1Potom sa obrátil k svojim poslucháčom a pokračoval: „Dôrazne vám hovorím, že niektorí z vás už za svojho života uvidia, ako sa Božie kráľovstvo prejaví vo svojej moci.“2Po šiestich dňoch vzal Ježiš so sebou Petra, Jakuba a Jána a vystúpili spolu na jeden z vrchov. Boli tu celkom sami. Zrazu sa s Ježišom stala zvláštna zmena.3Odev mu zbelel ako sneh – skvel sa takou belosťou, aká sa ničím na svete nedá dosiahnuť.4Tu zbadali dvoch mužov, ako sa zhovárajú s Ježišom. Boli to Eliáš a Mojžiš.5Peter zvolal: „Ako dobre, že sme tu! Hneď vám trom postavíme stany. Pre každého jeden!“6Od vzrušenia si ani neuvedomoval, čo vraví. Učeníkov videnie celkom vyviedlo z miery.7Vtom ich všetkých zastrel oblak a z neho sa ozval hlas: „Toto je môj milovaný Syn. Počúvajte ho!“8Keď sa mrak rozplynul, učeníci sa rozhliadli, ale okrem Ježiša už nikoho nevideli.9Keď zostupovali z vrchu, Ježiš ich upozornil, aby o tom, čo videli, nerozprávali nikomu dovtedy, kým nevstane z mŕtvych.10Zachovali to v tajnosti, ale medzi sebou často uvažovali, čo to znamená „vstať z mŕtvych“.11Spytovali sa Ježiša: „Prečo učitelia Zákona tvrdia, že pred príchodom Mesiáša sa musí vrátiť Eliáš?“12Odpovedal im: „Správne, najprv mal prísť Eliáš, aby dal všetko do poriadku. Ale čo myslíte, o čom hovorili proroci, keď predpovedali, že Mesiáš musí mnoho vytrpieť a že ním budú pohŕdať?13Hovorím vám, Eliáš už prišiel a pripravil mi cestu, ale naložili s ním, ako sa im páčilo, tak ako aj predpovedali proroci.“
Uzdravenie posadnutého chlapca
14Keď zostúpili na úpätie vrchu, našli ostatných učeníkov obklopených veľkým zástupom.15A ľudia, len čo zazreli Ježiša, stíchli v posvätnej úcte, bežali mu naproti a pozdravovali ho.16Spýtal sa ich: „O čom sa to dohadujete?“17Tu vyšiel zo zástupu jeden muž a povedal: „Majstre, priviedol som k tebe svojho syna, aby si ho uzdravil. Je nemý, lebo ho ovláda zlý duch.18Zakaždým, keď sa chlapca zmocní, zvíja sa v kŕčoch, pena mu pokryje ústa, škrípe zubami a celý zmeravie. Poprosil som tvojich učeníkov, aby zlého ducha vyhnali, ale nemohli.19„Ach, kedy konečne začnete veriť!“ zvolal Ježiš. „Dokedy mám byť s vami, aby som vás to naučil? Dokedy mám mať s vami trpezlivosť? Priveďte chlapca ku mne!“20Priviedli ho. No len čo zlý duch spoznal Ježiša, strašne zalomcoval chlapcom. Spadol na zem a zvíjal sa v kŕčoch s penou na ústach.21„Odkedy tým trpí?“ spýtal sa Ježiš otca. Ten odpovedal: „Už odmala.22Zlý duch ho neraz hodil aj do ohňa alebo do vody, čo ho chcel zahubiť. Och, zmiluj sa nad nami a pomôž nám, ak môžeš!“23„Ak môžem?“ začudoval sa Ježiš. „Kto verí, môže všetko!“24Otec ihneď zvolal: „Verím, Pane, ale pomôž mi ešte väčšmi veriť!“25Ježiš si všimol, že sa zbiehajú ďalší ľudia, a tak prikázal: „Duch hluchoty a nemoty, vyjdi z neho a nikdy sa už nevracaj!“26Zlý duch zreval, zalomcoval chlapcom a opustil ho. Chlapec zostal ležať na zemi bez známok života. Davom prebehol šepot, že umrel.27Ale Ježiš chytil chlapca za ruku a pomohol mu vstať.28Keď potom vošiel do domu a učeníci zostali s ním sami, spýtali sa ho: „Prečo sme my nemohli vyhnať tohto zlého ducha?“29Ježiš im odpovedal: „Takého ducha nemožno vyhnať inak ako modlitbou!“
Ježiš druhý raz hovorí o svojej smrti
30Ježiš opustil so svojimi učeníkmi tento kraj a prechádzal Galileou, ale nechcel, aby sa o tom vedelo.31Túžil byť so svojimi učeníkmi sám a mnohému ich ešte naučiť. Pripravoval ich na to, že Syna človeka onedlho vydajú napospas ľuďom, zabijú ho, ale na tretí deň vstane a bude žiť.32Ešte vždy tomu nerozumeli, ale neodvažovali sa ho na to spýtať.
