Luke
Chapter 9
Mission of the Twelve
He gave them these instructions:
And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust off your feet; it will serve as a testimony against them.
So they set out and traveled through the villages, spreading the good news and healing people everywhere.
King Herod heard all that was happening and was confused, for people said:
“This is John, raised from the dead.”
As for Herod, he said:
“I had John beheaded. Who is this man, about whom I hear such wonders?”
And he was eager to see him.
On their return, the apostles told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him, and they withdrew alone to a town called Bethsaida.
But the crowd heard about this and caught up with him. So he welcomed them and began speaking about the kingdom of God, healing those who needed it.
The day was coming to an end, and the Twelve approached to tell him:
“Send the crowd away and let them go into the nearby villages and farms to find lodging and food, for we are in a remote place.”
But Jesus replied:
“You, yourself, give them something to eat.”
They answered:
“We only have five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy food for all this crowd?”
For there were about five thousand men.
Then Jesus said to his disciples:
“Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”
They ate until everyone was full, and when they collected the leftovers, twelve baskets were filled with broken pieces.
One day, while Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them:
“What do people say about me?”
And they answered:
“Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others, that you are one of the prophets of old, risen from the dead.”
Again, Jesus asked them:
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered:
“The Messiah of God.”
Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone.
And he added:
“The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and he will be put to death. Then, after three days, he will be raised to life.”
Jesus also told everyone:
“If you want to be my follower, deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me!
What does it profit you to gain the whole world but lose or forfeit yourself?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and the glory of his Father with his holy angels.
I tell you the truth, some here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
When Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter—uncertain of what to say—said to Jesus:
“Master, how good it is for us to be here! Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Then these words came from the cloud:
“This is my Son, my Beloved; listen to him.”
After the voice spoke, Jesus was there alone. The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.
A man in the crowd called out:
I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
Jesus answered:
“You faithless people! How disoriented you are! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
And everyone who saw it was amazed at God’s marvelous work.
Listen, and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.”
But the disciples didn’t understand what he meant; something prevented them from grasping it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
One day, the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.
Then he said to them:
“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John spoke up:
“Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he doesn’t follow you with us.”
But Jesus said:
“Don’t forbid him. He who is not against you is for you.”
and they went on to another village.
As Jesus and his disciples continued their journey, a man said to Jesus:
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus responded:
“Foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
To another, Jesus said:
“Follow me!”
But he replied:
“Let me go back now, because I want to bury my father first.”
And Jesus said to him:
“Let the dead bury their own dead; as for you, leave them behind and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another said to him:
“I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”
And Jesus said to him:
“Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”