New Testament in a Year

Chapter 9

¹ Then he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”^[a]

Jesus Is Transfigured.^{[b] 2} Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And in their presence he was transfigured; ³ his clothes became dazzling white—whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. ⁴ And Elijah with Moses appeared, conversing with Jesus.

⁵ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He did not know what to say, for they were so frightened. ⁷ Then a cloud cast a shadow over them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.

Elijah Has Already Come.^{[c] 9} As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ Therefore, they kept the matter to themselves, although they did argue about what rising from the dead could possibly mean.

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² He said to them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things. Yet how is it written about the Son of Man?—that he must endure great suffering and be treated with contempt! ¹³ However, I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

¹⁴ Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by a Spirit.^[d] When they returned to the disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some scribes were engaged in an argument with them. ¹⁵ As soon as the people saw Jesus, they were overcome with awe and ran forward to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that makes him unable to speak. ¹⁸ Wherever it seizes him, it flings him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

¹⁹ Jesus said to them in reply, “O unbelieving generation, how much longer shall I remain with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” ²⁰ When they brought the boy to him, the spirit saw him and immediately threw the child into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the father, “How long has the boy been in this condition?” “From childhood,” he replied. ²² “It has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. If it is possible for you to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus answered, “If it is possible! All things are possible for one who has faith.” ²⁴ Immediately, the father of the child cried out, “I do believe. Help my unbelief.”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering around them, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and mute spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” ²⁶ Shrieking and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out of him. He lay there like a corpse, so that many remarked, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

²⁸ When he went indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to cast it out?” ²⁹ He answered, “This kind cannot be driven out except by prayer [and by fasting].”^[e]