Mark 9:14-29

New Testament for Everyone

The demon-possessed boy

¹⁴ The four of them made their way back to the other disciples. There they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and legal experts arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as the crowd saw Jesus they were astounded, and they all ran up to greet him.

¹⁶ “What’s all the fuss about?” he asked.

¹⁷ “Teacher,” said someone from the crowd, “I brought my son to you. He’s got a spirit that stops him speaking. ¹⁸ Whenever it takes hold of him it throws him on the ground; he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and goes rigid. I spoke to your disciples about casting it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation!” replied Jesus. “How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

²⁰ They brought him to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ “How long has it been like this with him?” asked Jesus.

“Since childhood,” replied the man. ²² “Often it even throws him into the fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything . . . please, please help us! Have pity on us!”

²³ “What d’you mean, ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible to someone who believes.”

²⁴ At this the father gave a great shout. “I do believe!” he roared. “Help me in my unbelief!”

²⁵ Jesus saw that the crowd was getting bigger by the minute. He scolded the unclean spirit: “Speechless and deaf spirit,” he said, “I command you—come out of him, and never go back again!”

²⁶ The spirit yelled, gave the boy a huge convulsion, and came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people did say “He’s dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸ “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” asked his disciples, once they were back in the house by themselves.

²⁹ “This sort,” replied Jesus, “can only be cast out by prayer.”