Matthew 17:6-16

6 When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death.
7 But Jesus came over and touched them. "Don't be afraid."
8 When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.
9 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. "Don't breathe a word of what you've seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk."
10 The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. "Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?"
11 Jesus answered, "Elijah does come and get everything ready.
12 I'm telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn't know him when they saw him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son of Man."
13 That's when the disciples realized that all along he had been talking about John the Baptizer.
14 At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging,
15 "Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river.
16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.