Mark 9

9:1What did Jesus mean when he said that some of the disciples would see the Kingdom of God arrive in power? There are several possibilities. He could have been foretelling his transfiguration, resurrection and ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, or his second coming. The Transfiguration is a strong possibility because Mark immediately tells that story. In the Transfiguration (9:2-8), Peter, James, and John saw Jesus glorified as the Son of God (2 Peter 1:16).

9:2We don’t know why Jesus singled out Peter, James, and John for this special revelation of his glary and purity. Perhaps they were the ones most ready to understand and accept this great truth. These three disciples were the inner circle of the group of 12. They were among the first to hear Jesus’ call (1:16-19). They headed the Gospel lists of disciples (3:16). And they were present at certain healings where others were excluded {Luke 8:51).

9:2Jesus took the disciples to either Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor. A mountain was often associated with closeness to God and readiness to receive his words. God had appeared to both Moses (Exodus 24:12-18) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8-18) on mountains.

9:3ffThe Transfiguration revealed Christ's divine nature. God's voice exalted Jesus above Moses and Elijah as the long-awaited Messiah with full divine authority. Moses represented the law, and Elijah, the prophets. Their appearance showed Jesus as the fulfillment of both the Old Testament law and the prophetic promises. Jesus was nat a reincarnation of Elijah or Moses. He was not merely one of the prophets. As God’s only Son, he far surpasses them in authority and power. Many voices try to tell us how to live and how to know Gad personally. Some of these are helpful, many are not. We must first listen to the Bible, and then evaluate all other authorities in light of God’s revelation.

9:9,10Jesus told Peter, James, and John not to speak about what they had seen because they would not fully understand it until Jesus had risen from the dead. Then they would realize that only through dying could Jesus show his power over death and his authority to be King of all. The disciples would not be powerful witnesses for God until they had grasped this truth. It was natural for the disciples to be confused about Jesus’ death and resurrection because they could not see into the future. We, on the other hand, have God's revealed Word, the Bible, to give us the full meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have no excuse for our unbelief.

9:9(see also Psalms 24:7-10; 118:26). They spoke of David’s kingdom because of God’s words to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-14. The crowd correctly saw Jesus as the fulfiliment of these prophecies, but they did not understand where Jesus’ kingship would lead him. This same crowd cried out, “Crucify him!” when Jesus Stood on trial only a few days later.

9:11-13When Jesus said that Elijah had already come, he was speaking of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:11-13), who had fulfilled the role prophesied for Elijah.

9:12,13It was difficult for the disciples to grasp the idea that their Messiah would have to suffer. The Jews who studied the Old Testament prophecies expected the Messiah to be a great king like David, who would overthrow the enemy, Rome. Their vision was limited to their own time and experience. They did not understand that the values of God’s eternal Kingdom were different from the values of the world. They wanted relief from their present problems, but deliverance from sin is far more important than deliverance from physical suffering or political oppression. Our understanding and appreciation of Jesus must go beyond what he can do for us here and now.

9:18As the three disciples came down from the mountain with Jesus, they passed from a reassuring experience of God’s presence to a frightening experience of evil. The beauty they had just seen must have made the ugliness seem even uglier. As our spiritual vision improves and allows us to see and understand God better, we will also be able to see and understand evil better. We would te overcome by its horror if we did not have Jesus with us to take us through it safely. Don’t be afraid to confront evil and suffering, no matter how ugly or horrible. Jesus goes with you.

9:18Why couldn't the disciples cast out the evil spirit? In 6:13 we read that they cast out demons while on their mission to the villages. Perhaps they had special authority only for that trip, or perhaps their faith was faltering. Mark tells this story to show that the battle with Satan is a difficult, ongoing struggle. Victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts.

9:23Jesus’ words do not mean that we can automatically obtain anything we want if we just think positively. Jesus meant that anything is possible if we believe, because nothing is too difficult for God. We cannot have everything we pray for as if by magic, but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve him.

