Y les decía: En verdad os digo que hay algunos de los que están aquí que no probarán la muerte hasta que vean el reino de Dios después de que haya venido con poder(A).

La transfiguración

(B)Seis días después, Jesús tomó* consigo a Pedro, a Jacobo[a] y a Juan(C), y los llevó* aparte, solos, a un monte alto; y se transfiguró delante de ellos; y sus vestiduras se volvieron resplandecientes, muy blancas(D), tal como ningún lavandero sobre la tierra las puede emblanquecer. Y se les apareció Elías junto con Moisés, y estaban hablando con Jesús. Entonces Pedro, interviniendo[b], dijo* a Jesús: Rabí[c](E), bueno es estarnos aquí; hagamos tres enramadas[d], una para ti, otra para Moisés y otra para Elías(F). Porque él no sabía qué decir[e], pues estaban aterrados. Entonces se formó[f] una nube, cubriéndolos, y una voz(G) salió[g] de la nube: Este es mi Hijo amado; a Él oíd[h](H). Y enseguida miraron en derredor, pero ya no vieron a nadie con ellos, sino a Jesús solo.

La venida de Elías

(I)Cuando bajaban del monte, les ordenó que no contaran a nadie(J) lo que habían visto, hasta que[i] el Hijo del Hombre resucitara de entre los muertos. 10 Y se guardaron para sí lo dicho, discutiendo entre sí qué significaría[j] resucitar de entre los muertos. 11 Y le preguntaron, diciendo: ¿Por qué dicen los escribas que Elías debe venir primero(K)? 12 Y Él les dijo: Es cierto que Elías, al venir primero, restaurará[k] todas las cosas. Y, sin embargo, ¿cómo está escrito del Hijo del Hombre(L) que padezca mucho(M) y sea despreciado? 13 Pero yo os digo que Elías ya[l] ha venido, y le hicieron cuanto quisieron, tal como está escrito de él.

Jesús sana a un muchacho endemoniado

14 (N)Cuando volvieron a los discípulos, vieron una gran multitud que les rodeaba, y a unos escribas que discutían con ellos. 15 Enseguida, cuando toda la multitud vio a Jesús[m], quedó sorprendida(O), y corriendo hacia Él, le saludaban. 16 Y Él les preguntó: ¿Qué discutís con ellos? 17 Y uno de la multitud le respondió: Maestro, te traje a mi hijo que tiene un espíritu mudo, 18 y siempre[n] que se apodera de él, lo derriba, y echa espumarajos, cruje los dientes y se va consumiendo[o]. Y dije a tus discípulos que lo expulsaran, pero no pudieron. 19 Respondiéndoles Jesús, dijo*: ¡Oh generación incrédula! ¿Hasta cuándo estaré con vosotros? ¿Hasta cuándo os tendré que soportar? ¡Traédmelo! 20 Y se lo trajeron. Y cuando el espíritu vio a Jesús[p], al instante sacudió con violencia al muchacho[q], y este, cayendo a tierra, se revolcaba echando espumarajos. 21 Jesús preguntó al padre: ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que le sucede esto? Y él respondió: Desde su niñez. 22 Y muchas veces lo ha echado en el fuego y también en el agua para destruirlo. Pero si tú puedes hacer algo, ten misericordia de nosotros y ayúdanos. 23 Jesús le dijo: «¿Cómo si tú puedes?». Todas las cosas son posibles para el que cree(P). 24 Al instante el padre del muchacho gritó y dijo: Creo; ayúdame en mi incredulidad. 25 Cuando Jesús vio que se agolpaba[r](Q) una multitud, reprendió al espíritu inmundo, diciéndole: Espíritu mudo y sordo, yo te ordeno: Sal de él y no vuelvas a entrar en él. 26 Y después de gritar y de sacudirlo con terribles convulsiones, salió: y el muchacho quedó como muerto, tanto, que la mayoría de ellos decían: ¡Está muerto! 27 Pero Jesús, tomándolo de la mano, lo levantó, y él se puso en pie. 28 Cuando entró Jesús en la casa(R), sus discípulos le preguntaban en privado: ¿Por qué nosotros no pudimos echarlo fuera? 29 Y Él les dijo: Esta clase con nada puede salir, sino con oración[s].

