Tuesday Night Group (TNG ) Notes
Stay up to date on our weekly study of the Gospel of Mark
Mark 9:1 – Originally, Mark had no chapter breaks. These were inserted by the early church to help us better study God’s word. This verse is more appropriately verse 39 of chapter 8. The reason why it’s now paired with chapter 9 speaks volumes as to how the early church translated this passage.
“Truly I tell you” – Not that we’re to discount anything that Jesus says in the Bible, but when Jesus uses this phrase at the beginning of a statement, we need to listen. For Jesus is about to share a word of prophecy. In the Old Testament, prophets would say phrases like “The word of the Lord is…” Or “Thus says the Lord…” to introduce a prophetic word. But, since Jesus is God in human form, he simply states “Truly I tell you…”
“Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” – This is the reason why this verse is included as verse 1 of chapter 9. For the early church needed to translate what Jesus meant. Basically, Jesus is saying that some of the people present, the disciples as well as the others, will live to see the kingdom of God come with power. So, naturally, the question that needed to be answered was, “When will the kingdom of God come in power?”
Possibilities include the transfiguration, which is the event described in the following verses. Others believe it refers to the resurrection or the ascension or Pentecost or the expanding church. Still others believe that it’s all of the above. But the church obviously believed that Jesus was referring to the transfiguration. For that’s why they included this verse in chapter 9 and not in chapter 8.
For many of the people, who actually followed Jesus, believed that Jesus would be returning in their lifetime. Yet, when he didn’t there was a doubt that reared its ugly head: Was Jesus the real deal? For he obviously said what he said, regarding seeing the kingdom of God coming with power. Was he wrong? Are we fools to believe in and follow Jesus? The early church had to deal with these lingering questions.
Thus, in the early 1200’s the church added chapter breaks to the Bible. Later, around 1551, after the invention of the printing press made distribution of the Bible more prevalent, the church created verses to help in the reference to and study of the Bible. Thus, in the early 1200’s, the church brought to rest any doubt about their opinion of what Jesus meant, by including this as verse 1 of chapter 9.
Mark 9:2 – “After six days” – This is a Sabbath story. The creation narrative in Genesis teaches us that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. This is called the Sabbath. It’s a day set aside to rest from all your labor and worship God. (BTW, the Sabbath has always been Saturday. That’s why every week on a calendar starts with Sunday.)
“Peter, James and John” – Why just these three disciples? There are many reasons, here are some of my favorites: (1) Jesus is giving us an effective example of leadership training. Remember, Jesus didn’t come only to save us. Jesus also came to teach us what it looks like to be saved. And this is what it looks like to walk with your oikos. Everyone is important, but some are invited in to experience a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus.
And the same is true for you. I’m sure that you have several people in your life with which you’re close. But there are also those special, chosen few, that you invite into a deeper, more intimate relationship.
(2) Peter, James and John represent the extremes of the twelve disciples. Peter was the oldest and frequently acted as the disciple’s spokesman. James was the first disciple martyr, marking supreme loyalty. John was the youngest and became the last surviving disciple that bridged generations. Thus, this leadership triad represents proclamation, sacrifice and longevity, ensuring the continual transmission of the good news of Jesus.
“Led them up a high mountain” – A “mountain top experience” is a Biblical metaphor for a peak emotional, spiritual or psychological moment in life that brings clarity, joy or a sense of awe. These moments are fleeting, not sustainable for the long-term, daily life. But they lead to a change of perspective or a renewed sense of purpose. Thus, they’re deeply remembered and cherished.
“There he was transfigured” – The Greek word is metamorphoo, which means “to transform” or “to change forms”. It is the root of the English word metamorphosis. It describes a profound change like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. In the transfiguration, Jesus underwent a dramatic, glorious transformation of his physical appearance, revealing his divine nature.
Mark 9:3 – “His clothes became dazzling white” – Jesus’ whole appearance shone forth in glorious, bright light. This wasn’t a light that shined on Jesus. This was a light that came from inside Jesus. “Transfigured” describes a change on the outside, that comes from the inside. This is the opposite of “masquerade”, which is an outward change that does not come from within.
Mark 7:20 – “What comes out of a person is what defiles them”. Glory or gloom are not the result of actions. The actions of a glorious person or a gloomy person come from who they are. Glory or gloom are simply outward expressions of who you are and what you believe.
Charles Spurgeon – An English Baptist preacher who lived from 1834-1892 once wrote about the transfiguration: “This was not a new miracle, but the temporary pause of an ongoing miracle. The real miracle was that Jesus, most of the time, could keep from displaying his glory. For Christ to be glorious was almost a less matter than for him to restrain or hide his glory. It is forever to his glory that he was able to conceal his glory; and that, though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor.”
Why now? At the end of chapter 8, Jesus made the shift from a public ministry of preaching and teaching and healing; to a private ministry of training up the disciples to be ready for his death and resurrection. And training them up for their eventual missionary work, spreading the good news of Jesus.
The transfiguration served as a sneak peak into Jesus’ glory. Reassuring the disciples (and us) that Jesus was in control and that his suffering was a part of a divine plan. In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus describes discipleship as taking up your cross and following Jesus. The transfiguration demonstrates that cross-bearers will also become glory-receivers.
Mark 9:4 – “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses” – Moses represents the law. Elijah represents the prophets. Together, they represent the sum of Old Testament revelation. Here they meet with Jesus, reminding us that Jesus wasn’t something new that God was doing. But the continuation of what God has always been doing. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17)
Peter, James and John were invited to witness this event because they needed to see evidence of life, beyond this life. When they saw Moses and Elijah, they knew that Moses had died some 1,400 years before and Elijah had passed some 900 years ago. (2 Kings 2 – Elijah didn’t die. He was taken up to heaven alive, in a whirlwind, accompanied by a chariot of fire.) There they were, alive in glory before them. This gave them confidence in Jesus’ claim of resurrection.
Peter, James and John knew that this was Moses and Elijah. Which shows that we will know each other when we get to heaven.
Mark 9:5 & 6 – “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here” – The title “Rabbi” is one of respect. It was a title of honor and was used to describe someone who was great in the eyes of the student. “Good” in the sense that this is an unbelievable mountain top experience for Peter, James and John. “Good” also in the sense that now Jesus and Moses and Elijah can hang out and talk. While Peter, James and John help and serve.
“Let us put up three shelters” – These are the words of Peter. And Peter is the one who taught Mark. Peter, obviously, was hoping that this mountain top experience would last for a while. For he suggested that he, James and John build shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. And who needs shelters, unless the plan is to camp out for a while? This was statement of what Peter desired. He desired to stay right there, as long as he could.
“He did not know what to say, they were so frightened” – Poor Peter! We often get into trouble when we speak like Peter did, not knowing what to say. But who can blame him? This situation had to be so weird that the natural reaction would be fear. Not fear of Jesus or Moses or Elijah; but fear like realizing that you’re in a very special place and time and feeling unworthy or feeling like an imposter of some kind. Feeling like you don’t know what to do or how to act or even who to be.
