Mark 9

The Transfiguration

1 Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth, some standing here right now will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. Right there, He was changed in front of them.

3 His clothes started shining, bright, pure white, whiter than anything on earth could get them.

4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared, talking with Jesus.

5 Peter did not even know what to say, but he spoke anyway, “Rabbi, it is good we are here. Let us put up three shelters, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

6 He was shook and did not know what he was saying.

7 Then a cloud covered them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My Son, the One I love. Listen to Him.”

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they did not see anyone else anymore, just Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus told them, “Do not tell anyone what you saw until the Son of Man rises from the dead.”

10 They kept that to themselves but were talking about what “rising from the dead” even meant.

11 They asked Him, “Why do the scribes say Elijah has to come first?”

12 He said, “Elijah does come first and restores all things. But why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected,

13 I am telling you, Elijah has already come, and they did whatever they wanted to him, just like it is written about him.”

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

14 When they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

15 As soon as the crowd saw Jesus, they were amazed and ran up to greet Him.

16 He asked, “What are you arguing about?”

17 One man from the crowd said, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that keeps him from speaking.

18 Whenever it takes hold of him, it throws him down. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

19 Jesus said, “This unbelieving generation, how long do I have to be with you, How long do I have to put up with you, Bring him to Me.”

20 So they brought the boy. When the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a violent convulsion. He fell to the ground, rolling around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening?” He said, “Since he was a child.

22 It often throws him into fire or water trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said, “If I can, Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw the crowd running in, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit screamed, threw the boy into one last violent convulsion, and came out. The boy looked like he was dead, and many said, “He is dead.”

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus went inside, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 He said, “This kind can only come out by prayer.”

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

30 They left there and passed through Galilee, but Jesus did not want anyone to know,

31 because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”

32 But they did not understand what He meant and were too afraid to ask Him.

Who Is the Greatest

33 They came to Capernaum, and when He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

34 They stayed quiet, because on the way they had been arguing about who was the greatest.

35 Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said, “If anyone wants to be first, they must be last of all and servant of all.”

36 Then He took a child, placed him among them, and holding the child, He said,

37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little ones in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me is not just welcoming Me, but the One who sent Me.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me right after.

40 Whoever is not against us is for us.

41 I am telling you, anyone who gives you even a cup of water because you belong to Christ will not lose their reward.”

Temptations to Sin

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a heavy stone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better to enter life missing a hand than to go into hell with both hands, where the fire never goes out.

44 That is where their worm does not die and the fire is never put out.

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better to enter life crippled than to be thrown into hell with both feet.

46 That is where their worm does not die and the fire is never put out.

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two,

48 where the worm does not die and the fire does not go out.

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 Salt is good, but if it loses its flavor, how can you make it salty again, Have salt in yourselves, and live in peace with each other.”