Good News Bible

Mark 9:30-45 Good News Bible (GNB)

30. Jesus and his disciples left that place and went on through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was,

31. because he was teaching his disciples: “The Son of Man will be handed over to those who will kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life.”

32. But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

33. They came to Capernaum, and after going indoors Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

34. But they would not answer him, because on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest.

35. Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all.”

36. Then he took a child and made him stand in front of them. He put his arms round him and said to them,

37. “Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me.”

38. John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man who was driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group.”

39. “Do not try to stop him,” Jesus told them, “because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterwards to say evil things about me.

40. For whoever is not against us is for us.

41. I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive his reward.

42. “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied round his neck and be thrown into the sea.

43. So if your hand makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than to keep both hands and go off to hell, to the fire that never goes out.

45. And if your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a foot than to keep both feet and be thrown into hell.