45. They didn’t understand this statement. Its meaning was hidden from them so they couldn’t grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.
46. An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.
47. Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him.
48. Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest."
49. John replied, "Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers."
50. But Jesus replied, "Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you."
51. As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem.
52. He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival,
53. but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.
54. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?"
55. But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them,
56. and they went on to another village.
57. As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58. Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head."
59. Then Jesus said to someone else, "Follow me." He replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."