10. The followers asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come before the Messiah comes?”
11. Jesus answered, “They are right to say Elijah is coming. And it is true that Elijah will make all things the way they should be.
12. But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was, and they treated him badly, doing whatever they wanted to do. It is the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer.”
13. Then the followers understood that when Jesus said Elijah, he was really talking about John the Baptizer.
14. Jesus and the followers went back to the people. A man came to Jesus and bowed before him.
15. The man said, “Lord, be kind to my son. He suffers so much from the seizures he has. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16. I brought him to your followers, but they could not heal him.”
17. Jesus answered, “You people today have no faith. Your lives are so wrong! How long must I stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with you? Bring the boy here.”
18. Jesus gave a strong command to the demon inside the boy. The demon came out of the boy, and the boy was healed.
19. Then the followers came to Jesus alone. They said, “We tried to force the demon out of the boy, but we could not. Why were we not able to make the demon go out?”