Again Spurgeon: “Peter was openhearted, bold, enthusiastic. To my mind, there is something very loveable about Peter; and, in my opinion, we need more Peters in the church of the present day. Though they are rash and impulsive, yet there is a fire in them, and there is steam in them, so that they keep us going.”
Mark 9:7 – “Then a cloud appeared” – This cloud represents the physical presence of God’s glory. A manifestation of all three revelations of God being in one place – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, it’s called Shekinah. The root of this word is sh-k-n, which means “to dwell” or “settle”.
The “cloud” describes the visible, tangible presence of God. It’s the cloud that guided Israel by day, in the Exodus from Egypt. It’s the cloud that stood by the door of the Tabernacle (A portable tent-shrine, in the wilderness, that served as the earthly residence of God.) It’s the cloud that appeared to King Solomon when the Temple was dedicated. It’s the cloud that overshadowed Mary when she conceived Jesus. It’s the cloud that will display the glory of Jesus, when he returns.
The world calls a cloud close to the ground “fog”. “Fog” conjures up images of fear, dread, secrecy, evil and separation. For fog reduces visibility. This isn’t a story of Jesus’ reduced visibility. For Peter, James and John saw clearly. More clearly, concerning Jesus, than ever.
“This is my Son” – In Mark 1:9-11, after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus heard the voice of the Father declare who he was and how much he was loved by the Father. Now, on the Mount of Transfiguration, basically the same message is shared with Peter, James and John. With an additional command.
In the culture of Jesus’ day, the firstborn son held immense significance as the family’s primary heir, representative, and future, possessing unique rights and duties. Under Mosaic law, the firstborn son belonged to God as a reminder of the Exodus. Thus, parents had to redeem or buy back their firstborn son, usually paying five shekels to a priest. The firstborn son represents the strength and vitality of the entire household. He represents the family’s continuation into the future. Much like a captain represents and leads a team.
"Listen to him!” – This is the Father answering any doubts that Peter, James and John might have had, about Jesus and the whole being turned over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law to be killed and then rising from the dead in three days matter. “Listen” is the present-imperative tense in Greek. Which means an ongoing, moment-by-moment posture of attentive obedience, not simply a one-time act. The invitation to listen is an invitation to allow your relationship with Jesus to act as the filter through which everything in your life must pass.
Some practical steps for listening: Read the Bible, pray and act on the smallest prompting of the Holy Spirit. In other words, if you feel as if you need to do something, say something, reach out to someone, answer an invitation, whatever, just do it. Seek out wise counsel in your life, from people who are following Jesus. Lastly, create space in your life for silence and solitude. For sometimes it’s hard to hear God, because of all the noise in your life.
Mark 9:8 – “Suddenly” – It’s been a while, but remember that Mark wrote with a sense of urgency. The Greek word euthus, translated as “immediately”, “straightaway”, or “at once” is used over 40 times in Mark’s gospel. He seems to be conveying to the readers that the Kingdom of God has arrived and demands a swift response to the gospel message and reflecting the crucial, time-sensitive nature of Jesus’ ministry.
“They no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus” – As suddenly as they appeared, Elijah and Moses are gone. This is a sign that Jesus is the supreme authority, fulfilling that which has come before – The Law that Moses represented and the Prophets that Elijah represented. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. Jesus came to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-18).
This is the official shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. What had been a relationship with God, based on a bloodline and a law, has now become a relationship with God, based on a relationship with Jesus. What had been a faith life structured around doing, has now become a faith life structured around being. Being who you are, as a dearly loved, sacred, child of God, in a personal relationship with Jesus. This is now your official relationship status.
Mark 9:9 – “As they were coming down” – All of us understand what it means to come down. To come down off a high, whether drug, alcohol, adrenaline, spiritual or even dream induced. That time when you can remember what was, what you felt, what you experienced, what you thought, but you aren’t there anymore. “Coming down” is a direct reference to the fact that Jesus, Peter, James and John were actually coming down off of a mountain. But also, it reflects the thought of coming down from a higher place, a better place, back to a normal place. The same idea that’s behind the phrase “mountain-top experience”.
None of us can live on the mountain top. We want to, that’s why so many people find addictions so pervasive. For all we want is to re-experience that mountain-top high that we had the first time.
“Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Now that was a tall order! Peter, James and John had seen a transfigured Jesus, along with Moses and Elijah. That would be hard to keep to yourself.
Never forget that Jesus not only came to die on the cross, so that we can all have a right relationship with God. Jesus also came to show us what it looks like to live a life that is saved – has a right relationship with God. Well, the transfiguration was an upperclassman experience and all the disciples, present company included, were only freshmen. Thus, Jesus knew that they would not be able to fully understand the significance of the transfiguration, until after his death and resurrection.
Meaning that, if they did have permission to share away, they would’ve messed it all up and mudded the water. This is why Jesus only took Peter, James and John. For when the time was right, these three witnesses would be able to teach the full significance of what they experienced. And they would be believed. For in Jesus’ day the testimony of two to three witnesses was necessary to establish the truth of an event, providing legal and spiritual validation.
Our lesson: We will sell no wine, before it’s time. There will be things on our journey, that we’ll experience but not fully understand until a later time, when more information and more experience is added.
Mark 9:10 – “They kept the matter to themselves” – Peter, James and John listened not only to Jesus’ direction. They also listened to the voice of the Father, that they had heard on the mountain – “Listen to him”. How hard must that have been? For when Peter, James and John return to the other disciples, they will want to know what happened. For humans can’t stand vacuums. When we don’t know, our tendency is to grab ahold of anything that will inform our not knowing. Instead of simply being good living in the I don’t know.
“What ‘rising from the dead’ meant” – Peter, James and John had to wrestle with not only the fact of what they had just experienced. They also had to wrestle with Jesus’ command to not say anything until after he had risen from the dead. A statement that we have no problem understanding. For hindsight is 20/20. Yet, Peter, James and John didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said “risen from the dead”. Was it a metaphor for Jesus rising from his relative obscurity, to take his rightful place as the King of Israel? Did it actually mean that Jesus would die and come bac from the dead?
Mark 9:11 – “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” – Our questions will always reveal not only our confusion, but also the direction that we’re currently following, in order to clear up our confusion. The disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ risen from the dead comment, so they’re trying to understand who Jesus is. Peter already declared that Jesus is the Messiah in Mark 8:29. Now they’re trying to reconcile that belief with what Jesus just ordered them to do.
For in Malachi 4:5-6 we read that Elijah will come before the Messiah. Every Jewish man would have known this. Peter, James and John, knowing this, are struggling with the fact they just saw Elijah with Jesus on the mountain, yet it was a brief visit that they must now keep secret. In essence, they were asking if that encounter with Elijah was the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? And if it is, what’s up with all this risen from the dead talk and keeping it a secret stuff?
Mark 9:12 – “To be sure, Elijah does come first and restores all things.” – Jesus confirms Malachi’s prophecy. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law and the prophets. Jesus came to fulfill them. Two ways to look at this statement of Jesus: (1) Elijah has already come, in the person and ministry of John the Baptist. Or (2) the prophecy of Elijah has to do with Jesus’ second coming. In Revelation 11:2-13 we read of “two witnesses” who will prophecy for 1,260 days.
