fra Biblica1Jesus fortsatte: „Det siger jeg jer: Nogle af jer, der står her, skal ikke dø, før I har set Guds herredømme blive åbenbaret med kraft.”
Tre disciple ser et glimt af Jesus i hans herlighed
2Seks dage senere tog Jesus Peter, Jakob og Johannes med op på et højt bjerg, hvor de var helt alene. Pludselig skiftede Jesus udseende for øjnene af de tre disciple. (Matt 17,1; Luk 9,28)3Hans klæder blev så blændende hvide, som intet jordisk blegemiddel kunne gøre dem.4Derefter så disciplene Elias og Moses komme til syne og tale med Jesus.5„Mester, hvor er det skønt at være her,” udbrød Peter. „Lad os bygge tre hytter: en til dig, en til Moses og en til Elias.”6Han tænkte ikke over, hvad han sagde, for de var alle helt forfærdede.7Så kom der en sky og indhyllede dem, og de hørte en stemme inde fra skyen: „Det er min elskede Søn! Lyt til ham!”8Da de igen så sig omkring, var Moses og Elias forsvundet, og de var alene med Jesus.9På vej ned ad bjerget sagde Jesus til sine tre ledsagere, at de ikke måtte fortælle nogen, hvad de havde set oppe på bjerget, før han var genopstået fra de døde.10De mærkede sig det, han sagde, men begyndte samtidig at diskutere indbyrdes, hvad det vil sige at genopstå fra de døde.
Skulle „Elias” ikke komme før Messias?
11Disciplene spurgte nu Jesus: „Hvordan kan det være, at de skriftlærde siger, at Elias skal komme før Messias?” (Matt 17,10)12-13Jesus svarede: „Det er rigtigt, at Elias går i forvejen og genopretter alt.[1] Det siger jeg jer: ‚Elias’ har allerede været her, og de gjorde med ham, hvad de ville, sådan som der står skrevet om ham. Men hvordan kan det være, at selv om Elias skulle komme og genoprette alt, står der alligevel skrevet, at Menneskesønnen skal lide meget og behandles med foragt?” (Mal 3,23)
Alt er muligt for den, som tror
14Luk. 9,37-43a Da de kom ned fra bjerget, så de, at der stod en stor flok mennesker omkring de øvrige ni disciple, som var ved at diskutere med nogle jødiske skriftlærde. (Matt 17,14)15Da folkeskaren så Jesus, blev de grebet af ærefrygt, løb ham i møde og hilste ærbødigt på ham.16Så spurgte Jesus dem: „Hvad drejer diskussionen sig om?”17„Mester,” råbte en mand i skaren, „jeg bragte min søn herhen, for at du skulle helbrede ham. Han kan ikke tale, for han er besat af en ond ånd.18Hver gang den tager magten over ham, slår den ham til jorden, og så bliver han helt stiv, ligger med fråde om munden og skærer tænder. Jeg bad dine disciple om at jage dæmonen ud, men de kunne ikke.”19„Åh, I vantro mennesker!” udbrød Jesus. „Hvor længe skal jeg blive hos jer? Hvor længe skal jeg bære over med jer? Kom herhen med drengen.”20De førte drengen derhen, men aldrig så snart havde den onde ånd fået øje på Jesus, før den hev og sled i drengen. Den kastede ham omkuld, så han lå og væltede rundt på jorden med fråde om munden.21Jesus vendte sig mod drengens far: „Hvor længe har han haft det sådan?” „Fra han var ganske lille,” lød svaret.22„Den har tit prøvet at tage livet af ham ved at vælte ham ind i flammer eller ned i vand. Åh, vær dog barmhjertig og hjælp os—hvis du kan!”23„Hvis jeg kan?” sagde Jesus. „For den, som tror, er alting muligt.”24„Jeg tror!” råbte faderen. „Afhjælp min vantro!”25Nu så Jesus, at en masse mennesker kom løbende fra alle sider, så han skyndte sig at tale strengt til den onde ånd: „Du døve og stumme ånd, jeg befaler dig at komme ud af drengen og aldrig mere vende tilbage til ham!”26Ånden skreg vildt og begyndte igen at hive og slide i drengen, men til sidst fór den ud af ham. Drengen lå som livløs på jorden, og der gik en mumlen gennem skaren: „Han er død!”27Men Jesus tog ham ved hånden og hjalp ham på benene—og han blev stående.28Da Jesus kort efter var alene med sine disciple inden døre, spurgte de ham: „Hvorfor kunne vi ikke drive den dæmon ud?”29„Den slags kan kun drives ud ved bøn og faste,”[2] svarede han.
Jesus taler igen om sin død og genopstandelse
30Jesus og hans disciple forlod derefter den egn og vandrede gennem Galilæa, hvor de søgte at undgå for megen opmærksomhed, (Matt 17,22; Luk 9,43)31for Jesus var optaget af at undervise sine disciple. Han sagde bl. a. til dem: „Menneskesønnen skal snart gives i menneskers vold og blive dræbt. Men på den tredje dag genopstår jeg fra de døde.”32Disciplene fattede ikke, hvad han snakkede om, men de kunne ikke lide at spørge ham om det.
Den største er den, som vil tjene
33De fortsatte til Kapernaum, til det hus, hvor Jesus boede. Da de var inden døre, spurgte han: „Hvad var det, I talte med hinanden om undervejs?” (Matt 18,1; Luk 9,46)34Ingen af dem svarede, for de havde diskuteret hvem af dem, der var den mest betydningsfulde.35Så satte Jesus sig ned og bad de Tolv komme nærmere. „Den af jer, der vil være den største, skal være den mindste, en tjener for alle,” sagde han.36Jesus tog så et barn ved hånden og trak det ind i kredsen. Han lagde armen om skulderen på barnet og sagde:37„Enhver, der accepterer sådan et barn, fordi det hører mig til, accepterer i virkeligheden mig. Og den, der accepterer mig, accepterer min Far, som sendte mig.”
