Mark 9:14-29

¹⁴When Peter, James and John came down the mountain to the other apprentices, they saw that a large crowd had gathered around them, with some teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵As soon as all the crowd saw Jesus, they expressed their great amazement at his unexpected appearance and rushed up to greet him. ¹⁶He asked them, ‘What are you arguing with them about?’

¹⁷A man in the crowd spoke up and answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He’s possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. ¹⁸Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him to the ground while he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and his whole body becomes stiff. I asked your apprentices to drive out the spirit, but I was disappointed that they couldn’t – they weren’t powerful enough to do so.’

¹⁹Jesus responded, ‘You unbelieving generation! Why don’t you trust God? How long can I remain with you? How long can I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’

²⁰So they brought the boy to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. The boy fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has he been like this?’

His father replied, ‘Since childhood; ²²it has also often thrown him into fire and water to try to destroy him. His situation is hopeless. But if you can do anything, I beg you, please have pity on us and help us in this awful suffering we’re going through.’

²³‘What do you mean, “If you can”?’ replied Jesus. ‘Why do you have doubts? Everything is possible if you believe! God’s power is not limited. No situation is too tough for him.’

²⁴The boy’s father didn’t pretend but immediately answered honestly and from his heart, ‘My faith is weak. I do believe a little, but I also have doubts. Help my faith to grow, so that I’ll trust in you more!’

²⁵When Jesus saw a crowd closing in on them, he rebuked the evil spirit, ‘You deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of the boy and never enter him again!’

²⁶The spirit shrieked and convulsed the boy terribly, then came out of him. The boy looked so much like a stiff lifeless body that many of the people said he had died.

²⁷But Jesus took the boy by the hand, lifted him to his feet to stand upright. ²⁸When Jesus had gone inside the house, his apprentices asked him in private, ‘Why couldn’t we drive out the evil spirit? Why didn’t we have enough power?’

²⁹Jesus answered them, ‘The truth is that you’ve become too self-confident: you always need to depend on me in prayer. This kind of evil spirit can only be driven out by prayer.’