12. Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah must come first. Elijah makes all things the way they should be. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will treat him as if he were nothing?
13. I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him whatever they wanted to do. The Scriptures said this would happen to him.”
14. Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They saw a great crowd around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with them.
15. But when the crowd saw Jesus, they were 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 has a spirit from the devil in him. This spirit stops him from talking.
18. The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. My son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.”
19. Jesus answered, “You people don’t believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I go on being patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”
20. So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. He fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming from his mouth.
21. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?”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 for him, please have pity on us and help us.”
23. Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for him who believes.”
24. Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!”
25. Jesus saw that a crowd was running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit, saying, “You deaf and dumb spirit—I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”
26. The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead. And many people said, “He is dead!”
27. But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.