Third passover until Jesus' arrival at Bethany
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49
Healing the Demoniac Boy
The next day, after coming down off the mountain, Jesus saw a multitude of people. He saw that the scribes were questioning his 12 disciples.
When the crowd saw Jesus, they were amazed because Jesus’ face was shining.
Jesus asked the multitude and his disciples what questions were asked by the scribes.
One of the men in the crowd knelt before Jesus and said:
Teacher, I have brought my son, who has an evil spirit that keeps him from talking; he also has epilepsy and is suffering greatly. The evil spirit throws him down, and he gnashes his teeth and he foams at the mouth.
He is badly bruised from all the abuse and is full of sores. I brought the boy to your disciples but they could not cast out the evil spirit.
Jesus told the man:
Oh faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring your son to me.
They brought the boy to Jesus and when the boy saw Jesus, the demon threw him to the ground and he began thrashing about and foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the father:
How long has your son been like this?
The father replied:
Since he was a young child. Sometimes the unclean spirit throws him into the fire and sometimes he throws him into water.
If you can do anything for him, please have compassion on us and help us.
Jesus answered:
If I can! All things are possible to the one who believes.
Immediately the father of the child cried out to Jesus:
I believe, please help my unbelief!
When Jesus saw that people where running from everywhere to join the crowd, he rebuked the unclean spirit, and said to him:
You deaf and dumb spirit, I command you to come out of him and do not enter him again.
The unclean spirit caused a great deal of torment as he obstinately came out of the boy, and the boy lay still on the ground as if he were dead.
Jesus took the boy by the hand, pulled him up, and he was healed. Jesus gave the boy to his father.
All were astonished at the majesty of God.
Afterwards, Jesus went to the house where he was staying. His disciples came to him and asked him:
How come we could not cast out the unclean spirit?
Jesus said to them:
Because of your little faith. Listen to this truth and pay attention, for if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed you will say to this mountain, move to another place and it will move.
If you have faith, nothing will be impossible for you.
Then he said to them:
This kind of demon can only come out with prayer.