1 In those days, when the crowd was very large and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned his disciples and said to them,
2 "My heart goes out to the crowd, because they have already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat.
3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way; for some of them have come from far off."
4 His disciples answered him, "Where could anyone find enough bread here in a deserted place to satisfy these people?"
5 He asked them, "How many loaves have you got?" They answered, "Seven."
6 He instructed the crowd to recline on the ground; then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and kept handing them to his disciples to set before the people, and they set them before the crowd.
7 They also had a few little fish; and after blessing them, he told them to set these out as well.
8 They ate and were filled, and they picked up what remained of the fragments, seven hampers.
9 Those who had eaten numbered about four thousand; and he dismissed them.
10 Right away he boarded the boat with his disciples and came into the district of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came out and began to debate with him, asking him for a sign from heaven to test him.
12 Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
13 Then he left them, boarded the boat again, and went off to the other side.
14 The disciples had forgotten to take loaves, and except for one loaf they had none with them in the boat.
15 He warned them, "Look out; guard yourselves against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
16 They were reasoning with one another, saying, "It is because we have no loaves."
17 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you reasoning that you have no loaves? Do you still not perceive or understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18 Do you have eyes and not see, and ears and not hear? And do you not remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you pick up?" They told him, "Twelve."
20 "And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many hampers full of fragments did you pick up?" They said, "Seven."
21 And he said to them, "How is it that you do not understand?"
22 He came to Bethsaida, and people brought a blind man to him and pleaded with him to touch him.
23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and placing his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anything.
24 He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees, walking around."
25 Then once more he placed his hands on his eyes and had him look up; and he was restored and could see everyone clearly.
26 He sent him off to his home, saying, "Do not go into the village, and do not tell anyone in the village."
27 Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he questioned his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
28 They answered, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
30 And he warned them sternly not to tell anyone about him.
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again.
32 He was speaking about this plainly. And Peter took him aside and started to rebuke him.
33 But he turned around, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! For your mind is not on the things of God but on the things of men."
34 He summoned the crowd along with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and keep following me.
35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.
36 For what benefit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul?
37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."