Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

9:37–42,43–45pp—Mt 17:14–18,22,23; Mk 9:14–27,30–32

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,”w Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”x 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it,y and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.z 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts,a took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.b For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”c

49 “Master,”d said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”e

Samaritan Opposition

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,f Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.g 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritanh village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and Johni saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy themb?”j 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

9:57–60pp—Mt 8:19–22

57 As they were walking along the road,k a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Manl has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”m

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”n

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”o

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”