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)
Why couldn’t the disciples exorcize this demon? Was it a particularly tough kind?
After Jesus and the disciples had gone back home and were alone, they asked him, “Why couldn't we force out that demon?” Jesus answered, “Only prayer [and fasting] can force out this kind of demon.” (Mark 9:28-29 CEV)
Did Jesus again foretell His death and resurrection? Did the disciples understand what He was saying?
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (Mark 9:30-32 ESV)
Did Jesus know that the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest? Is this kind of playing politics common in churches still, even if left unsaid? Who is truly the greatest? Look around. Who is quietly serving behind the scenes without tooting their horn?
Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:33-35 HCSB)
What can we learn from children? What kind of attitude does Jesus recommend to the disciples and to us?
Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He took him in his arms and told them, “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37 ISV)
Would Jesus forbid someone who is not part of His little group of disciples? How did Jesus tell the disciples that we should act towards believers of a different group?
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. (Mark 9:38-39 KJV)
Should we be thankful for others who also believe in the name of Jesus Christ, even if they prefer belonging to a different group?
For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name because you are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. (Mark 9:41 LSB)
Rather than commit atrocities as Catholics and Protestants have done, persecuting each other, what should we do? Rather than have the other burned at the stake, steal their homes, or drive them out of town, how should we look upon a different group of believers in Jesus Christ? Could they be little ones in the faith?
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42 NASB)
How seriously does Jesus take this kind of rivalry between groups of believers? What if a hand causes us to sin? Do we literally cut it off or metaphorically by not touching sin?
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43-44 KJV)
What if a foot causes us to sin? Do we literally cut it off or metaphorically by not walking towards sin?
And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] (Mark 9:45-46 LSB)
What if our eye causes us to sin? Do we literally throw it away or metaphorically by not looking?
And if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished. (Mark 9:47-48 NASB)
Does Mark illuminate a different aspect of salt than Matthew? Sacrifices were salted and then put in the fire. This is very deep. Do we choose to be the salt of the earth and the fiery trials that go along with a Christian life? Is everyone going to be purified by fire, the fire of persecution for believers and the fire hell for unbelievers? Does this also relate to having peace among ourselves and possibly all of the above? Let’s see.
Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:49-50 NIV)
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? You decide!