“Why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected.” – Again, the conversational technique of Jesus’ ministry. He answers a question with a question. Jesus is challenging Peter, James and John’s misconception that the Messiah would only be a triumphant, political king.
He connects his role as the glorious “Son of Man” from Daniel 7, with the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. He’s asking them, to wrestle with the fact that scriptural prophecy requires him to endure rejection, humiliation and death to fulfill God’s plan. The “must” is Greek for a divine necessity in God’s plan, where suffering and death are pre-ordained steps leading to resurrection.
Mark 9:13 – “But I tell you” – Always pay attention to the buts in the Bible! Peter, James and John have been instructed by the Father to listen to Jesus. These words signify Jesus’ authoritative interpretation of prophecy. And what is to follow will directly challenge the disciples’ expectation of an immediate, glorious kingdom by emphasizing a path of suffering.
“Elijah has come” – John the Baptist lived and ministered in the role of and spirit of Elijah. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He also taught that the one who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John suffered rejection and was executed by Herod. Jesus is trying to teach Peter, James and John (as well as all of us) that suffering is a natural part of life, as a follower of Jesus. It’s through this suffering that we become who God has created us and gifted us to be. Thus, it’s important that Peter, James and John allow themselves and the other disciples to experience all that they will experience, before they make up their mind about who Jesus is and who they will be, in response.
The Comedown Effect: The psychological and neurochemical recalibration that occurs when your brain transitions from the excitement of a high-stakes event to a quieter state. During an amazing experience, your brain is flooded with dopamine (pleasure), serotonin and adrenaline. When the event ends, those chemical levels drop suddenly, resulting in a “crash”.
Mark 9:14 – “The teachers of the law arguing with them” – At this point we have no idea why the teachers of the law are arguing with the other disciples. All we know is that there’s an argument happening. But inquiring minds, created in the image of God, want to know.
Mark 9:15 – “Overwhelmed with wonder” – See Exodus 34:29. The crowd was struck by a sudden, profound astonishment, awe and admiration upon seeing Jesus. Possibly because of the residual divine glory on Jesus after the Transfiguration. Similar to Moses’ shining face in the Exodus passage. Or possibly the hope, relief and wonder, expressed by all the people, in expectation that Jesus can and will put, whatever this dispute between the disciples and the teachers of the law happens to be, to rest.
Mark 9:16 – “What are you arguing with them about?” – See Mark 5:30 - Why does Jesus ask this question? Jesus has already demonstrated that he has the ability to know people’s hearts, their thoughts and their intentions. Jesus is the consummate trial attorney and never asks a question for which he doesn’t already know the answer. The point of the question isn’t for Jesus’ clarity, but ours.
Jesus asks questions in order to force us to speak our truth. To force us to be real with him, so that he can finally be real to us. Jesus can’t meet you where you are, if you don’t first claim where you are.
Mark 9:17-18 – “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not” – A father brought his possessed son to Jesus. The father, expecting Jesus, could only find the disciples. So, he asked them to exorcise his son’s demon. They couldn’t. The teachers of the law then jumped upon this failure as ammunition in their arguments against Jesus. Now your question is why couldn’t the disciples exorcise the demon?
Mark 9:19 – “You unbelieving generation” – This is Jesus’ response to the man’s explanation of what caused the argument between the teachers of the law and the disciples. This is very harsh judgment from Jesus. Our question now is “Who is the unbelieving generation?” Is it the disciples? Is it the teachers of the law? Is it the father? Or is it all of the above?
Is it the disciples? Their inability to exorcise the demon could demonstrate a lack of faith. Maybe they were unable, because they didn’t believe they were able.
Is it the teachers of the law? Their argument with the disciples was undoubtedly about the perspective that the disciple’s inability to drive out the demon was proof that Jesus was a fraud.
Is it the father? The father came, looking for Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal his son. Yet, maybe when all he found were the disciples, his lack of faith in their ability to exorcise the demon actually prevented the disciples from being able to exorcise the demon?
Mark 9:20-21 – “How long has he been like this?” – Again, Jesus is asking a question for which he already knows the answer. But this isn’t a typical “I want to know the answer” question. This a relationship question of “I want to know your answer”.
The question is a trial balloon to see the father’s willingness to be real with Jesus. For the question demonstrates the compassion Jesus has for the father’s long-term trauma. Jesus sees the father and now he wants the father to see him.
Mark 9:22 – “But if you can do anything” – The father seems to be doubting Jesus’ ability to do anything to help his son. But what if the “if”, in the father’s question, isn’t in regards to what Jesus could actually do. What if the “if”, in the father’s question, was in regard to what the father believed Jesus could actually do.
Is it possible that the father’s lack of faith, in Jesus’ ability to heal his son, was the very thing that prevented the disciples from healing his son?
(Read Matthew 17:14-21 then read Mark 9:14-29) Doing something new. Recognizing that each gospel is an account of the divine, infinite, perfect truth. Which is written by a fractured, faulty, sin-stained, imperfect, finite person. With the goal of communicating the divine, infinite, perfect truth to other fractured, faulty, sin-stained, imperfect, finite people.
Mark 9:23 – “Everything is possible for one who believes” – Possibility is defined as something that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc. Faith in Jesus is all about possibility. The father wants to believe that healing for his son is possible. The father wants to believe that Jesus can make that possibility a reality. The healing of his son is the father’s want to.
Remember, we’re still living in the shadow of the dispute between the disciples and the teachers of the law. A dispute that Jesus met with indignation. (See Mark 9:19) Jesus uses the title “unbelieving generation” to address the situation with the father, the sick boy, the disciples and the teachers of the law. But to whom is he referring? The disciples, because they couldn’t heal the boy? The teachers of the law, because they’re so busy trying to condemn Jesus that they have no interest in healing the boy? Or the father, because he wants to believe that Jesus can heal his son, but he’s not sure?
At this moment, Jesus is addressing the father. But what he’s saying is also being heard by the disciples as well as the teachers of the law (and us). Jesus is describing our participation in the workings of God. Our participation in what God can either do or not do. Our participation of faith.
For if the father didn’t believe that Jesus could heal his boy, he wouldn’t be there. And if he wasn’t there, asking for healing, the boy would never be healed. Not that Jesus couldn’t heal him. But because the father didn’t believe enough, to ask for Jesus to heal him.
Faith in Jesus is all about the possibility that exists, at the crossroads. That place in life where you need to decide. Where you need to take a step to the right or to the left or to go straight ahead or even to turn around. In those moments, believing that all things are possible for one who believes, is a vital decision making motivation. For the father, the crossroads of his son’s demon possession, opened him up to the possibility of his son being healed by Jesus. This is a mustard sized seed of faith.
Your faith will always determine your actions. You’ll do what you believe. The father believed Jesus could heal his son, so he brought his son to Jesus. The father’s lack of faith isn’t in Jesus ability. It’s in Jesus availability. Jesus can, but would he?
Mark 9:24 – “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” – This is the father’s statement of faith and confession, all rolled up into one simple prayer. A prayer that has, as its motivation, the healing of his son. We’re learning that the boy’s healing is directly impacted by the father’s faith. If the father doesn’t believe that Jesus can heal his son, his son will not be healed by Jesus. And vice-versa.
