Mark 9:20-41

²⁰They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

²¹“How long has he been like this?” Jesus asked the boy's father.

²²“From his childhood,” he answered; “and it has often thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us!”

²³“Why say ‘possibly’?” Jesus replied. “Everything is possible for one who has faith.”

²⁴The boy's father immediately cried out, “I have faith; help my want of faith!”

²⁵But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit, “Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again.”

²⁶With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead.

²⁷But Jesus took his hand, and lifted him; and he stood up.

²⁸When Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn't we drive it out?”

²⁹“A spirit of this kind,” he said, “can be driven out only by prayer.”

³⁰Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish anyone to know it,

³¹for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them — “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days.”

³²But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him.

³³They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

³⁴But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest.

³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.”

³⁶Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Taking it in his arms, he said to them,

³⁷“Anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his messenger.”

³⁸“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us.”

³⁹“None of you must prevent the man,” answered Jesus, “for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me.

⁴⁰He who is not against us is for us.

⁴¹If anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he will assuredly not lose his reward.