And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked them, "What question ye with them?" And one of the multitude came to him kneeling, and saying, "Teacher, I beseech thee to look upon my son: for he is mine only child: and behold, he hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." And Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? Bring hither thy son." And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, "How long time is it since this hath come unto him?" And he said, "From a child. And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." And Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth." Straightway the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief." And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose, and Jesus gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "How is it that we could not cast it out?" And he said unto them, "This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." |