This is as real as you can get. Literally standing before Jesus and confessing that you have doubts. And then asking Jesus to help you overcome your doubts. For in the asking, the father is inviting Jesus to meet where he is, but not leave him where he is.
This statement of faith and confession is the very thing that Jesus wants everyone – the disciples, the teachers of the law, the son and us – to hear. The message: Jesus accepts imperfect faith. Bring your doubts directly to Jesus. Trust in the possibility of faith in Jesus and never forget that your life is a journey to be. Not the static feeling of this is all my life will ever be.
“Help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24) is not rebellion against or rejection of God’s promise. The father didn’t deny God’s promise, he desired it. However, it simply seemed too good to be true. Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.”
Mark 9:25 – “I command you, come out of him” – Upon seeing that this scene was attracting a crowd, Jesus moves from a connection with the father, to exorcising the demon from his son. He simply speaks and the demons listen. There’s power in the spoken word. Power to harm and power to heal.
“Never enter him again” – We want to remember that all of the exorcisms in Mark are pre-Pentecost. This means that, before the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, given to all who believe in Jesus at Pentecost, one could be re-possessed by a demon. Yet, as a follower of Jesus, post-Pentecost, we’re all possessed by the Holy Spirit. Thus, demon possession is impossible. For there’s no room at the inn.
Mark 9:26 – “He’s dead” – This is the crowd’s perspective, because the boy looked dead. But this is also symbolic of what Jesus is trying to teach the disciples (and us). In Mark 8:31-32, Jesus tells his disciples that he must die and be raised from the dead. Now he will literally (from the perspective of the crowd) raise this boy from the dead. The boy isn’t dead, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. And to the people, this was a duck. The boy was dead.
Mark 9:27 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “buts” in the Bible.
“Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet” - In Mark 1:31, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law who had a fever by taking her by the hand and lifting her up. Josh Groban sang the words “You raise me up”. And all who have been baptized have been raised up. For, in baptism you “die” to your old self. You’re washed clean, because of what Jesus did on the cross. And you’re raised up, out of the water, as a new creation. Just like this boy was raised up by Jesus, so that he could begin to live a new life, void of demon possession.
Mark 9:28 – “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” – The disciples, as was their custom, waited until they got alone with Jesus and then they asked him this question. James (Jesus’ brother – from another Father) writes in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given.” James learned this first hand. For James didn’t believe in his older brother, while he was alive. It wasn’t until after the resurrection that James gains wisdom.
The disciples are being real. They really want to know why they couldn’t help this father and exorcise the demon possessing his son. Afterall, in Mark 6:13, we read about how the disciples “drove out many demons”. Thus, they want to be better. They’re coming to Jesus in order to learn and to grow, to gain wisdom. Just like all of us. We want to do the exact same thing.
Mark 9:29 – “This kind can come out only by prayer” – The point that Jesus is trying to make to the disciples isn’t that they didn’t pray enough. Or that they didn’t pray the right words. Or that they didn’t pray in the right way. The point is that the disciples were just like the father. They believed. But they needed help to overcome their unbelief.
Just like Jesus taught the father, the disciples needed to focus in on their relationship with Jesus (prayer is a relationship). And they needed to take a leap of faith. Not a leap of “I have no other options”. Not a leap of “I hope so”. But a leap of “With God, all things are possible”. (Foreshadowing what Jesus will teach us in Mark 10:27.)
Who Jesus is revealing himself to be flies head-long in the face of the what the disciples have always been taught about the Messiah. Jesus is asking the disciples, the father and you and I as well, to take a leap of faith, based on who Jesus is and will always be. The disciples, as well as the father and you and I as well, have become conscious of the greatness of our unbelief.
Mark 9:30 – “They left that place” – Geographically speaking, this is simply a record of the fact that Jesus and the disciples are leaving the region of Caesarea Philippi. The location of Mt Hermon, AKA the Mount of Transfiguration.
Spiritually and relationally speaking, this is a signal to Mark’s community (and us) that Jesus and the disciples are in motion. Jesus is forcing the issue and teaching his disciples (and us) not to get stuck in what has been. Jesus wants his disciples (and us) to build on what has been. Build on what they’ve learned, what they’ve heard, what they’ve seen and what they’ve experienced. Build it all into what will be.
“Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were.” – We will always find a way to do what we want to. Jesus wants to be alone with his disciples. There’s a time for every season under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This is a time for teaching, without interruption.
**When was the last time you spent alone time with God, in order to be taught?**
Mark 9:31 – “because he was teaching his disciples” – There’s a verse break in the middle of a sentence. Why? Human beings! In 1551 Robert Estienne, known as Stephanus, a French printer, scholar and Protestant reformer, introduced chapter and verse numbers. The goal was to make the Bible more accessible to people for study. Stephanus obviously wanted the emphasis in Mark 9:30 to be on the fact that Jesus wanted to be alone with his disciples. Making the emphasis in this verse to be on what Jesus was teaching his disciples, while alone with them.
“He said to them” – This is the second of three teachings of Jesus, concerning the Easter story. The first was in Mark 8:31. This teaching is precisely why Jesus wanted to be alone with his disciples. Afterall, his first attempt to teach them these things didn’t go that well.
Mark 9:32 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “buts” in the Bible. This but acts as a sharp contrast highlighting the gap between Jesus’ divine clarity and the disciple’s spiritual blindness. It’s not that the disciples wouldn’t understand, they couldn’t understand. At least they couldn’t understand, yet.
This “but” signifies the power of “yet”. The possibility of what will be learned, heard, seen and experienced from this point forward. For faith is all about possibility.
“Afraid to ask him about it” – There’s a popular, all-be-it untrue, opinion that some version of “do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the Bible. One for every day of the year. Depending on translation the number is more like 100-115 times. Yet, the point is still valid. Not being ruled by fear, as a follower of Jesus, is an important concept to learn and put into practice.
This verse demonstrates the main reason for God’s repetition of “do not be afraid”. For fear will prevent you from being real. The disciples don’t understand, but they’re afraid to ask. Yet, if they don’t ask, how can Jesus ever meet them and walk with them?
Fear prevents you from asking questions, seeking help, seeking guidance and becoming all that God has created and gifted you to be. There truly is no such thing as a dumb question. If the question is asked from pure motives.
**What fear is preventing you from being real with God?**
Mark 9:33 – “They came to Capernaum” - Geographically speaking, this is simply a record of the fact that Jesus and the disciples have transitioned from one place to another. Capernaum is Jesus’ “Home Base”. It’s the location of Peter and Andrew’s house, the very place where Jesus started his public ministry.
Spiritually and relationally speaking, this is a signal to Mark’s community (and us) that Jesus and the disciples have arrived. Not only to a physical place that’s important, but also to a time that’s important. Jesus is forcing the issue and teaching his disciples (and us) what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus wants his disciples (and us) to build on what has been. To build on what they’ve (and we’ve) learned, what they’ve (and we’ve) heard, what they’ve (and we’ve) seen and what they’ve (and we’ve) experienced. And then start to build all of this into who we will be and what we’ll do, as followers of Jesus.
