Mark 9:1-29

Easy-to-Read Version

9 Then Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that some of you people standing here will see God’s kingdom come with power before you die.”

Jesus Is Seen With Moses and Elijah^(A)

² Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. While these followers watched him, Jesus was changed. ³ His clothes became shining white—whiter than anyone on earth could make them. ⁴ Then two men were there talking with Jesus. They were Elijah and Moses.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ Peter did not know what to say, because he and the other two followers were so afraid.

⁷ Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my Son, the one I love. Obey him!”

⁸ The followers looked, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.

⁹ As Jesus and the followers were walking back down the mountain, he gave them these instructions: “Don’t tell anyone about what you saw on the mountain. Wait until after the Son of Man rises from death. Then you can tell people what you saw.”

¹⁰ So the followers waited to say anything about what they saw. But they discussed among themselves what Jesus meant about rising from death. ¹¹ They asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come^[a] first?”

¹² Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah must come first. Elijah makes all things the way they should be. But why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will think he is worth nothing? ¹³ I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him all the bad things they wanted to do. The Scriptures said this would happen to him.”

Jesus Frees a Boy From an Evil Spirit^(B)

¹⁴ Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They saw many people around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with the followers. ¹⁵ When the people saw Jesus, they were very surprised and ran to welcome him.

¹⁶ Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about with the teachers of the law?”

¹⁷ A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is controlled by an evil spirit that keeps him from talking. ¹⁸ The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they could not.”

¹⁹ Jesus answered, “You people today don’t believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”

²⁰ So the followers brought the boy to Jesus. When the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. The boy fell down and rolled on the ground. He was foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

The father answered, “Since he was very young. ²² The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!”

²⁵ Jesus saw that all the people were running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit. He said, “You evil spirit that makes this boy deaf and stops him from talking—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ The evil spirit screamed. It caused the boy to fall on the ground again, and then it came out. The boy looked as if he was dead. Many people said, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.

²⁸ Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer.^[b]”