Mark 9:9-29

9As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.

11Then they asked him, “Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12He said to them, “Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised?

13But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”

14When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them.

15When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him.

16He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

17A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.

18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.”

19He answered them, “You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me.”

20So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

22It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

24Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

25Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He is dead!”

27But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.

28Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

29He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”