“What were you arguing about on the road?” – Jesus asked this question, not because he didn’t already know the answer. But Jesus asked this question to force the disciples to name it and claim it. There’s power in speaking what you think and how you feel. Regardless of how wrong or right it may be, in that moment. For in the speaking, in the getting real with yourself, with God and with others, you’ll start to learn and grow. Keeping something to yourself, wearing a mask, keeping secrets, not being real is a sure-fire way to find yourself separated from yourself, from God and from others. And this separation is so much more damaging than any realness, any vulnerability, that you could ever share.
Mark 9:34 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “Buts” in the Bible.
“They kept quiet because…” – This is one of the many reasons why God shares the command “Do not be afraid” (or it’s subsidiaries) many times over and over again in the Bible. The disciples don’t say anything, because they’re afraid of what Jesus was going to think about the fact that they had been arguing about who was the greatest among them. They were afraid to be real with Jesus, even though Jesus already knew the topic of their argument. The disciples came to a crossroads and decided to make a right, out of their fear of what Jesus would think, if they made a left.
Mark 9:35 – “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve” – In Jesus’ day, a teacher (Rabbi) would sit and the students (disciples) would stand. This would have also been significant to Mark’s Gentile Christian community in Rome. For, in their culture, students would stand when a teacher entered a room, as a sign of respect. Mark is telling his community (and us) that some very important teaching is coming. So, pay attention! Which we already knew, because of the “But”.
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” – This is the second passage in Mark that I invite you to memorize. (The first was Mark 9:24). This is who a follower of Jesus is called to be. Which will, in turn, influence what a follower of Jesus will do.
Notice how Jesus structures this teaching. There are two callings: (1) To be last. And (2) To be a servant of all. Why not just be last or just be a servant of all? Because isolating both of these callings, left to our own devices, will leave the door open for personal, purpose driven manipulation.
For if all you have to do to be first is to be last, you’ll gladly go to the back of the line. For you know that this last position is really the first position. Nobody else simply realizes this fact, but you. Likewise, if all you have to do is to be a servant of all, you’ll gladly serve all. For you’ll know that serving all is really the best thing you can do, in order to be first. Nobody else simply realizes this fact, but you.
This is a winning perspective, not a walking perspective. For you’ll do what you do, even though you don’t like it or even want to. So that you can receive something that you like and want very much – To be first.
Thus, in Jesus combining being last and serving others, he has forced the disciples (and us) to move past doing what they’re doing (and what we’re doing), in order to gain some advantage or to win some prize. Jesus is taking the disciple’s destination motivation of being first and transforming it into the destination motivation of being a dearly loved, sacred, child of God. Transforming their want to, as followers of Jesus, away from winning to walking. Because they’ve already won.
This is about who we all are, as followers of Jesus. Not what we do, as followers of Jesus. For God knows that if our want to is transformed, our doing, our questions, our decisions, our very lives will be transformed.
Mark 9:36 – “He took a little child whom he placed among them.” – This is one of those Bible passages, if taken out of context, comes off as weird and creepy. But, taken in context, is one the most valuable lessons that Jesus ever taught. A “little child”, in Jesus’ first-century culture, possessed little to no social standing, legal rights or power. Thus, making them opposite of the greatness that the disciples had been arguing about on the road to Capernaum.
Mark 9:37 – “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” – This implies that this mandate applies to everyone. No one is exempt from this call to servant leadership and humility. Followers of Jesus are called to literally follow Jesus and be his representatives here on earth. Jesus is our example and we are to follow his example. Does this mean that we have to drop what were currently doing and go out and find little children that we can serve? No and yes.
No, in the sense that Jesus is simply using a little child as a teaching tool. For they represented a very lowly member of society. Thus, there would be no personal profit or honor to gain in welcoming and serving little children.
You serve others because of Jesus. You serve others because God first served you – life, grace, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life in heaven… You serve, not to gain anything else, but because you’ve already received everything.
Yes, in the sense that everyone is a dearly loved, sacred, child of God. Regardless of their socio-economic standing. Thus, there’s huge personal profit and honor, that you’ve already gained, that allows you to welcome other little children, just like you. You serve, not to gain anything else, but because you’ve already received everything.
“And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” – This is a loaded phrase signifying that Jesus is the direct representative of God the Father. God is the Father, God is the Son and God is the Holy Spirit. Up to this point, pre-Pentecost, humanity doesn’t yet understand God the Holy Spirit. All humanity has is the concept of God the Father.
With the birth of Jesus, humanity received God the Son. In the future, humanity will receive God the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus is speaking to the disciples in a language that they could easily understand: The God you serve is me. So, when you welcome little children, you welcome me, God the Son. Which, in turn, means that you’re welcoming God the Father.
Mark 9:38 – “’Teacher’, said John” – John is an “inner-circle” (Peter, James and John) disciple. So, it makes sense that he would feel comfortable to directly ask Jesus a question. Yet, what he will ask demonstrates that, even though he was an “inner-circle” disciple, he still didn’t understand.
“We saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” - Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? The disciples, who are hot off their failure to exorcise a demon from a young boy, got mad when someone, that they didn’t even know, was successfully driving out demons. The disciples are prioritizing “us” over the success of Jesus’ mission. His mission to save everyone.
The disciples are exhibiting possessiveness over Jesus’ name. They’re failing to understand the inclusive nature of the kingdom of God. And this is all happening on the heels of the disciple’s argument over who was the greatest. We’re a little less than three years into this following Jesus thing and the disciples are already living with an elitist perspective.
Mark 9:39 – “Do not stop him” - Jesus is welcoming faithful ministry that exists outside of authorized, formal or institutional structures. He rebukes our fractured, faulty and sin-stained territorial instinct to favor institutional loyalty over the broader work of God. The disciples are more concerned with controlling who could use Jesus’ name than with the actual deliverance of people from evil, in Jesus’ name.
“For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.” – This man, whoever he was, that drove out demons in Jesus’ name, had a very strong faith in Jesus. These healings were simply an action in response to who he was, a follower of Jesus. Because of this, he now can’t, at least in no way that anyone would believe, say anything bad about Jesus. He was in. No need to bother with him. Let him go and be himself, right out in front of anyone and everyone.
Mark 9:40 – “For whoever is not against us is for us.” – You can be wrong about everything else, but right about Jesus and you’ll be right. Conversely, you can be right about everything else, and be wrong about Jesus and you’ll be wrong. We’re saved by grace, through faith in Jesus. The rest we can simply agree to disagree and move on.
Mark 9:41 – “Truly I tell you” – In the Old Testament days, when a prophet of God, someone who had a message from God, would write or speak they would make a statement of divine origin. They would declare something like: “Thus says the Lord.” Or “The word of the Lord is.” The purpose was to let all of us know that what was about to be shared didn’t originate in them. But it would be the words of God. Jesus, not being a prophet who merely shares God’s message, but God in the flesh; simply states “Truly I tell you”.
