Mark 8:27-10:45

Christian Standard Bible

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus^(A) went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

²⁸ They answered him, “John the Baptist;^(B) others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”^(C)

²⁹ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter^(D) answered him, “You are the Messiah.”^{(E) 30} And he strictly warned^(F) them to tell no one about him.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

³¹ Then^(G) he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man^(H) to suffer many things and be rejected^(I) by the elders,^(J) chief priests, and scribes,^(K) be killed, and rise^(L) after three days.^{(M) 32} He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!^(N) You are not thinking about God’s concerns^[a] but human concerns.”

Take Up Your Cross

³⁴ Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself,^(O) take up his cross,^(P) and follow me.^{(Q) 35} For whoever wants to save^(R) his life will lose it,^(S) but whoever loses^(T) his life^(U) because of me^(V) and the gospel^(W) will save it.^{(X) 36} For what does it benefit^(Y) someone to gain^(Z) the whole world^(AA) and yet lose^(AB) his life?^{(AC) 37} What can anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(AD) 38} For whoever is ashamed^(AE) of me and my words^(AF) in this adulterous and sinful^(AG) generation,^(AH) the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory^(AI) of his Father^(AJ) with the holy^(AK) angels.”^(AL)

9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(AM) there are some standing here who will not taste death^(AN) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”^(AO)

The Transfiguration

² After^(AP) six days^(AQ) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(AR) and led them up a high mountain^(AS) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured^(AT) in front of them, ³ and his clothes^(AU) became dazzling—extremely white^(AV) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(AW) them. ⁴ Elijah^(AX) appeared to them with Moses,^(AY) and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(AZ) it’s good^(BA) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:^(BB) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say,^(BC) since they were terrified.^(BD)

⁷ A cloud^(BE) appeared, overshadowing^(BF) them, and a voice^(BG) came from the cloud:^(BH) “This is my beloved^(BI) Son;^(BJ) listen to him!” ^(BK)

⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As^(BL) they were coming down the mountain,^(BM) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(BN) until the Son of Man^(BO) had risen^(BP) from the dead.^{(BQ) 10} They kept this word^(BR) to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes^(BS) say that Elijah must come first?” ^(BT)

¹² “Elijah does come first and restores^(BU) all things,”^(BV) he replied. “Why then is it written^(BW) that the Son of Man must suffer^(BX) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(BY) 13} But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written^(BZ) about him.”

The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(CA) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(CB) with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,^(CC) I brought my son to you. He has a spirit^(CD) that makes him unable to speak.^{(CE) 18} Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ He replied to them, “You unbelieving^(CF) generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(CG) him. But if you can do anything, have compassion^(CH) on us and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’?^[b] Everything is possible^(CI) for the one who believes.”^(CJ)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked^(CK) the unclean^(CL) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(CM) spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions.^(CN) The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(CO) and he stood up.

²⁸ After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”^[c](CP)

The Second Prediction of His Death

³⁰ Then^(CQ) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.^{(CR) 31} For he was teaching^(CS) his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man^(CT) is going to be betrayed^[d] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise^(CU) three days later.”^{(CV) 32} But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.^(CW)

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They^(CX) came to Capernaum.^(CY) When he was in the house,^(CZ) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(DA) 34} But they were silent,^(DB) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(DC) 35} Sitting down, he called the Twelve^(DD) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”^{(DE) 36} He took a child,^(DF) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[e] one little child such as this in my name^(DG) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent^(DH) me.”^(DI)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(DJ) said to him, “Teacher,^(DK) we saw someone^[f] driving out demons^(DL) in your name,^(DM) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”^(DN)

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(DO) in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(DP) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(DQ) in my name, because you belong to Christ^(DR) —truly I tell you,^(DS) he will never lose his reward.^(DT)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away^(DU) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^(DV) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

⁴³ “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.^(DW) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(DX) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.^{[g](DY) 45} And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(DZ) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{[h] 47} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(EA) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(EB) into hell,^{(EC) 48} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.^{[i] 49} For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[j][k](ED) 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?^(EE) Have salt^(EF) among yourselves, and be at peace^(EG) with one another.”

The Question of Divorce

10 He^(EH) set out from there and went to the region of Judea^(EI) and across the Jordan.^(EJ) Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught^(EK) them again.

² Some Pharisees^(EL) came to test^(EM) him, asking, “Is it lawful^(EN) for a man to divorce^(EO) his wife?” ^(EP)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(EQ) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(ER) and send her away.”^(ES)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. ^{(ET) 6} But from the beginning^(EU) of creation^(EV) God^[l] made them male and female.^{[m](EW) 7} For this reason a man will leave ^(EX) his father and mother ^{[n] 8} and the two will become one flesh.^[o](EY) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”^(EZ)

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(FA) and marries^(FB) another commits adultery^(FC) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(FD) and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ People^(FE) were bringing little children^(FF) to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked^(FG) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, he was indignant^(FH) and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.^(FI) Don’t stop^(FJ) them, because the kingdom of God^(FK) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you,^(FL) whoever does not receive^[p](FM) the kingdom of God like a little child^(FN) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on^(FO) them and blessed^(FP) them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As^(FQ) he was setting out on a journey,^(FR) a man ran up, knelt down^(FS) before him, and asked him, “Good^(FT) teacher,^(FU) what must I do to inherit^(FV) eternal life?” ^(FW)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.^{(FX) 19} You know the commandments: Do not murder;^(FY) do not commit adultery;^(FZ) do not steal;^(GA) do not bear false witness;^(GB) do not defraud;^(GC) honor^(GD) your father and mother.”^[q](GE)

²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher,^(GF) I have kept all these from my youth.”

²¹ Looking at him, Jesus loved him^(GG) and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,^(GH) and you will have treasure^(GI) in heaven.^(GJ) Then come,^[r] follow me.”^{(GK) 22} But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving,^(GL) because he had many possessions.^(GM)

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth^(GN) to enter the kingdom of God!”^(GO)

²⁴ The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,^(GP) how hard it is^[s] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich^(GQ) person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ^(GR)

²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible,^(GS) but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter^(GT) began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,”^(GU) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father^[t] or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,^{(GV) 30} who will not receive a hundred times^(GW) more, now at this time^(GX) —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions^(GY) —and eternal life^(GZ) in the age to come.^{(HA) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(HB)

The Third Prediction of His Death

³² They^(HC) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,^(HD) and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid.^(HE) Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.^{(HF) 33} “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man^(HG) will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,^(HH) and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,^{(HI) 34} and they will mock him, spit on him, flog^[u] him, and kill him, and he will rise^(HJ) after three days.”^(HK)

Suffering and Service

³⁵ James^(HL) and John,^(HM) the sons of Zebedee,^(HN) approached him and said, “Teacher,^(HO) we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

³⁷ They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”^(HP)

³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.^(HQ) Are you able to drink the cup^(HR) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism^(HS) I am baptized with?”^(HT)

³⁹ “We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.^{(HU) 40} But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.^{(HV) 42} Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over^(HW) them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. ⁴³ But it is not so among you.^(HX) On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,^{(HY) 44} and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.^{(HZ) 45} For even the Son of Man^(IA) did not come to be served, but to serve,^(IB) and to give his life^(IC) as a ransom^(ID) for many.”^[v](IE)