1 In those days when a great crowd again had gathered and they had nothing to eat, He called His disciples to Him, and said, 2 "My heart goes out in pity for these people, for they have been staying with me three days now, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 And if I send them home hungry, they will give out on the road, for some of them are a long way from home."
4 But His disciples answered Him, "Where can anyone get bread enough here in this destitute place, to give these people plenty?"
5 Then He asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They answered, "Seven." 6 So He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves and gave thanks and broke them in pieces and gave them to His disciples to pass, and they passed them to the people. 7 And they had a few small fish, and He blessed them and told them to pass these, too, to the people, 8 And they ate and had plenty. And they took up the pieces left over, which made seven hamper-basketfuls. 9 About four thousand people were there. Then He sent them away. 10 And He at once got into the boat and crossed to the district of Dalmanutha.
11 Now the Pharisees came out and began a discussion with Him, and to test Him asked Him to show them a spectacular sign from heaven. 12 But He sighed in spirit and said, "Why do the people of these times ask for a spectacular sign? I solemnly say, no sign at all will be given them." 13 And He left them and again got into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14 Now they had forgotten to bring any bread; that is, they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He kept warning them by saying, "Look out! Keep on guarding yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."
16 So they were discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And as He noticed it He said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet know nor understand? Are your minds so dull? 18 Since you have eyes can you not see with them? Since you have ears can you not hear with them? 19 Do you not remember how many basketfuls of pieces you picked up when I broke the five loaves in pieces for the five thousand?" They said to Him, "Twelve."
20 "And how many hamper-basketfuls of pieces when I broke the seven loaves in pieces for the four thousand?" They said to Him, "Seven."
21 He said to them, "How is it that you do not understand?"
22 Then they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. 23 He took him by the hand and led him outside the village, then spit in his eyes, laid His hands upon him, and asked him, "Do you see anything?"
24 He looked up and answered, "I see the people, but they look to me like trees moving around."
25 Then He laid His hands upon his eyes again, and he looked the best he could and was cured, and saw everything distinctly. 26 So He sent him home with the warning, "Do not ever go into the village."
27 Then Jesus and His disciples left Galilee and went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way there He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
28 They answered Him, "John the Baptist; others say, Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets."
29 Then He began to ask them, "Who do you yourselves say that I am?" Peter answered Him, "You are the Christ."
30 But He strictly warned them not to tell this about Him to anybody.
31 Then He instructed them for the first time that the Son of Man had to endure great suffering and be disowned by the elders and the high priests and the scribes, and be killed but rise again after three days. 32 And without any reserve He was telling them this fact. So Peter took Him aside and began to reprove Him for it.
33 But He turned and glanced at His disciples and reproved Peter by saying, "Get out of my way, Satan, for this view of yours is not from God but from men!"
34 Then He called the people to Him along with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must say, 'No' to self, put the cross on his shoulders, and keep on following me. 35 For whoever wants to save his higher life, will have to give up the lower life, and whoever gives up his lower life for me and for the good news, will save the higher life. 36 For what benefit will it be to a man to gain the whole world and fail to gain the higher life? 37 For what price can a man give to buy back life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my teaching in this unfaithful, sinful age, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when He comes back in His Father's splendor with the holy angels."