1Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”
2Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed,
5Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials*9:5 Greek three tabernacles.—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”
9As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man*9:9 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. had risen from the dead.
11Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?*9:11 Greek that Elijah must come first?”
12Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?
14When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them.
16“What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.
17One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.
19Jesus said to them,*9:19 Or said to his disciples. “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy.
23“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
25When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil*9:25 Greek unclean. spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
26Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.”
28Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
29Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.*9:29 Some manuscripts read by prayer and fasting.”
30Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there,
33After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
36Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
38John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”
39“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.
42“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.
49“For everyone will be tested with fire.*9:49 Greek salted with fire; other manuscripts add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.