Jesús anuncia otra vez su muerte

30 (S)Saliendo de allí, iban pasando por Galilea, y Él no quería que nadie lo supiera. 31 Porque enseñaba a sus discípulos, y les decía: El Hijo del Hombre será entregado en manos de los hombres y le matarán; y después de muerto, a los tres días resucitará(T). 32 Pero ellos no entendían lo que decía[t](U), y tenían miedo de preguntarle.

El mayor en el reino de los cielos

33 (V)Y llegaron a Capernaúm; y estando ya en la casa, les preguntaba: ¿Qué discutíais por el camino? 34 Pero ellos guardaron silencio, porque en el camino habían discutido entre sí quién de ellos era el mayor(W). 35 Sentándose, llamó a los doce y les dijo*: Si alguno desea ser el primero, será[u] el último de todos y el servidor de todos(X). 36 Y tomando a un niño, lo puso en medio de ellos; y tomándolo en sus brazos les dijo: 37 El que reciba a un niño como este[v] en mi nombre, a mí me recibe; y el que me recibe a mí, no me recibe a mí, sino a aquel que me envió(Y).

Recompensas y advertencias

38 (Z)Juan le dijo: Maestro, vimos a uno echando fuera demonios en tu nombre, y tratamos de impedírselo, porque no nos seguía. 39 Pero Jesús dijo: No se lo impidáis, porque no hay nadie que haga un milagro en mi nombre, y que pueda enseguida hablar mal de mí. 40 Pues el que no está contra nosotros, por nosotros[w] está(AA). 41 Porque cualquiera que os dé de beber un vaso de agua, por razón de vuestro[x] nombre, ya que sois seguidores de Cristo, en verdad os digo que no perderá su recompensa(AB). 42 Y cualquiera que haga tropezar[y] a uno de estos pequeñitos que creen en mí, mejor le fuera si le hubieran atado[z] al cuello una piedra de molino de las que mueve un asno, y lo hubieran echado al mar(AC). 43 Y si tu mano te es ocasión de pecar[aa], córtala; te es mejor entrar en la vida manco, que teniendo las dos manos ir al infierno[ab](AD), al fuego inextinguible(AE), 44 [ac]donde el gusano de ellos no muere, y el fuego no se apaga. 45 Y si tu pie te es ocasión de pecar, córtalo; te es mejor entrar cojo a la vida, que teniendo los dos pies ser echado al infierno[ad](AF), 46 [ae]donde el gusano de ellos no muere, y el fuego no se apaga. 47 Y si tu ojo te es ocasión de pecar, sácatelo; te es mejor entrar al reino de Dios con un solo ojo, que teniendo dos ojos ser echado al infierno[af](AG), 48 donde el gusano de ellos no muere(AH), y el fuego no se apaga(AI). 49 Porque todos serán salados con fuego[ag]. 50 La sal es buena; pero si la sal se vuelve insípida, ¿con qué la sazonaréis(AJ)? Tened sal en vosotros(AK) y estad en paz los unos con los otros(AL).

Footnotes

  1. Marcos 9:2 O, Santiago
  2. Marcos 9:5 Lit., respondiendo
  3. Marcos 9:5 O, Maestro
  4. Marcos 9:5 O, tiendas sagradas
  5. Marcos 9:6 Lit., responder
  6. Marcos 9:7 O, se originó
  7. Marcos 9:7 O, se originó
  8. Marcos 9:7 O, prestad atención constante
  9. Marcos 9:9 Lit., sino cuando
  10. Marcos 9:10 Lit., qué era el
  11. Marcos 9:12 Lit., restaura
  12. Marcos 9:13 Lit., también
  13. Marcos 9:15 Lit., El
  14. Marcos 9:18 O, dondequiera
  15. Marcos 9:18 O, se pone tieso
  16. Marcos 9:20 Lit., El
  17. Marcos 9:20 Lit., a él
  18. Marcos 9:25 O, corría a juntarse
  19. Marcos 9:29 Muchos mss. agregan: y ayuno
  20. Marcos 9:32 Lit., la palabra
  21. Marcos 9:35 O, que sea
  22. Marcos 9:37 Lit., a uno de tales niños
  23. Marcos 9:40 O, de parte nuestra
  24. Marcos 9:41 Lit., en un
  25. Marcos 9:42 O, escandalice
  26. Marcos 9:42 Lit., es mejor para él que esté atada
  27. Marcos 9:43 Lit., tropezar, y así en los vers. 45 y 47
  28. Marcos 9:43 Gr., guéenna
  29. Marcos 9:44 Muchos mss. antiguos no incluyen los vers. 44 y 46, que son idénticos al 48
  30. Marcos 9:45 Gr., guéenna
  31. Marcos 9:46 Muchos mss. antiguos no incluyen los vers. 44 y 46, que son idénticos al 48
  32. Marcos 9:47 Gr., guéenna
  33. Marcos 9:49 Algunos mss. agregan: y todo sacrificio será salado con sal