Den, der ikke er imod, er for
38Johannes sagde nu til Jesus: „Mester! Vi så en mand drive dæmoner ud i dit navn, og vi sagde til ham, at det skulle han holde op med, for han var ikke en af dine disciple.” (Luk 9,49)39„Lad være med at hindre ham,” sagde Jesus. „Ingen kan det ene øjeblik gøre undere i mit navn og så i det næste tale ondt om mig.40Den, der ikke er imod os, er for os.[3]41Og hvis nogen giver jer blot et glas vand, fordi I hører mig til, så kan jeg love jer, at det menneske ikke skal gå glip af sin belønning.
Fristelser, som fører til fortabelse
42Men hvis nogen ødelægger troen hos en af de små, der har tillid til mig, var det bedre for det menneske, om det blev kastet i havet med en møllesten om halsen. (Matt 18,6; Luk 17,1)43-44Hvis din hånd er skyld i, at du falder fra troen, så hug den af! Det er bedre for dig at gå ind til det evige liv uden din hånd end at blive kastet i Helvedes uudslukkelige ild med begge hænder i behold.[4]45-46Er det din fod, der får dig til at falde fra troen, så hug den af! Det er bedre for dig at gå haltende ind til det evige liv end at blive kastet i Helvede med begge ben i behold.47Er det øjet, der får dig til at falde fra troen, så riv det ud! Det er bedre for dig at gå enøjet ind i Guds rige end at blive kastet i Helvede med begge øjne i behold.48Det er et sted, hvor ‚ormene aldrig dør, og ilden aldrig slukkes.’[5] (Es 66,24)
Gennem prøvelsernes ild til hellighed
49Enhver discipel skal renses gennem prøvelsernes ild.50Et liv levet i fuld lydighed til Gud er et prisværdigt liv—men et liv uden lydighed er lige så nytteløst som salt, der har mistet sin kraft. Lev med visdom og hold fred med hinanden.”[6] (3.Mos 2,13; 4.Mos 18,19; Ez 43,24)
2And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, (Matt 17,1; Mark 5,37; Mark 14,33; Luk 9,28; 2.Kor 3,18)3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[1] on earth could bleach them. (Salm 104,2; Dan 7,9; Matt 28,3)4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.5And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,[2] it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Neh 8,15; Joh 1,38)6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (Mark 14,40; Luk 9,33)7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[3] listen to him.” (2.Mos 24,15; Matt 3,17; Mark 12,6; Ap G 3,22; 2.Pet 1,17)8And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.9And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Matt 8,4; Matt 17,9; Mark 5,43; Mark 8,31)10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. (Luk 9,36; Joh 16,17)11And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” (Matt 11,14)12And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? (Salm 22,6; Es 53,2; Dan 9,26; Zak 13,7; Mal 4,6; Matt 26,24; Mark 8,31; Luk 1,16; Luk 23,11; Ap G 1,6; Ap G 3,21; Ap G 4,11; Filip 2,7)13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 6,17; Mark 6,27)
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. (Matt 17,14; Luk 9,37)15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. (Mark 10,32)16And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”17And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. (Mark 9,25; Luk 11,14)18And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” (Matt 10,1; Mark 6,7; Luk 10,17)19And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” (Joh 14,9; Joh 20,27)20And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. (Mark 1,26)21And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Matt 9,28; Mark 1,40)23And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Matt 17,20; Mark 6,5; Mark 9,22)24Immediately the father of the child cried out[4] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Luk 17,5)25And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9,15; Mark 9,17)26And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” (Mark 9,20)27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 1,31)28And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Mark 7,17)29And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”[5]
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, (Matt 17,22; Mark 8,31; Mark 10,32; Luk 9,43)31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” (Mark 8,31)32But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (Mark 6,52; Mark 9,10; Luk 2,50; Luk 18,34; Luk 24,25; Joh 10,6; Joh 12,16; Joh 16,17)
Who Is the Greatest?
33And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” (Matt 17,24; Matt 18,1; Mark 10,35; Luk 9,46)34But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. (Mark 9,50; Luk 22,24)35And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Matt 20,26; Matt 23,11; Mark 10,43; Luk 22,26)36And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, (Mark 10,16)37“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” (Matt 10,40; Matt 10,42)
Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[6] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” (4.Mos 11,28; Matt 7,22; Matt 12,27; Mark 16,17; Luk 9,49; Luk 10,17; Ap G 19,13)39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.40For the one who is not against us is for us. (Matt 12,30; Luk 11,23)41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (Matt 10,42)
Temptations to Sin
42“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[7] it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. (Zak 13,7; Matt 18,6; Mark 14,21; Luk 17,2; 1.Kor 8,12)43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell,[8] to the unquenchable fire.[9] (Matt 3,12; Matt 5,22; Matt 5,29; Matt 5,30; Matt 18,8; Matt 25,41; Mark 9,48)45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. (Matt 18,8; Mark 9,43)47And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, (Matt 5,22; Matt 5,29; Matt 18,9)48‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Es 66,24)49For everyone will be salted with fire.[10]50Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Ez 43,24; Matt 5,13; Mark 9,34; Luk 14,34; Rom 12,18; Rom 14,19; 2.Kor 13,11; Ef 4,29; Kol 4,6; 1.Thess 5,13)