Listen To Whom? (Mark 9)

Do we listen to Jesus? Do we still squabble over who is important? Do we cause any little ones, who believe in Jesus, to stumble? Let’s find out in Mark 9.

What strange statement did Jesus make? Would our minds have gone in all kinds of directions wondering what Jesus meant?

I can assure you that some of the people standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom come with power. (Mark 9:1 CEV)

Was this fulfilled in a much different manner than Peter, James and John may have expected? What details are given describing Jesus’ transfiguration?

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. (Mark 9:2-3 ESV)

Who else was there with Jesus? What were they doing? Could these two be representatives of the two grand divisions of the Hebrew scriptures?

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:4 HCSB)

What did Peter babble? Were they terrified by this vision?

Then Peter told Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here! Let’s set up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Peter didn’t know how to respond, because they were terrified.) (Mark 9:5-6 ISV)

What did God the Father say? Does Jesus therefore take priority over Moses and Elijah?

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. (Mark 9:7-8 KJV)

What did Jesus order them not to do? What did they argue about among themselves?

And as they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to recount to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. And they seized upon that statement, arguing with one another what rising from the dead meant. (Mark 9:9-10 LSB)

What did they ask Jesus? Who was the Elijah to come?

And they asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He said to them, “Elijah does come first and he restores all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:11-13 NASB)

What happened as they returned to the other disciples? Why did the people run to greet Jesus?

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. (Mark 9:14-16 NIV)

What could the disciples not now do, that they had just previously been doing on their short-term mission trip?

Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” (Mark 9:17-18 NKJV)

What did Jesus say? What happened when they brought the boy to Him?

Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. (Mark 9:19-20 NLT)

What did Jesus ask the boy’s father? What did Jesus say about belief?

He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood. Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:21-23 WEB)

Can we relate to the father’s plea? Did Jesus cure the boy?

At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!” Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died. But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:24-27 CEB)