9:24The attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls belief or faith (Hebrews 11:1, 6) is not something we can obtain without help. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8, 9). No matter how much faith we have, we never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Faith is not stored away like money in the bank. Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus.

9:29The disciples would often face difficult situations that could be resolved only through prayer. Prayer is the key that unlocks faith in our life. Effective prayer needs both the attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates our reliance on God as we humbly invite him to fill us with faith and power. There is no substitute for prayer, especially in circumstances that seem impossible.

9:30,31Leaving Caesarea Philippi, Jesus began his last tour through the region of Galilee.

9:34The disciples, caught up in their constant struggle for personal success, were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ's. it is not wrong for believers to be industrious or ambitious, but when ambition pushes aside obedience and service, it becomes sin. We are all like the disciples and even like the Pharisees in this regard. Pride or insecurity can cause us to overvalue position and prestige. In God's Kingdom, such motives are destructive. The only safe ambition is directed toward Christ's Kingdom, not our own advancement. We must renounce pride and status seeking. They are Satan's tools, not Christ's.

9:35Serving others is real leadership. Jesus described ieadership from a new perspective. Instead of using people, we are to serve them. Jesus’ mission was to serve others and to give his life away. A real leader has a servant's heart. Servant leaders appreciate others’ worth and realize that they’re not above any job. If you see something that needs to be done, don’t wait to be asked; take the initiative and do it like a faithful servant. Don’t approach {ife expecting high positions, honors, and special privileges. Look instead for ways to help others.

9:36,37Jesus taught the disciples to welcome children. This was a new approach ina society where children were usually treated as second-class citizens. It is important not only to treat children well but also to teach them about Jesus. Children’s Ministries should never be regarded as Jess important than those for adults.

9:38-40Jesus was not saying that being indifferent or neutral toward him is as good as being committed. As he explained in Matthew 12:30, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” In both cases, Jesus was pointing out that neutrality toward him is not possible. Nevertheless his followers will not ail resemble each other or belong to the same groups. People who are on Jesus’ side have the same goal of building up the Kingdom of God, and they should not let their differences interfere with this goal. Those who share a common faith in Christ should cooperate. People don’t have to be just like us to be following Jesus with us.

9:41,42Luke 9:48 states, “Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” In Jesus’ eyes, whoever welcomes a child welcomes Jesus; giving a cup of cold water to a person in need is the same as giving an offering to God. By contrast, harming others or failing to care for them is a sin, even if they are unimportant people in the world’s eyes. It is possible for thoughtless, selfish people to gain a measure of worldly greatness, but lasting greatness is measured by God’s standards. What do you use as your measure—personal achievement or unselfish service?

9:42This caution against harming little ones in the faith applies both to what we do individually as teachers and examples and to what we allow to fester in our Christian fellowship. Our thoughts and actions must be motivated by love (1 Corinthians 13), and we must be careful about judging others (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:1-15:4). However, we also have a responsibility to contront flagrant sin within the church (1 Corinthians 5:12, 13).

9:43ffThis startling language is not meant to promote selfmutilation, but instead stresses the importance of cutting sin out of your tife. Painful self-discipline is required of his true followers. Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God’s will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand, but Christ is worth any possible loss or discomfort. Nothing should stand in the way of faith. We must be ruthless in removing sin from our lives now in order to avoid suffering for eternity. Make your choices from an eternal perspective.

9:50Jesus used salt to iflustrate three qualities that should be found in his people: (1) We should remember God's faithfulness, just as salt when used with a sacrifice recalled God’s covenant with his people (Leviticus 2:13). (2) We should make a difference in the “flavor” of the world we live in, just as salt changes meat’s flavor (see Matthew 5:13). (3) We should counteract the moral decay in society, just as salt preserves food from decay. When we lose this desire to “salt” the earth with the love and message of God, we become useless to him.