“Because you belong to the Messiah” – Jesus now turns his teaching attention to the fact that we’re all a part of the body of Christ. We’re all in the family, of God. Jesus is helping the disciples (and us) to focus on our shared identity as dearly loved, sacred, children of God. The disciples were willing to go out of there way to stop this stranger from ministering in the name of Jesus. Simply because he wasn’t one of them. Yet, Jesus is teaching them (and us) that even a cup of water, given because you “belong to the Messiah”, is the expectation. And a cup of water is so much less, yet so much better, than what the disciples gave to another dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
“Will certainly not lose their reward” – What’s the reward? Often, it’s interpreted as a heavenly reward. It signifies that God notices and treasures humble, Jesus centered service, ensuring that it’s not forgotten. Others suggest the reward includes the joy of service, right here and right now. The blessing of living into who you’ve been created and gifted to be.
Jesus’ point: Nobody who serves another in the simplest of ways, giving a cup of water in Jesus’ name, will ever be in danger of losing any heavenly or earthly reward. Yet, anyone who prevents another from serving another in the simplest of ways, giving a cup of water (exorcising a demon), are already in danger of losing any heavenly or earthly benefits.
This isn’t a salvation statement. Nobody can gain or lose their faith because of authorized, formal or institutional structures. This is a statement of identity and purpose, as a follower of Jesus, in this life. One can be saved by grace and still miss out on all that this truth can actually mean in their life. Yes, they’ll go to heaven someday. But they’ll miss out on being all that God has created them, gifted them and saved them to be, right here, right now.
“Truly I tell you” – Not that we’re to discount anything that Jesus says in the Bible, but when Jesus uses this phrase at the beginning of a statement, we need to listen. For Jesus is about to share a word of prophecy. In the Old Testament, prophets would say phrases like “The word of the Lord is…” Or “Thus says the Lord…” to introduce a prophetic word. But, since Jesus is God in human form, he simply states “Truly I tell you…”
“Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” – This is the reason why this verse is included as verse 1 of chapter 9. For the early church needed to translate what Jesus meant. Basically, Jesus is saying that some of the people present, the disciples as well as the others, will live to see the kingdom of God come with power. So, naturally, the question that needed to be answered was, “When will the kingdom of God come in power?”
Possibilities include the transfiguration, which is the event described in the following verses. Others believe it refers to the resurrection or the ascension or Pentecost or the expanding church. Still others believe that it’s all of the above. But the church obviously believed that Jesus was referring to the transfiguration. For that’s why they included this verse in chapter 9 and not in chapter 8.
For many of the people, who actually followed Jesus, believed that Jesus would be returning in their lifetime. Yet, when he didn’t there was a doubt that reared its ugly head: Was Jesus the real deal? For he obviously said what he said, regarding seeing the kingdom of God coming with power. Was he wrong? Are we fools to believe in and follow Jesus? The early church had to deal with these lingering questions.
Thus, in the early 1200’s the church added chapter breaks to the Bible. Later, around 1551, after the invention of the printing press made distribution of the Bible more prevalent, the church created verses to help in the reference to and study of the Bible. Thus, in the early 1200’s, the church brought to rest any doubt about their opinion of what Jesus meant, by including this as verse 1 of chapter 9.
Mark 9:2 – “After six days” – This is a Sabbath story. The creation narrative in Genesis teaches us that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. This is called the Sabbath. It’s a day set aside to rest from all your labor and worship God. (BTW, the Sabbath has always been Saturday. That’s why every week on a calendar starts with Sunday.)
“Peter, James and John” – Why just these three disciples? There are many reasons, here are some of my favorites: (1) Jesus is giving us an effective example of leadership training. Remember, Jesus didn’t come only to save us. Jesus also came to teach us what it looks like to be saved. And this is what it looks like to walk with your oikos. Everyone is important, but some are invited in to experience a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus.
And the same is true for you. I’m sure that you have several people in your life with which you’re close. But there are also those special, chosen few, that you invite into a deeper, more intimate relationship.
(2) Peter, James and John represent the extremes of the twelve disciples. Peter was the oldest and frequently acted as the disciple’s spokesman. James was the first disciple martyr, marking supreme loyalty. John was the youngest and became the last surviving disciple that bridged generations. Thus, this leadership triad represents proclamation, sacrifice and longevity, ensuring the continual transmission of the good news of Jesus.
“Led them up a high mountain” – A “mountain top experience” is a Biblical metaphor for a peak emotional, spiritual or psychological moment in life that brings clarity, joy or a sense of awe. These moments are fleeting, not sustainable for the long-term, daily life. But they lead to a change of perspective or a renewed sense of purpose. Thus, they’re deeply remembered and cherished.
“There he was transfigured” – The Greek word is metamorphoo, which means “to transform” or “to change forms”. It is the root of the English word metamorphosis. It describes a profound change like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. In the transfiguration, Jesus underwent a dramatic, glorious transformation of his physical appearance, revealing his divine nature.
Mark 9:3 – “His clothes became dazzling white” – Jesus’ whole appearance shone forth in glorious, bright light. This wasn’t a light that shined on Jesus. This was a light that came from inside Jesus. “Transfigured” describes a change on the outside, that comes from the inside. This is the opposite of “masquerade”, which is an outward change that does not come from within.
Mark 7:20 – “What comes out of a person is what defiles them”. Glory or gloom are not the result of actions. The actions of a glorious person or a gloomy person come from who they are. Glory or gloom are simply outward expressions of who you are and what you believe.
Charles Spurgeon – An English Baptist preacher who lived from 1834-1892 once wrote about the transfiguration: “This was not a new miracle, but the temporary pause of an ongoing miracle. The real miracle was that Jesus, most of the time, could keep from displaying his glory. For Christ to be glorious was almost a less matter than for him to restrain or hide his glory. It is forever to his glory that he was able to conceal his glory; and that, though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor.”
Why now? At the end of chapter 8, Jesus made the shift from a public ministry of preaching and teaching and healing; to a private ministry of training up the disciples to be ready for his death and resurrection. And training them up for their eventual missionary work, spreading the good news of Jesus.
The transfiguration served as a sneak peak into Jesus’ glory. Reassuring the disciples (and us) that Jesus was in control and that his suffering was a part of a divine plan. In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus describes discipleship as taking up your cross and following Jesus. The transfiguration demonstrates that cross-bearers will also become glory-receivers.
Mark 9:4 – “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses” – Moses represents the law. Elijah represents the prophets. Together, they represent the sum of Old Testament revelation. Here they meet with Jesus, reminding us that Jesus wasn’t something new that God was doing. But the continuation of what God has always been doing. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17)
Peter, James and John were invited to witness this event because they needed to see evidence of life, beyond this life. When they saw Moses and Elijah, they knew that Moses had died some 1,400 years before and Elijah had passed some 900 years ago. (2 Kings 2 – Elijah didn’t die. He was taken up to heaven alive, in a whirlwind, accompanied by a chariot of fire.) There they were, alive in glory before them. This gave them confidence in Jesus’ claim of resurrection.
Peter, James and John knew that this was Moses and Elijah. Which shows that we will know each other when we get to heaven.
