I be with you and have to put up with you? Bring your son here.”

⁴² While he was on the way, the demon tore at him and threw him into convulsions. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ Everyone was astonished at the greatness of God.

While they were all still expressing amazement at everything he had done, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words go right down into your ears: the son of man is to be given over into human hands.” ⁴⁵ They had no idea what he was talking about. It was hidden from them, so that they wouldn’t perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.

The nature of discipleship

⁴⁶ A dispute arose among them about which of them was the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus knew this quarrel was going on in their hearts, so he took a child and stood it beside him.

⁴⁸ “If you receive this child in my name,” he said, “you receive me. And anyone who receives me, receives the one who sent me. Whoever is the least among you—that’s the one who is great.”

⁴⁹ “Master,” commented John, “we saw someone casting out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he wasn’t part of our company.”

⁵⁰ “Don’t stop him,” replied Jesus. “Anyone who isn’t against you is on your side.”