Mark 9:1-29 ▼

1 Then he told them, |I tell all of you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.|

2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them,

3 and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

4 Then Elijah appeared to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Then Peter told Jesus, |Rabbi, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters —one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.|

6 (Peter didn't know how to respond, because they were terrified.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, |This is my Son, whom I love. Keep on listening to him!|

8 Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus alone.

9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept the matter to themselves but argued about what |rising from the dead| meant.

11 So they asked him, |Don't the scribes say that Elijah must come first?|

12 He told them, |Elijah is indeed coming first and will restore all things. Why, then, is it written that the Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be treated shamefully?

13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him.|

14 As they approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them.

15 The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

16 He asked the scribes, |What are you arguing about with them?|

17 A man in the crowd answered him, |Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won't let him talk.

18 Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they didn't have the power.|

19 Jesus told them, |You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!|

20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 Then Jesus asked his father, |How long has this been happening to him?| He said, |Since he was a child.

22 The spirit has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!|

23 Jesus told him, |'If you are able?' Everything is possible for the person who believes!|

24 With tears flowing, the child's father at once cried out, |I do believe! Help my unbelief!|

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, |You spirit that won't let him talk or hear—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!|

26 The spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead.

27 But Jesus took his hand and helped him up, and he stood up.

28 When Jesus came home, his disciples asked him privately, |Why couldn't we drive the spirit out?|

29 He told them, |This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.|