Jesus Talks Again About His Death

³²Jesus and the people with him were going to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the people. Jesus' followers were amazed. But those people that followed behind them were afraid. Jesus gathered the twelve apostles* again and talked with them alone. Jesus told them what would happen in Jerusalem. ³³Jesus said, "We are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man* will be given to the leading priests and teachers of the law. The priests and the teachers of the law will say that the Son of Man must die. They will give the Son of Man to the non-Jewish people. ³⁴Those people will laugh at him and spit on him. They will beat him with whips and kill him. But on the third day after his death, he will rise to life again."

James and John Ask a Favor

³⁵Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to ask you to do something for us." ³⁶Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" ³⁷The sons answered, "You will have glory [in your kingdom]. Let one of us sit at your right, and let one of us sit at your left." ³⁸Jesus said, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you accept the kind of suffering that I must have*? And can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism* that I must have?" ³⁹The sons answered, "Yes, we can!" Jesus said to the sons, "You will suffer the same things that I will suffer. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must have. ⁴⁰But I cannot choose the person that will sit at my right or my left. There are some people that will have those places. Those places are prepared for them." ⁴¹The other ten followers heard this. They became angry with James and John. ⁴²Jesus called all the followers together. Jesus said, "The non-Jewish people have men they call rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. ⁴³But it should not be that way with you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. ⁴⁴If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave. ⁴⁵In the same way, the Son of Man* did not come for other people to serve him. But the Son of Man came to serve other people. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people."

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

⁴⁶Then they came to the town of Jericho. Jesus was leaving that town with his followers and many other people. A blind man named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road. This man was always begging for money. ⁴⁷The blind man heard that Jesus from Nazareth was walking by. The blind man shouted, "Jesus, Son of David,* please help me!" ⁴⁸Many people criticized the blind man. They told him not to speak. But the blind man shouted more and more, "Son of David,* please help me!" ⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, "Tell the man to come here." So they called the blind man. They said, "Be happy! Stand up! Jesus is calling you." ⁵⁰The blind man stood quickly. He left his coat there and went to Jesus. ⁵¹Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man answered, "Teacher, I want to see again." ⁵²Jesus said, "Go. You are healed because you believed." Then the man was able to see again. He followed Jesus on the road.

apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. accept the kind of suffering that I must have Literally, "drink the cup that I must drink." baptized with the same kind of baptism Has a special meaning here--being "baptized" or "buried" in troubles. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. Son of David Name for the Christ, who was from the family of David, king of Israel.