38. Just then someone in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, please do something for my son! He is my only child!
39. A demon often attacks him and makes him scream. It shakes him until he foams at the mouth, and it won't leave him until it has completely worn the boy out.
40. I begged your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn't do it.”
41. Jesus said to them, “You people are stubborn and don't have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you?”Then Jesus said to the man, “Bring your son to me.”
42. While the boy was being brought, the demon attacked him and made him shake all over. Jesus ordered the demon to stop. Then he healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
43. Everyone was amazed at God's great power.While everyone was still amazed at what Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples,
44. “Pay close attention to what I am telling you! The Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies.”
45. But the disciples did not know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them. They could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask.
46. Jesus' disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.
47. Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he had a child stand there beside him.
48. Then he said to his disciples, “When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me. Whichever one of you is the most humble is the greatest.”
49. John said, “Master, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of people. But we told him to stop, because he isn't one of us.”
50. “Don't stop him!” Jesus said. “Anyone who isn't against you is for you.”