35. A voice came from the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I have chosen him. Listen to him."
36. When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept quiet about this. They didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
37. The next day Jesus and those who were with him came down from the mountain. A large crowd met Jesus.
38. A man in the crowd called out. "Teacher," he said, "I beg you to look at my son. He is my only child.
39. A spirit takes hold of him, and he suddenly screams. It throws him into fits so that he foams at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him. It is destroying him.
40. I begged your disciples to drive it out. But they couldn't do it."
41. "You unbelieving and evil people!" Jesus replied. "How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?" Then he said to the man, "Bring your son here."
42. Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him into a fit. The boy fell to the ground. But Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave the boy. Then Jesus healed him and gave him back to his father.
43. They were all amazed at God's greatness. Everyone was wondering about all that Jesus did. Then Jesus said to his disciples,
44. "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men."
45. But they didn't understand what this meant. That was because it was hidden from them. And they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
46. The disciples began to argue about which one of them would be the most important person.
47. Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had the child stand beside him.
48. Then he spoke to them. "Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me," he said. "And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. The least important person among all of you is the most important."
49. "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
50. "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "Anyone who is not against you is for you."
51. The time grew near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. So he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem.
52. He sent messengers on ahead. They went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him.