The Power of Jesus over a Demon

³⁷ The next day,^(A) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he’s my only child.^{(B) 39} A spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; severely bruising him, it scarcely ever leaves him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse^[a] generation,^(D) how long will I be with you and put up with you?^(E) Bring your son here.”

⁴² As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy,^(F) and gave him back to his father.^{(G) 43} And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.^(H)

The Second Prediction of His Death

While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing,^(I) he told his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words sink in:^[b] The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”^(J)

⁴⁵ But they did not understand this statement;^(K) it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it,^(L) and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Who Is the Greatest?

⁴⁶ An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.^{(M) 47} But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts,^[c](N) took a little child and had him stand next to him. ⁴⁸ He told them, “Whoever welcomes^[d] this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^(O) For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”^(P)

In His Name

⁴⁹ John responded,^(Q) “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,^(R) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”^(S)

⁵⁰ “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”^[e](T)