Part 13

009:009 As they were coming down from the mountain, He very strictly forbad them to tell any one what they had seen "until after the Son of Man has risen from among the dead."

009:010 So they kept the matter to themselves, although frequently asking one another what was meant by the rising from the dead.

009:011 They also asked Him, "How is it that the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?"

009:012 "Elijah," He replied, "does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt?

009:013 Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him."

009:014 As they came to rejoin the disciples, they saw an immense crowd surrounding them and a party of Scribes disputing with them.

009:015 Immediately the whole multitude on beholding Him were astonished and awe-struck, and yet they ran forward and greeted Him.

009:016 "What is the subject you are discussing?" He asked them.

009:017 "Rabbi," answered one of the crowd, "I have brought you my son. He has a dumb spirit in him;

009:018 and wherever it comes upon him, it dashes him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I begged your disciples to expel it, but they had not the power."

009:019 "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me."

009:020 So they brought him to Jesus. And the spirit, when he saw Jesus, immediately threw the youth into convulsions, so that he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

009:021 Then Jesus asked the father, "How long has he been like this?" "From early childhood," he said;

009:022 "and often it has thrown him into the fire or into pools of water to destroy him. But, if you possibly can, have pity on us and help us."

009:023 "'If I possibly can!'" replied Jesus; "why, everything is possible to him who believes."

009:024 Immediately the father cried out, "I do believe: strengthen my weak faith."

009:025 Then Jesus, seeing that an increasing crowd was running towards Him, rebuked the foul spirit, and said to it, "Dumb and deaf spirit, *I* command you, come out of him and never enter into him again."

009:026 So with a loud cry he threw the boy into fit after fit, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, so that most of them said he was dead;

009:027 but Jesus took his hand and raised him up, and he stood on his feet.

009:028 After the return of Jesus to the house His disciples asked Him privately, "How is it that we could not expel the spirit?"

009:029 "An evil spirit of this kind," He answered, "can only be driven out by prayer."

009:030 Departing thence they passed through Galilee, and He was unwilling that any one should know it;

009:031 for He was teaching His disciples, and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will put Him to death; and after being put to death, in three days He will rise to life again."

009:032 They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

009:033 So they came to Capernaum; and when in the house He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"

009:034 But they remained silent; for on the way they had debated with one another who was the chief of them.

009:035 Then sitting down He called the Twelve, and said to them, "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

009:036 And taking a young child He made him stand in their midst, then threw His arms round him and said,