Three disciples see how great Jesus is

Jesus then said to them, ‘I tell you this: Some people who are standing here will see God begin to rule in his kingdom with great power. They will see that before they die.’

Six days after that, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go with him. Jesus led them up a high mountain, where they were alone together. Peter, James and John saw Jesus change in front of them. His clothes became very white; they were shining. They were a brighter white than anyone on earth could wash them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared in front of the three disciples. Elijah and Moses were talking with Jesus.[a][b]

So Peter said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, it is good that we are here. Please let us build three huts. One hut will be for you. One hut will be for Moses. And one hut will be for Elijah.’ Peter did not really know what to say. That was because the three disciples were very afraid.[c]

Then a cloud appeared and it covered them all. A voice spoke from the cloud and it said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him.’

At that moment, the three disciples looked around. They saw that nobody else was there now. Only Jesus was there with them.

While they were walking down the mountain, Jesus said to the three disciples, ‘You must not tell anyone now about the things that you have just seen. One day the Son of Man will become alive again after his death. Then you can tell people about these things.’ 10 The three disciples kept these words secret. But they talked together about the words, ‘become alive again after his death’. They asked each other, ‘What does this mean?’

11 Then the three disciples asked Jesus, ‘Why do the teachers of God's Law say that God's prophet Elijah must return first, before the Messiah comes?’

12 Jesus said to them, ‘Elijah does come first. He makes everything ready. But what is written in the Bible about the Son of Man? It says that people will cause him to suffer a lot. They will think that he is nothing.[d] 13 But I tell you that Elijah has already come.[e] People did to him everything that they wanted to do. The Bible already showed that those things would happen to him.’

Jesus helps a boy who has a bad spirit

14 They reached the place where the other disciples were. They saw that there was a large crowd there with them. Some teachers of God's Law were arguing with the disciples. 15 The people in the crowd saw Jesus and immediately they were very surprised. They ran to say ‘hello’ to Jesus.

16 Jesus asked his disciples, ‘What are you arguing about with the teachers of God's Law?’

17 A man in the crowd answered. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is not able to speak because he has a bad spirit. 18 When the bad spirit takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. Water comes out of his mouth and he bites his teeth together. Then his body stops moving. I asked your disciples to send the spirit out of him. But they were not able to do it.’

19 Jesus replied, ‘You people today still do not believe in God. I have been with you for a long time and still you do not believe. It is difficult for me to be patient with you. Bring the boy to me.’

20 So the people brought the boy to Jesus. When the bad spirit saw Jesus, it immediately caused the boy's body to shake strongly. The boy fell onto the ground and he rolled about. Water was coming from his mouth.

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

‘He has been like this since he was a small boy,’ the father replied. 22 ‘Often the spirit has caused him to fall into the fire or into water. It is trying to kill him. Please be kind to us. If you can do anything, help us!’

23 Jesus said to the father, ‘You should not say, “If you can do anything.” Everything is possible for those people who believe.’

24 Immediately, the boy's father shouted, ‘Oh! I believe! Help me to believe more!’

25 Jesus saw that the crowd of people was quickly becoming bigger. So he told the bad spirit to stop. Jesus said to it, ‘Spirit, I am telling you that you must leave this boy. He cannot hear or speak because of you. I tell you to come out of him! You must never go into him again.’

