MarkChapter 9
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1Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, some of you standing here will not die before you see the kingdom of God come with power."a 2Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. He led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. There Jesus' appearance was changed in front of them.b 3His clothes became shining white. They were whiter than anyone on earth could ever bleach them. 4Then Elijah and Moses appeared in front of them. They were talking with Jesus. 5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6They were all so afraid that Peter didn't know what else to say. 7Then a cloud appeared and covered them. A voice came from the cloud. "This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him!" 8Suddenly they looked around. They no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9They were coming down the mountain. Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen. They must wait until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept it to themselves. But they talked about what "rising from the dead" meant. 11They asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12He answered, "It's true that Elijah comes first. He makes all things right again. Then why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has already come. And they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him." 14They came back to the other disciples. They saw a large crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with wonder. They ran to greet him. 16"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that keeps him from talking. 18Whenever it takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. His body becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they couldn't." 19"You people have no faith!" Jesus answered. "How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20So they brought the boy. When the spirit saw Jesus, it right away made the boy shake wildly. He fell to the ground. He rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening to him?" "Since he was a child," he answered. 22"It often throws him into fire or into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us." 23"'If you can'?" Jesus said. "All things are possible for the one who believes!" 24Right away the boy's father cried out, "I do believe! Help me with my unbelief!" 25Jesus saw that a crowd was running toward them. So he gave an order to the unclean spirit. "You spirit that makes him deaf and unable to talk," he said, "I command you to come out of him. Never go into him again!" 26The spirit screamed. It shook the boy hard and then came out. The boy looked like he was dead. Many people said, "He's dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up. And the boy stood up. 28Later Jesus went into the house. His disciples asked him in private, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29Jesus answered, "This kind can come out only by prayer." 30They left that place and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were. 31This was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, "The Son of Man will be handed over to people. They will kill him. After three days he will rise." 32But they did not understand what he meant. And they were afraid to ask him about it. 33Then they came to Capernaum. When Jesus was in the house, he asked them, "What were you talking about on the road?" 34But they did not answer. On the road they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35Jesus sat down and called the Twelve to him. He said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the last of all. He must be the servant of all." 36Then he had a little child stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said to them, 37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes not only me. He also welcomes the one who sent me." 38John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he is not one of our group." 39"Don't stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can soon turn around and say bad things about me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41Someone might give you just a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah. I tell you the truth, that person will never lose his reward.c 42These little ones believe in me. Suppose someone causes one of them to stumble into sin. It would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell. There the fire never goes out. 44—d 45If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46—e 47If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48In hell, 'their worm never dies, and the fire never goes out.' 49Everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves. And live in peace with each other."