Luke 9:18-36

New Life Version

Peter Says Jesus Is the Christ ^(A)

¹⁸ While Jesus was praying alone, His followers were with Him. Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” ¹⁹ They said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah. Others say that one of the early preachers has been raised from the dead.” ²⁰ Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ of God.”

Jesus Tells of His Death for the First Time ^(B)

²¹ Then Jesus spoke to them and told them to tell no one. ²² He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. The leaders and the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law will have nothing to do with Him. He must be killed and be raised from the dead three days later.”

Giving Up Self and One’s Own Desires

²³ Then Jesus said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must give up himself and his own desires. He must take up his cross everyday and follow Me. ²⁴ If anyone wants to keep his own life safe, he must lose it. If anyone gives up his life because of Me, he will save it. ²⁵ For what does a man have if he gets all the world and loses or gives up his life? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His own shining-greatness and of the Father’s and of the holy angels. ²⁷ I tell you the truth, some standing here will not die until they see the holy nation of God.”

A Look at What Jesus Will Be Like ^(C)

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took Peter and James and John with Him. They went up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ As Jesus prayed, He was changed in looks before them. His clothes became white and shining bright. ³⁰ Two men talked with Jesus. They were Moses and Elijah. ³¹ They looked like the shining-greatness of heaven as they talked about His death in Jerusalem which was soon to happen.

³² But Peter and those with him had gone to sleep. When they woke up, they saw His shining-greatness and the two men who stood with Him. ³³ As the two men went from Jesus, Peter said to Him, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three tents to worship in. One will be for You. One will be for Moses. One will be for Elijah.” He did not know what he was saying. ³⁴ While he was talking, a cloud came over them. They were afraid as the cloud came in around them.

³⁵ A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the One I have chosen. Listen to Him!” ³⁶ When the voice was gone, Jesus was standing there alone. From that time on, they kept these things to themselves. They told no one what they had seen.