10. Then the LORD said, "I
will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife
will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the
tent, which was behind him.
11. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and
Sarah was past the age of childbearing.
12. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn
out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"
13. Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say,
`Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
14. Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed
time next year and Sarah will have a son."
15. Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."
But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."
14. When they came to the
other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of
the law arguing with them.
15. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder
and ran to greet him.
16. "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17. A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son,
who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the
mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to
drive out the spirit, but they could not."
19. "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long
shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy
to me."
20. So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw
the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming
at the mouth.
21. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered.
22. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But
if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23. "`If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible
for him who believes."
24. Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me
overcome my unbelief!"
25. When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the
evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command
you, come out of him and never enter him again."
26. The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy
looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."
27. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he
stood up.
28. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why
couldn't we drive it out?"
29. He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "