The Transfiguration1Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, up a high mountain.2There He was transfigured before their eyes. His face was radiant, shining like the brilliance of the sun; His clothes shone with glorious light.3Moses and Elijah appeared to them also, talking with Jesus.4"Lord, it is so good for us to be here to see this," Peter said to Jesus. "Would You like me to erect three canopies for You, one for You and one each for Moses and Elijah?"5While he was saying this, a bright cloud enveloped them all and they heard a voice speak from the cloud: "This is My beloved Son; I am very pleased with Him. So listen to what He says."6On hearing this voice the disciples were scared and fell to the ground on their faces.7Jesus came and touched each of them saying: "Stand up; there is no need to be afraid."8When they looked again, only Jesus was there with them.9While making their way down the mountain Jesus commanded them: "Do not tell anyone about what you have just seen until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."10The disciples wanted to know: "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must appear before the Messiah comes?"11Jesus told them: "It is true, Elijah comes to restore everything that was lost.12But I tell you clearly, Elijah has come already but they did not recognise him. Instead they treated him exactly as they wished. And in similar fashion they will also cause the Son of Man to suffer."13The disciples then realised He was referring to John the Baptist.A demon possessed boy is healed14When they rejoined the crowd a man came and knelt before Jesus.15"Have mercy on my son, Lord," he said. "He suffers greatly from seizures that often throw him into fire or water.16I brought him to Your disciples but they were unable to heal him."17"What a generation of unbelief and perversion this is," Jesus said. "For how much longer must I remain among you? How much longer do I have to put up with you? Bring your son to Me."18As soon as Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, it came out of him and he was completely healed.19Later the disciples asked Jesus privately: "Why were we unable to cast that demon out of the boy?"20"Because your faith is so weak," Jesus answered. "Most emphatically I tell you this truth, if you had true faith that was even the size of a minute mustard seed, you would be able to say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you!21This kind of deliverance takes place when you pray with faith!"22-23When they were together in Galilee, Jesus told the disciples: "The Son of Man will be betrayed. Men will lay hands on Him and kill Him; yet on the third day after His death, He will be raised back to life." On hearing this, the disciples were grief-stricken.Temple tax24When Jesus and His disciples arrived at Capernaum, those responsible for collecting the tax for the temple asked Peter: "Doesn't your Teacher pay the temple tax?"25"Yes, He does," Peter replied. When Peter entered the house, Jesus spoke first and asked: "From whom do earthly kings collect the customs and taxes, from their only sons or from others? What do you think Simon?"26"From others," he answered. "This means the sons are exempt from paying taxes," Jesus said to him.27"However, so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw your line into the water. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch and you will find a coin sufficient to pay the tax for both of us. Take it and give it to those responsible."
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)