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Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Art Resource, NY

A winged demon flies away from a possessed boy. In this 1416 illumination from Les très riches heures of the Duke of Berry, the youth’s father supports the boy as Jesus blesses and cures him. According to Mark 9, the father brings the child to Jesus and asks, “If you are able, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus responds angrily: “If you are able? Everything is possible to the one who believes!” The father then cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief,” and Jesus commands the demon to leave the boy and never come back. The father’s request parallels the leper’s in chapter 1: “If you wish, you are able to cleanse me!” Apparently, Mark’s Jesus gets angry when anyone questions his abilities.