38. A man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to take a look at my son, my only child.
39. Look, a spirit seizes him and, without any warning, he screams. It shakes him and causes him to foam at the mouth. It tortures him and rarely leaves him alone.
40. I begged your disciples to throw it out, but they couldn’t."
41. Jesus answered, "You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."
42. While he was coming, the demon threw him down and shook him violently. Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
43. Everyone was overwhelmed by God’s greatness. While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,
44. "Take these words to heart: the Human One is about to be delivered into human hands."
45. They didn’t understand this statement. Its meaning was hidden from them so they couldn’t grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.
46. An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.
47. Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him.
48. Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest."
49. John replied, "Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers."