Mark 8:21-38

²¹“Do you still not understand?” he asked them.

²²They went to Bethsaida where some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him and heal him.

²³Jesus took the blind man by the hand and took him outside the village. Jesus spat on the man's eyes and touched him with his hands. Then Jesus asked him, “Can you see anything?”

²⁴The man looked around, and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees walking.”

²⁵So Jesus touched the man's eyes again. He could see properly—he was cured and his sight was clear.

²⁶Jesus sent the man home, and told him, “Don't go back through the village.”

²⁷Jesus and his disciples left to go to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸“Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, others say one of the prophets,” they replied.

²⁹“But who do you say I am?” he asked them. “You are the Messiah!” Peter answered.

³⁰Jesus warned them not to tell anybody about him.

³¹Then Jesus began to explain to them that the Son of man would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and religious teachers. He would be killed, but three days later would rise again.

³²Jesus explained this to them very clearly. But Peter took Jesus aside and started to reprimand him for what he said.

³³Jesus turned around and looking at his disciples, reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan,” he said. “You're not thinking as God thinks, but as human beings do.”

³⁴Jesus called the crowd and his disciples over to him, and told them, “If you want to follow me, you must give up on yourselves, pick up your cross and follow me.

³⁵If you want to save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life because of me and the good news you will save it.

³⁶What use is it for you to gain everything in the whole world, and lose your life?

³⁷What would you give in exchange for your life?

³⁸If you're ashamed to acknowledge me and what I say among this unfaithful and sinful people, then the Son of man will be ashamed to acknowledge you when he comes with his Father's glory with the holy angels.”