26 The spirit screamed. It caused the boy's body to shake many times. Then it came out of him. The boy seemed to be dead, so many people said, ‘He is dead.’ 27 But Jesus held the boy's hand and he helped the boy to stand up.

28 Jesus went into a house and the disciples were alone with him. Then they asked him, ‘Why could we not cause the bad spirit to leave the boy?’

29 Jesus said to them, ‘You must pray. This kind of spirit will not leave a person unless you pray.’

30 Jesus and his disciples left that place. They passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was. 31 That was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, ‘Soon, they will give the Son of Man to powerful people. They will take him away and they will kill him. But three days after that, he will become alive again.’ 32 The disciples did not understand what Jesus had said. But they were afraid to ask him.

Jesus explains who will be the most important person

33 Jesus and his disciples arrived at Capernaum. When they were in the house, Jesus asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ 34 But they did not say anything. They did not want to tell Jesus why they were arguing. On the way, they had argued about who was the most important disciple.

35 Jesus sat down. He told the 12 apostles to come to him. Then he said to them, ‘If you want to be the leader, make yourself less important than everyone else. You must become the servant of everyone.’

36 Then Jesus brought a child to stand in the middle of them all. He took hold of the child and he said to the disciples, 37 ‘If someone accepts a child like this because of me, then that person also accepts me. If he accepts me, then he is not only accepting me. He is also accepting my Father God, who sent me.’[f]

38 John said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we saw a man who was causing bad spirits to go out of people. He was using your authority to do it. But he is not in our group. So we told him that he must not do it.’

39 ‘Do not tell him to stop,’ Jesus said. ‘That man is using my authority to do powerful things. Someone who does that cannot immediately say anything bad about me. 40 If someone is not against us, he is working to help us. 41 Somebody may give you a cup of water because you are a servant of the Messiah. I tell you this: God will bless that person and he will never lose God's help.

42 A person who believes in me may not seem important. But you should never make that person do wrong things. Do not do that! It would be better if someone tied a big stone around your neck and then he threw you into the sea!

43-44 If your hand causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off.[g] You will only have one hand, but you can have God's true life. It will be much worse for you if you keep both your hands and go to hell. There, the fire always burns and never stops. 45-46 If your foot causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off. You will only have one foot, but you can have God's true life. It will be much worse if you keep your two feet and go to hell. 47 If your eye causes you to do wrong things, then you should remove it. Then you will only have one eye, but you can go into the kingdom of God. It will be much worse if you keep both your eyes and God throws you into hell.

48 “In hell, the worms do not die,
and the fire never goes out.” [h][i]

49 God will put fire on everybody, as people put salt on food.[j] 50 Salt is good. But if your salt is not salty any more, you cannot make it salty again. You should be like good salt and love each other. Do not cause trouble among yourselves.’

Footnotes

  1. 9:4 Moses had lived a long time before Jesus. He was a leader of God's people. He died about 1400 years before Jesus was born. We can read about Moses in the book of Exodus.
  2. 9:4 Elijah was one of God's special servants who spoke God's messages to the people. He lived about 850 years before Jesus was born. He was still alive when God took him up to live in heaven. We can read about Elijah in 1 Kings.
  3. 9:6 Peter and his friends wanted to build the huts so that these important people could stay with them longer. But God did not want them to remain on the mountain. God sent these two men to talk to Jesus. They talked about the things that would happen in Jerusalem. Jesus would die on a cross there. See Luke 9:31.
  4. 9:12 See 1 Kings 19:1-3
  5. 9:13 When Jesus talked to them about Elijah, he was also talking about John the Baptist. Herod did cruel things to John. See Mark 6:14-28
  6. 9:37 Jesus loved children. And he showed his disciples that a child is important to God. We should also love people who do not seem important.
  7. 9:43-44 Jesus does not want his disciples to cut their bodies. But it is very important for them not to do wrong things. That is what Jesus is telling them.
  8. 9:48 See Isaiah 66:24. These worms live in dead bodies.
  9. 9:48 Some old copies of the Bible repeat the words of verse 48 in verse 44 and in verse 46.
  10. 9:49 The fire will show what is good in everyone's lives.