And he said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of G.o.d come with power.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Mount Tabor.]
CHAPTER x.x.xII.
TRANSFIGURATION--CURES A DEMONIAC.
And after six days Jesus taketh _with him_ Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and he was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light, _and_ glistering, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
And, behold, there appeared unto them two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and they were talking with Jesus, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pa.s.s, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. And when the disciples heard _it_, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And when the voice was past, Jesus came and touched them and said,
Arise, and be not afraid.
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And they kept _it_ close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
And it came to pa.s.s, that on the next day, as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. And his disciples asked him, saying, why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. When they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
And when he came to _his_ disciples, he saw a great mult.i.tude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to _him_ saluted him. And he asked the scribes,
What question ye with them?
And when they were come to the mult.i.tude, there came to him a _certain_ man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Master, I have brought unto thee my son: which hath a dumb spirit; I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I brought him to thy disciples, that they should cast him out; and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said,
O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father,
How long is it ago since this came unto him?
And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compa.s.sion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him,
If thou canst believe, all things _are_ possible to him that believeth.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,
_Thou_ dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
And _the spirit_ cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And the child was cured from that very hour. And (Jesus) delivered him again to his father. And when he was come into the house, then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them,
Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII.
DEATH FORETOLD AGAIN--PAYS TRIBUTE--CAUTION AGAINST GIVING OFFENCE.
After these things Jesus departed thence, and pa.s.sed through Galilee; for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. And he would not that any man should know _it_. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of G.o.d. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
But they understood not that saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. And they were exceeding sorry.
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute _money_ came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying,
What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him,
Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
And being in the house he asked them,
What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who _should be_ the greatest. And Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart, sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
If any man desire to be first, _the same_ shall be last of all, and servant of all.
And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me, for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him,
Forbid _him_ not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of _these_ little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into h.e.l.l, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into h.e.l.l, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into h.e.l.l fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.