Mark 9:5 & 6 – “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here” – The title “Rabbi” is one of respect. It was a title of honor and was used to describe someone who was great in the eyes of the student. “Good” in the sense that this is an unbelievable mountain top experience for Peter, James and John. “Good” also in the sense that now Jesus and Moses and Elijah can hang out and talk. While Peter, James and John help and serve.
“Let us put up three shelters” – These are the words of Peter. And Peter is the one who taught Mark. Peter, obviously, was hoping that this mountain top experience would last for a while. For he suggested that he, James and John build shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. And who needs shelters, unless the plan is to camp out for a while? This was statement of what Peter desired. He desired to stay right there, as long as he could.
“He did not know what to say, they were so frightened” – Poor Peter! We often get into trouble when we speak like Peter did, not knowing what to say. But who can blame him? This situation had to be so weird that the natural reaction would be fear. Not fear of Jesus or Moses or Elijah; but fear like realizing that you’re in a very special place and time and feeling unworthy or feeling like an imposter of some kind. Feeling like you don’t know what to do or how to act or even who to be.
Again Spurgeon: “Peter was openhearted, bold, enthusiastic. To my mind, there is something very loveable about Peter; and, in my opinion, we need more Peters in the church of the present day. Though they are rash and impulsive, yet there is a fire in them, and there is steam in them, so that they keep us going.”
Mark 9:7 – “Then a cloud appeared” – This cloud represents the physical presence of God’s glory. A manifestation of all three revelations of God being in one place – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, it’s called Shekinah. The root of this word is sh-k-n, which means “to dwell” or “settle”.
The “cloud” describes the visible, tangible presence of God. It’s the cloud that guided Israel by day, in the Exodus from Egypt. It’s the cloud that stood by the door of the Tabernacle (A portable tent-shrine, in the wilderness, that served as the earthly residence of God.) It’s the cloud that appeared to King Solomon when the Temple was dedicated. It’s the cloud that overshadowed Mary when she conceived Jesus. It’s the cloud that will display the glory of Jesus, when he returns.
The world calls a cloud close to the ground “fog”. “Fog” conjures up images of fear, dread, secrecy, evil and separation. For fog reduces visibility. This isn’t a story of Jesus’ reduced visibility. For Peter, James and John saw clearly. More clearly, concerning Jesus, than ever.
“This is my Son” – In Mark 1:9-11, after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus heard the voice of the Father declare who he was and how much he was loved by the Father. Now, on the Mount of Transfiguration, basically the same message is shared with Peter, James and John. With an additional command.
In the culture of Jesus’ day, the firstborn son held immense significance as the family’s primary heir, representative, and future, possessing unique rights and duties. Under Mosaic law, the firstborn son belonged to God as a reminder of the Exodus. Thus, parents had to redeem or buy back their firstborn son, usually paying five shekels to a priest. The firstborn son represents the strength and vitality of the entire household. He represents the family’s continuation into the future. Much like a captain represents and leads a team.
"Listen to him!” – This is the Father answering any doubts that Peter, James and John might have had, about Jesus and the whole being turned over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law to be killed and then rising from the dead in three days matter. “Listen” is the present-imperative tense in Greek. Which means an ongoing, moment-by-moment posture of attentive obedience, not simply a one-time act. The invitation to listen is an invitation to allow your relationship with Jesus to act as the filter through which everything in your life must pass.
Some practical steps for listening: Read the Bible, pray and act on the smallest prompting of the Holy Spirit. In other words, if you feel as if you need to do something, say something, reach out to someone, answer an invitation, whatever, just do it. Seek out wise counsel in your life, from people who are following Jesus. Lastly, create space in your life for silence and solitude. For sometimes it’s hard to hear God, because of all the noise in your life.
Mark 9:8 – “Suddenly” – It’s been a while, but remember that Mark wrote with a sense of urgency. The Greek word euthus, translated as “immediately”, “straightaway”, or “at once” is used over 40 times in Mark’s gospel. He seems to be conveying to the readers that the Kingdom of God has arrived and demands a swift response to the gospel message and reflecting the crucial, time-sensitive nature of Jesus’ ministry.
“They no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus” – As suddenly as they appeared, Elijah and Moses are gone. This is a sign that Jesus is the supreme authority, fulfilling that which has come before – The Law that Moses represented and the Prophets that Elijah represented. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. Jesus came to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-18).
This is the official shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. What had been a relationship with God, based on a bloodline and a law, has now become a relationship with God, based on a relationship with Jesus. What had been a faith life structured around doing, has now become a faith life structured around being. Being who you are, as a dearly loved, sacred, child of God, in a personal relationship with Jesus. This is now your official relationship status.
Mark 9:9 – “As they were coming down” – All of us understand what it means to come down. To come down off a high, whether drug, alcohol, adrenaline, spiritual or even dream induced. That time when you can remember what was, what you felt, what you experienced, what you thought, but you aren’t there anymore. “Coming down” is a direct reference to the fact that Jesus, Peter, James and John were actually coming down off of a mountain. But also, it reflects the thought of coming down from a higher place, a better place, back to a normal place. The same idea that’s behind the phrase “mountain-top experience”.
None of us can live on the mountain top. We want to, that’s why so many people find addictions so pervasive. For all we want is to re-experience that mountain-top high that we had the first time.
“Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Now that was a tall order! Peter, James and John had seen a transfigured Jesus, along with Moses and Elijah. That would be hard to keep to yourself.
Never forget that Jesus not only came to die on the cross, so that we can all have a right relationship with God. Jesus also came to show us what it looks like to live a life that is saved – has a right relationship with God. Well, the transfiguration was an upperclassman experience and all the disciples, present company included, were only freshmen. Thus, Jesus knew that they would not be able to fully understand the significance of the transfiguration, until after his death and resurrection.
Meaning that, if they did have permission to share away, they would’ve messed it all up and mudded the water. This is why Jesus only took Peter, James and John. For when the time was right, these three witnesses would be able to teach the full significance of what they experienced. And they would be believed. For in Jesus’ day the testimony of two to three witnesses was necessary to establish the truth of an event, providing legal and spiritual validation.
Our lesson: We will sell no wine, before it’s time. There will be things on our journey, that we’ll experience but not fully understand until a later time, when more information and more experience is added.
Mark 9:10 – “They kept the matter to themselves” – Peter, James and John listened not only to Jesus’ direction. They also listened to the voice of the Father, that they had heard on the mountain – “Listen to him”. How hard must that have been? For when Peter, James and John return to the other disciples, they will want to know what happened. For humans can’t stand vacuums. When we don’t know, our tendency is to grab ahold of anything that will inform our not knowing. Instead of simply being good living in the I don’t know.
“What ‘rising from the dead’ meant” – Peter, James and John had to wrestle with not only the fact of what they had just experienced. They also had to wrestle with Jesus’ command to not say anything until after he had risen from the dead. A statement that we have no problem understanding. For hindsight is 20/20. Yet, Peter, James and John didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said “risen from the dead”. Was it a metaphor for Jesus rising from his relative obscurity, to take his rightful place as the King of Israel? Did it actually mean that Jesus would die and come bac from the dead?
