The Ministry of the Twelve
(Matthew 10:5–15; Mark 6:7–13)
Then Jesus called the Twelve 1together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. Jhn 14:12Luk 10:19Mat 16:19Act 4:30Mrk 16:17-18Mrk 6:7-13Act 1:8Mat 10:1-5 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Mat 10:7-8Luk 10:9Mat 3:2Luk 9:11Mat 13:19Mat 24:14Mrk 6:12Luk 10:11 “Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, 2 no second tunic. Luk 22:35Psa 37:3Luk 10:4-12Mat 10:9-142Ti 2:4Luk 12:22Luk 3:11Mrk 6:8-11 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area. Mat 10:11Mrk 6:10Luk 10:5-8Act 16:15 If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.” Act 13:51Act 18:6Mat 10:14-15Mrk 6:11Luk 10:16Luk 10:10-12Luk 9:53-56Luk 9:48
So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. Act 4:30Act 5:15Mrk 16:20Mrk 6:12-13Luk 9:1-2
Herod Tries to See Jesus
(Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29)
When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead, Mat 14:1-12Mrk 6:14-28Job 18:11-12Luk 3:1Luk 9:19Psa 73:19Isa 22:5Mic 7:4 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. Jhn 1:21Luk 9:19Mat 17:10Mrk 6:15Mrk 8:28
“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus. Luk 23:8Luk 13:31-32
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–15)
Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida. Mat 11:21Heb 13:17Mat 14:13-21Jhn 1:44Jhn 6:5-13Luk 10:17Luk 9:10-17Mrk 2:7 But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing. 2Ti 4:2Act 28:31Heb 4:16Isa 61:1Jhn 4:34Jhn 6:37Luk 1:53Luk 5:31
As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.” Hos 13:5Jhn 6:1Jhn 6:5-15Mat 15:23Mrk 6:35-44Ezk 34:25Mat 14:15-21Mat 15:32
But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” Pro 11:24-252Ki 4:42-43Jhn 6:5-9Mrk 6:37-38Mat 14:16-17Num 11:21-23
“We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” (There were about five thousand men.) 1Co 14:40Mrk 6:39-40Mrk 8:6
He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and everyone was seated.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people. Mat 14:191Ti 4:4-5Luk 24:30Mat 15:36Act 27:35Jhn 6:11Jhn 6:23Luk 22:19
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 2Ki 4:44Jhn 6:11-13Mat 14:20-21Mat 15:37-38Mat 16:9-10Mrk 6:42-44Mrk 8:19-20Mrk 8:8-9
Peter’s Confession of Christ
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; John 6:67–71)
One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?” Mat 16:13-16Mrk 8:27-30Luk 11:1Mat 26:36Luk 22:39-41
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.” Jhn 1:21Luk 9:7-8Mal 4:5Mat 14:2Mrk 6:15Jhn 1:25Jhn 7:40Jhn 9:17
“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Mat 16:15-17Jhn 1:49Jhn 20:31Jhn 4:29Jhn 4:42Jhn 6:68-69Jhn 7:41Act 17:3
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Christ’s Passion Foretold
(Matthew 16:21–23; Mark 8:31–33)
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. Mat 16:20Mat 17:9Mrk 8:30-31 “The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Isa 53:1-12Luk 24:7Luk 18:31-34Luk 9:441Pe 1:11Act 4:25-28Mrk 10:33-34Mrk 9:31
Take Up Your Cross
(Matthew 16:24–28; Mark 8:34–38)
Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Mat 10:38-39Luk 14:26-27Rom 8:13Jhn 12:25-26Mrk 8:34-38Col 3:5Tit 2:122Ti 3:12 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luk 17:33Jhn 12:25Act 20:23-24Rev 2:10Rev 12:11Heb 11:35
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self? Mat 16:26Mrk 8:36Luk 12:19-21Psa 49:6-8Luk 4:5-72Pe 2:15-171Co 9:27Act 1:25 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Mat 10:32-332Ti 2:12Luk 12:8-9Rom 1:16Mat 16:27Mrk 8:38Rev 21:8Mat 25:31 But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Mat 16:28Mrk 9:1Jhn 21:22-23Luk 2:26Heb 2:9Jhn 8:51-52Luk 22:18Mrk 14:25
The Transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; 2 Peter 1:16–21)
About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. Luk 6:12Mat 17:1-13Mat 26:37-39Mrk 14:33-36Mrk 9:2-13Psa 109:4Heb 5:7Luk 8:51 And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. Mat 17:2Mrk 9:2-32Pe 1:16-18Exo 34:29-35Isa 33:17Isa 53:2Php 3:7-8Rev 20:11 Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. 2Co 3:7-11Heb 3:3-6Jhn 1:17Luk 1:17Luk 24:27Luk 24:44Luk 9:19Mat 17:3-4 They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Php 3:211Pe 1:11-121Pe 5:102Pe 1:15Col 3:4Jhn 1:29Luk 13:32-34Luk 9:22
Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him. Dan 8:18Jhn 1:14Dan 10:9Mat 26:40-43Exo 33:18-23Isa 60:1-3Isa 60:19Jhn 17:24 As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters 3—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) Mrk 9:5-6Mrk 10:382Co 4:6Jhn 14:8Luk 5:5Psa 27:4Psa 4:6-7Psa 63:2-5
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Exo 40:34-38Mat 17:5-7Exo 14:19-20Isa 19:1Jdg 13:22Jdg 6:22Mrk 9:7-8Psa 18:9-11 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. 4 Listen to Him!” Luk 3:22Act 3:22-23Mat 3:17Deu 18:18-19Heb 3:15Heb 5:9Isa 42:1Jhn 3:35-36
After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen. Mat 17:9Mrk 9:9-10Ecc 3:7Mrk 9:6
The Boy with an Evil Spirit
(Matthew 17:14–18; Mark 9:14–29)
The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd. Mat 17:14-20Mrk 9:14-29 Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child. Jhn 4:47Zec 12:10Luk 7:12Luk 8:41-42Mat 15:22Gen 44:20 A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him. Mrk 9:20Luk 4:35Luk 8:29Mrk 5:4-5Mrk 9:261Pe 5:8Jhn 8:44Rev 9:11 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.” Luk 9:1Act 19:13-162Ki 4:31Luk 10:17-19Mat 17:20
“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” Deu 32:5Jhn 14:9Jhn 20:27Mat 16:4Mat 17:17Mrk 9:19Rom 2:42Ki 5:8
Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 2Ki 4:36Luk 7:15Luk 9:39Mrk 9:20Mrk 9:26-27Rev 12:121Ki 17:23Act 9:41
The Second Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 17:22–23; Mark 9:30–32)
And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. Luk 9:43-45Luk 5:26Act 3:10-13Luk 8:25Mat 17:22Mrk 9:30-322Pe 1:16Luk 4:36
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” Act 2:23Luk 9:22Heb 2:1Luk 2:19Mrk 9:311Th 3:3-42Sa 24:14Heb 12:2-5 But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. Luk 18:34Luk 2:50Jhn 12:16Mrk 9:322Co 3:14-16Jhn 16:17-18Mrk 9:10Jhn 12:34
The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Matthew 18:1–5; Mark 9:33–41)
Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Mat 18:1-5Mat 20:20-22Mrk 9:33-373Jn 1:9Php 2:3Gal 5:20-21Gal 5:25-26Luk 14:7-11 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him. Jhn 16:30Luk 5:22Psa 139:231Co 14:20Heb 4:13Jhn 2:25Mat 19:13-15Mat 9:4 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.” 1Pe 5:6Luk 14:11Mrk 9:37Jhn 13:20Luk 10:16Luk 22:26Mat 10:40-42Mat 23:11-12
“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.” Mrk 9:38-40Num 11:27-29Mrk 10:13-14Act 4:18-19Act 5:281Th 2:16Luk 5:53Jn 1:9-10
“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Luk 11:23Mat 12:30Php 1:15-181Co 12:3Luk 16:13Pro 3:5-6Mrk 9:41Mat 17:26
The Samaritans Reject Jesus
As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Isa 50:5-9Luk 18:31Luk 13:22Mrk 16:191Ti 3:16Act 1:2Act 1:9Act 20:22-24 He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. Mat 10:52Ki 17:24-33Luk 10:1Jhn 8:48Luk 10:33Luk 17:16Ezr 4:1-5Luk 7:27 But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. Jhn 4:9Jhn 4:40-42Luk 9:48
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven 5to consume them?” 2Ki 1:10-14Jas 1:19-20Jas 3:14-18Act 4:29-302Ki 10:312Sa 21:22Ki 10:16Rev 13:3
But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 6 1Pe 3:9Job 2:10Job 26:4Mat 16:23Rev 3:19Jer 17:9Job 31:29-31Mat 26:51 And He and His disciples went on to another village. Mat 20:28Jhn 3:17Rom 12:21Jhn 10:10Luk 19:101Pe 2:21-23Mat 18:101Ti 1:15
The Cost of Discipleship
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 14:25–33; John 6:59–66)
As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Mat 8:19-22Jhn 13:37Luk 9:57-60Exo 19:8Luk 9:51
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Mat 8:20Luk 14:26-332Co 8:9Luk 18:22-23Jas 2:5Jhn 6:60-66Psa 84:3Jos 24:19-22
Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” Mat 16:241Ki 19:20Mat 6:33Mat 8:21-22Hag 1:2Mat 4:19-22Mat 9:9
The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 2Ti 2:3-41Ti 5:6Jhn 21:15-172Ti 4:22Ti 4:5Luk 15:32Rev 3:11Co 9:16
Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” Luk 14:261Ki 19:20Luk 14:18-20Mat 10:37-38Deu 33:9Ecc 9:10
Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Php 3:13Heb 10:382Pe 2:20-22Luk 17:31-32Jas 1:6-8Psa 78:8-92Ti 4:10Act 15:37-38