Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

He called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal those who were sick. They should take nothing for their journey, neither staffs nor wallets, nor bread nor money; and not have two tunics each.

As they entered any house, they should stay there and then leave. If a household rejected them, they should shake off the dust from their feet as a witness against them. The disciples departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus and was perplexed because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead. He questioned himself, "I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" He desired to see him.

The apostles returned and told him all that they had done. He took them and withdrew apart to a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. When people learned of it, they followed him; he welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, healing those who needed healing.

When the day was wearing on, Jesus' twelve disciples approached him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go into the nearby towns and countryside to find lodging and food, for we are in a deserted place." But he said to them, "Give you them to eat." They replied, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people."

For they were about five thousand men. He told his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty each." They made the people sit down. He took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the multitude.

The people ate and were all filled; with twelve baskets gathered up of fragments that remained to them. As he was alone praying, his disciples were with him; and he asked them, saying, "Whom do the people say that I am?" They said, "Some think you are John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the old prophets who has been raised from the dead."

He said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ of God." He strictly ordered them and commanded them to tell no one that thing. The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised.

He said to all who would listen, "If anyone wants to follow me, let him renounce his own desires and take up his cross daily, and then follow me." Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever is willing to give up their life for my sake shall save it. For what is a person profited if they gain the whole world, yet lose their very self?

For whoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his own glory and that of his Father with the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.

About eight days after saying these things, Jesus took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray. As he prayed, his appearance was transformed, and his clothing shone with a brilliant light. And behold, there talked with him two men, Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and spoke of his impending death, which he would accomplish in Jerusalem.

But Peter and those with him were overcome by sleep, and when they woke up, they saw his glory and the two men standing beside him. As they were departing, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But he didn't know what he was saying.

While he was speaking, a cloud overshadowed them, and they were filled with fear as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son: listen to him." When the voice had faded, Jesus was found alone; they kept it to themselves and told no one in those days about anything they had seen.

On the next day, when they came down from the hill, a large crowd met him. A man in their group cried out, saying, "Master, I beg you, look at my son; he is mine only child." He was suddenly seized by an unclean spirit and would cry out, foam at the mouth, and with great difficulty depart from him.

I begged your disciples to cast him out, but they were unable. Jesus said, "How long must I endure you and put up with your lack of faith? Bring your son to me." As he approached, the devil threw him down and severely tormented him; Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and delivered him to his father.

They were all amazed at the mighty power of God, but while they wondered at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand this saying, and it remained hidden from them.

Then there arose a dispute among them about which of them should be considered greatest. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, took a child and set him by his side. He said, "Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me; for he who is least among you all will be great."

John replied, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, but we forbade him because he doesn't travel with us." Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he who is not against us is for us."

When the time came for Jesus to be taken up, he resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers before him into a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival. But they did not receive him because his face was set on going to Jerusalem.

James and John saw this and said to him, "Lord, shall we ask that fire come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" He turned and rebuked them, saying, "You don't know what kind of spirit you're operating under. The Son of Man has come to save lives, not destroy them." And they went to another village.

As Jesus journeyed, a man approached him and said, "Lord, I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

He said to another, "Follow me," but he replied, "Lord, permit me first to bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "Lord, I will follow you," but he asked to go first and bid farewell to those at home.

Jesus said to him, "No one who has put their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."