Spor o prvenstvo
33Potom sa vrátili do Kafarnauma. Keď sa ubytovali v dome, kde sa mienili zdržať, spýtal sa Ježiš učeníkov: „O čom ste sa to cestou zhovárali?“34Hanbili sa mu odpovedať, lebo sa dohadovali o tom, kto z nich je najväčší.35Ježiš si sadol, zavolal si ich k sebe a povedal im: „Kto chce byť prvým, ten sa musí podriaďovať všetkým a musí im slúžiť.“36Potom zavolal dieťa, postavil ho medzi nich, objal ho a povedal im:37„Kto prijíma v mojom mene takéto malé dieťa, mňa prijíma. A neprijíma len mňa, ale aj toho, ktorý ma poslal.“38Ján mu povedal: „Majstre, videli sme človeka, ako v tvojom mene vyháňa démonov, ale zakázali sme mu to, lebo nepatrí medzi nás.“39Ježiš namietol: „Nemali ste mu brániť. Veď predsa nikto, kto robí v mojom mene zázraky, nemôže sa hneď potom obrátiť proti mne.40Kto nie je proti nám, je s nami.41A keby vám niekto podal pohár vody len preto, že ste moji, hovorím vám, že nepríde o svoju odmenu.42Ale ak by dakto zavinil, že by niekto z týchto nepatrných, čo veria vo mňa, stratil vieru, lepšie by bolo, keby mu na krk dali mlynský kameň a hodili ho do mora.43-44Ak ťa zvádza na hriech ruka, odtni ju. Je ti rozhodne lepšie byť bez ruky a získať večný život, ako mať obe ruky a ísť do neuhasiteľného pekelného ohňa.45-46A ak ťa navádza na zlé noha, odtni ju. Lepšie je byť mrzákom a žiť večne, ako mať dve nohy, ktoré ťa zavedú do večnej záhuby.47A tak aj oko, ak je pôvodcom zla v tvojom živote, zbav sa ho. Lepšie je vojsť do Božieho kráľovstva ako jednooký, než mať obe oči a byť uvrhnutý do pekelného ohňa,48kde nárek neprestane a oheň nevyhasne.49Oheň Božieho súdu preverí každého človeka. Ako každé jedlo potrebuje soľ, tak každý, kto chce získať večný život, musí byť posolený ohňom skúšok.50Soľ je dobrá vec. Ale ak stratí svoju slanosť, čím ju nahradíte? Tak dbajte, aby ste boli soľou. A žite navzájom v pokoji.“
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, (Mt 17,1; Mk 5,37; Mk 14,33; Lk 9,28; 2 Kor 3,18)3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[1] on earth could bleach them. (Ž 104,2; Dan 7,9; Mt 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; Jn 1,38)6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (Mk 14,40; Lk 9,33)7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[3] listen to him.” (Ex 24,15; Mt 3,17; Mk 12,6; Sk 3,22; 2 Pt 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. (Mt 8,4; Mt 17,9; Mk 5,43; Mk 8,31)10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. (Lk 9,36; Jn 16,17)11And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” (Mt 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? (Ž 22,6; Iz 53,2; Dan 9,26; Zach 13,7; Mal 4,6; Mt 26,24; Mk 8,31; Lk 1,16; Lk 23,11; Sk 1,6; Sk 3,21; Sk 4,11; Flp 2,7)13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mk 6,17; Mk 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. (Mt 17,14; Lk 9,37)15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. (Mk 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. (Mk 9,25; Lk 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.” (Mt 10,1; Mk 6,7; Lk 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.” (Jn 14,9; Jn 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. (Mk 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.” (Mt 9,28; Mk 1,40)23And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mt 17,20; Mk 6,5; Mk 9,22)24Immediately the father of the child cried out[4] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Lk 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.” (Mk 9,15; Mk 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.” (Mk 9,20)27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mk 1,31)28And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Mk 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, (Mt 17,22; Mk 8,31; Mk 10,32; Lk 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.” (Mk 8,31)32But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (Mk 6,52; Mk 9,10; Lk 2,50; Lk 18,34; Lk 24,25; Jn 10,6; Jn 12,16; Jn 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?” (Mt 17,24; Mt 18,1; Mk 10,35; Lk 9,46)34But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. (Mk 9,50; Lk 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.” (Mt 20,26; Mt 23,11; Mk 10,43; Lk 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, (Mk 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.” (Mt 10,40; Mt 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.” (Nm 11,28; Mt 7,22; Mt 12,27; Mk 16,17; Lk 9,49; Lk 10,17; Sk 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. (Mt 12,30; Lk 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. (Mt 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. (Zach 13,7; Mt 18,6; Mk 14,21; Lk 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] (Mt 3,12; Mt 5,22; Mt 5,29; Mt 5,30; Mt 18,8; Mt 25,41; Mk 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. (Mt 18,8; Mk 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, (Mt 5,22; Mt 5,29; Mt 18,9)48‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Iz 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; Mt 5,13; Mk 9,34; Lk 14,34; Rim 12,18; Rim 14,19; 2 Kor 13,11; Ef 4,29; Kol 4,6; 1 Sol 5,13)