1 Jesus called His 12 friends. He gave them power to heal and to make bad spirits go away. ✋✨ 2 He sent them to tell good news about God and to heal sick people. ️❤️ 3 <jesus>Do not take a bag, food, or money. Do not take extra shirts. Just go.</jesus> 4 <jesus>Stay in the first house you enter. Stay there till you leave that town.</jesus> 5 <jesus>If people do not want you, leave. Shake the dust off your feet.</jesus> ♂️ 6 The friends went to many towns. They told the good news. They healed people. ️ 7 King Herod heard the news about Jesus. He was confused. ❓ 8 Some people said, “It is John.” Others said, “Elijah.” Others said, “A man of God from long ago.” ️ 9 Herod said, “I cut off John’s head. Who is this?” He wanted to see Jesus. 10 The friends came back. They told Jesus all they did. He took them to a quiet place near a town named Bethsaida. 11 Many people came. Jesus welcomed them. He taught about God. He healed the sick. ❤️ 12 It got late. The friends said, “Send them away to get food.” 13 <jesus>You give them food.</jesus> They said, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” 14 There were about 5,000 men. <jesus>Make them sit in groups of about 50.</jesus> 15 They did what He said. All the people sat down. ✅ 16 Jesus took the bread and fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God. He broke the food and gave it to His friends to share. 17 All ate and were full. They picked up 12 baskets of food left over. 18 Jesus prayed alone. His friends were with Him. He asked, <jesus>Who do the people say I am?</jesus> ❓ 19 They said, “John.” “Elijah.” “A man of God from long ago.” ️ 20 Jesus said, <jesus>Who do you say I am?</jesus> Peter said, “You are God’s Son.” ✝️ 21 <jesus>Do not tell this to anyone yet.</jesus> 22 <jesus>I must suffer. The leaders and teachers will not accept Me. I will be killed. On day three I will live again.</jesus> ✝️➡️ 23 <jesus>If you want to follow Me, say no to self. Take up your cross each day. Follow Me.</jesus> ➕♀️♂️ 24 <jesus>If you try to keep your life, you will lose it. If you give your life for Me, you will save it.</jesus> ❤️ 25 <jesus>What good is it to have the whole world but lose your life?</jesus> ❌ 26 <jesus>If you are ashamed of Me and My words, I will be ashamed of you when I come with My Father and the angels.</jesus> 27 <jesus>Some of you will see God’s power soon.</jesus> ✨ 28 About eight days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a hill to pray. ⛰️ 29 As He prayed, His face changed, and His clothes shone bright white. ✨ 30 Two men came and talked with Him. They were Moses and Elijah. ✨ 31 They talked about His work in Jerusalem and how He would finish it. ️️ 32 Peter and the others were sleepy. They woke up and saw Jesus’ bright glory and the two men. ➡️ 33 As the men were leaving, Peter said, “This is good. Let’s make three tents.” He did not know what he was saying. ⛺⛺⛺ 34 A cloud came and covered them. They were afraid. ☁️ 35 A voice from the cloud said, “This is My Son. Listen to Him.” 36 When the voice stopped, Jesus was alone. They kept quiet and told no one. 37 The next day they came down the hill. A big crowd met Jesus. 38 A man cried out, “Teacher, please look at my boy. He is my only child.” 39 A bad spirit hurts him. He screams. He shakes hard and foams. It will not let him go. 40 “I asked Your friends to help, but they could not.” ❌ 41 <jesus>Believe! Bring your boy to Me.</jesus> ✋❤️ 42 As the boy came, the bad spirit threw him down and shook him. Jesus told the bad spirit to stop. He healed the boy and gave him back to his dad. ✨ 43 All the people were amazed at God. 44 While they were amazed, Jesus said, <jesus>Listen well. I will be given to men.</jesus> ⚠️ 45 They did not understand. It was hidden from them. They were afraid to ask Him. 46 The friends argued about who was the best. ️ 47 Jesus knew what they thought. He put a child by His side. ❤️ 48 <jesus>If you welcome this child, you welcome Me. If you welcome Me, you welcome the One who sent Me. The least one is the greatest.</jesus> ⬆️ 49 John said, “Teacher, we saw a man use Your name to make bad spirits go away. He was not with us. We tried to stop him.” 50 <jesus>Do not stop him. If he is not against you, he is for you.</jesus> 51 The time came for Jesus to go up. He set His face to go to Jerusalem. ️ 52 He sent helpers ahead. They went to a Samaritan town to get things ready. ♂️️ 53 But the people did not take Him in, because He was going to Jerusalem. 54 James and John said, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven?” ⬇️ 55 But Jesus turned and said no to them. ✋❌ 56 They went on to another town. ♂️➡️️ 57 A man said to Him, “I will follow You anywhere.” ♂️ 58 <jesus>Foxes have holes. Birds have nests. I have no place to rest My head.</jesus> ️❌ 59 Jesus said to another man, <jesus>Follow Me.</jesus> The man said, “First let me go bury my father.” ⚰️ 60 <jesus>Let others bury the dead. You go and tell the good news of God.</jesus> ❤️ 61 Another man said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me say bye to my family.” 62 <jesus>Do not look back. If you start the work and look back, you are not ready for God’s work.</jesus> ➡️