Jesus Glows in a Transfiguration
1Six days later, Jesus led Peter and brothers James and John up a high mountain. 2While they were there, Jesus changed into another form, [1] right in front of them. His face started shining like the sun. And his clothes beamed dazzling white. 3Suddenly, Elijah and Moses appeared. They started talking with Jesus.4Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Teacher, it’s wonderful that we’re here. If you like, we will set up three tents. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [2]
5Peter was still talking when a bright cloud appeared above them. A voice inside the cloud said, “This is my Son. He is well loved. I’m delighted with him. Listen to what he has to say.”
6When the disciples heard that voice, they were terrified and dropped to the ground with their faces down. 7Jesus walked over to them, touched them, and said, “You can get up. There’s no need to be afraid.” 8When they looked up, they didn’t see anyone but Jesus. The others were gone.
9As they walked back down the mountain, Jesus told them, “For now, don’t tell anyone about this vision. Wait until after this Son of Humans has been raised from the dead.”
10The disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scholars [3] say Elijah has to come before the Messiah does?” [4]
11Jesus answered them by saying, “You can be sure that Elijah does come to get everything ready. 12And I’ll tell you this, Elijah has already come. The people didn’t recognize him, and they mistreated him. They’ll mistreat the Son of Humans too.”
13The disciples figured out that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.
Jesus, Super Exorcist
14When Jesus and the three disciples went back down the mountain, a crowd met them. One man walked up to Jesus and knelt down in front of him. 15The man said, “Teacher, please have pity on my son. He has crazy fits, and he’s in a lot of suffering. Sometimes he falls into the fire, and other times he falls into the water. It happens a lot. 16I took him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”17Jesus said, “My goodness, you people have so little faith. How much longer do I have to stay with you? How much longer do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy over here to me.” 18Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy, and the demon obeyed. The boy was cured from then on.
19Afterward, the disciples came over and asked Jesus privately, “Why weren’t we able to order the demon out?”
20Jesus told them, “It’s because you don’t have much faith. Listen, because I’m telling you the truth. If you can muster the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain, ‘Pack your rocks because it’s time to move,’ and the mountain will move wherever you tell it to go. There will be no mission impossible for you. 21An evil spirit like this won’t leave without prayer and fasting.” [5]
Jesus, on His Death
22Jesus was still in Galilee when he told the people with them, “The Son of Humans is about to be arrested. 23Those people will kill him, but on the third day he will be resurrected.” This information horrified the disciples.Jesus, on His Taxes
24They returned to Capernaum. When they got there, people who travel around collecting the tax to support the Jerusalem Temple came to Peter. They said, “Does your teacher pay the two-day-salary Temple tax?” [6]25Peter said, “Yes.” Then Peter went inside the house.
Jesus was there and asked him, “What do you think, Simon? When a king collects money to run his kingdom, does he collect it from his own children; or does he collect it from people outside his family?”
26Peter said, “From people outside his family.”
Jesus said, “You’re right. The children are exempt from the taxes. 27But let’s not get these people upset. Go toss a line and a hook in the water. Pull up the first fish you catch and open its mouth. Inside, you’ll find a four-day-salary coin. [7] It’ll cover the tax for you and me. Give it to them.”
