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Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(A)

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were arguing with them. 15 All the people were very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

16 Jesus asked the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “What are you arguing about with them?”

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.”

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

20 They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has he been like this?”

The father replied, “He has been this way since he was a child. 22 The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”

23 Jesus said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”

24 The child’s father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, “You spirit that won’t let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!”

27 Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

28 When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?”

29 He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.” [a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:29 Some manuscripts and translations add “and fasting.”

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

14 (A)And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, (B)were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has (C)a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and (D)they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O (E)faithless generation, (F)how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it (G)convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But (H)if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, (I)“‘If you can’! (J)All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[a] and said, “I believe; (K)help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that (L)a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, (M)“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and (N)convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus (O)took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had (P)entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:24 Some manuscripts add with tears
  2. Mark 9:29 Some manuscripts add and fasting