Mark 9:11 – “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” – Our questions will always reveal not only our confusion, but also the direction that we’re currently following, in order to clear up our confusion. The disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ risen from the dead comment, so they’re trying to understand who Jesus is. Peter already declared that Jesus is the Messiah in Mark 8:29. Now they’re trying to reconcile that belief with what Jesus just ordered them to do.
For in Malachi 4:5-6 we read that Elijah will come before the Messiah. Every Jewish man would have known this. Peter, James and John, knowing this, are struggling with the fact they just saw Elijah with Jesus on the mountain, yet it was a brief visit that they must now keep secret. In essence, they were asking if that encounter with Elijah was the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? And if it is, what’s up with all this risen from the dead talk and keeping it a secret stuff?
Mark 9:12 – “To be sure, Elijah does come first and restores all things.” – Jesus confirms Malachi’s prophecy. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law and the prophets. Jesus came to fulfill them. Two ways to look at this statement of Jesus: (1) Elijah has already come, in the person and ministry of John the Baptist. Or (2) the prophecy of Elijah has to do with Jesus’ second coming. In Revelation 11:2-13 we read of “two witnesses” who will prophecy for 1,260 days.
“Why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected.” – Again, the conversational technique of Jesus’ ministry. He answers a question with a question. Jesus is challenging Peter, James and John’s misconception that the Messiah would only be a triumphant, political king.
He connects his role as the glorious “Son of Man” from Daniel 7, with the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. He’s asking them, to wrestle with the fact that scriptural prophecy requires him to endure rejection, humiliation and death to fulfill God’s plan. The “must” is Greek for a divine necessity in God’s plan, where suffering and death are pre-ordained steps leading to resurrection.
Mark 9:13 – “But I tell you” – Always pay attention to the buts in the Bible! Peter, James and John have been instructed by the Father to listen to Jesus. These words signify Jesus’ authoritative interpretation of prophecy. And what is to follow will directly challenge the disciples’ expectation of an immediate, glorious kingdom by emphasizing a path of suffering.
“Elijah has come” – John the Baptist lived and ministered in the role of and spirit of Elijah. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He also taught that the one who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John suffered rejection and was executed by Herod. Jesus is trying to teach Peter, James and John (as well as all of us) that suffering is a natural part of life, as a follower of Jesus. It’s through this suffering that we become who God has created us and gifted us to be. Thus, it’s important that Peter, James and John allow themselves and the other disciples to experience all that they will experience, before they make up their mind about who Jesus is and who they will be, in response.
The Comedown Effect: The psychological and neurochemical recalibration that occurs when your brain transitions from the excitement of a high-stakes event to a quieter state. During an amazing experience, your brain is flooded with dopamine (pleasure), serotonin and adrenaline. When the event ends, those chemical levels drop suddenly, resulting in a “crash”.
Mark 9:14 – “The teachers of the law arguing with them” – At this point we have no idea why the teachers of the law are arguing with the other disciples. All we know is that there’s an argument happening. But inquiring minds, created in the image of God, want to know.
Mark 9:15 – “Overwhelmed with wonder” – See Exodus 34:29. The crowd was struck by a sudden, profound astonishment, awe and admiration upon seeing Jesus. Possibly because of the residual divine glory on Jesus after the Transfiguration. Similar to Moses’ shining face in the Exodus passage. Or possibly the hope, relief and wonder, expressed by all the people, in expectation that Jesus can and will put, whatever this dispute between the disciples and the teachers of the law happens to be, to rest.
Mark 9:16 – “What are you arguing with them about?” – See Mark 5:30 - Why does Jesus ask this question? Jesus has already demonstrated that he has the ability to know people’s hearts, their thoughts and their intentions. Jesus is the consummate trial attorney and never asks a question for which he doesn’t already know the answer. The point of the question isn’t for Jesus’ clarity, but ours.
Jesus asks questions in order to force us to speak our truth. To force us to be real with him, so that he can finally be real to us. Jesus can’t meet you where you are, if you don’t first claim where you are.
Mark 9:17-18 – “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not” – A father brought his possessed son to Jesus. The father, expecting Jesus, could only find the disciples. So, he asked them to exorcise his son’s demon. They couldn’t. The teachers of the law then jumped upon this failure as ammunition in their arguments against Jesus. Now your question is why couldn’t the disciples exorcise the demon?
Mark 9:19 – “You unbelieving generation” – This is Jesus’ response to the man’s explanation of what caused the argument between the teachers of the law and the disciples. This is very harsh judgment from Jesus. Our question now is “Who is the unbelieving generation?” Is it the disciples? Is it the teachers of the law? Is it the father? Or is it all of the above?
Is it the disciples? Their inability to exorcise the demon could demonstrate a lack of faith. Maybe they were unable, because they didn’t believe they were able.
Is it the teachers of the law? Their argument with the disciples was undoubtedly about the perspective that the disciple’s inability to drive out the demon was proof that Jesus was a fraud.
Is it the father? The father came, looking for Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal his son. Yet, maybe when all he found were the disciples, his lack of faith in their ability to exorcise the demon actually prevented the disciples from being able to exorcise the demon?
Mark 9:20-21 – “How long has he been like this?” – Again, Jesus is asking a question for which he already knows the answer. But this isn’t a typical “I want to know the answer” question. This a relationship question of “I want to know your answer”.
The question is a trial balloon to see the father’s willingness to be real with Jesus. For the question demonstrates the compassion Jesus has for the father’s long-term trauma. Jesus sees the father and now he wants the father to see him.
Mark 9:22 – “But if you can do anything” – The father seems to be doubting Jesus’ ability to do anything to help his son. But what if the “if”, in the father’s question, isn’t in regards to what Jesus could actually do. What if the “if”, in the father’s question, was in regard to what the father believed Jesus could actually do.
Is it possible that the father’s lack of faith, in Jesus’ ability to heal his son, was the very thing that prevented the disciples from healing his son?
(Read Matthew 17:14-21 then read Mark 9:14-29) Doing something new. Recognizing that each gospel is an account of the divine, infinite, perfect truth. Which is written by a fractured, faulty, sin-stained, imperfect, finite person. With the goal of communicating the divine, infinite, perfect truth to other fractured, faulty, sin-stained, imperfect, finite people.
Mark 9:23 – “Everything is possible for one who believes” – Possibility is defined as something that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc. Faith in Jesus is all about possibility. The father wants to believe that healing for his son is possible. The father wants to believe that Jesus can make that possibility a reality. The healing of his son is the father’s want to.
Remember, we’re still living in the shadow of the dispute between the disciples and the teachers of the law. A dispute that Jesus met with indignation. (See Mark 9:19) Jesus uses the title “unbelieving generation” to address the situation with the father, the sick boy, the disciples and the teachers of the law. But to whom is he referring? The disciples, because they couldn’t heal the boy? The teachers of the law, because they’re so busy trying to condemn Jesus that they have no interest in healing the boy? Or the father, because he wants to believe that Jesus can heal his son, but he’s not sure?
At this moment, Jesus is addressing the father. But what he’s saying is also being heard by the disciples as well as the teachers of the law (and us). Jesus is describing our participation in the workings of God. Our participation in what God can either do or not do. Our participation of faith.
For if the father didn’t believe that Jesus could heal his boy, he wouldn’t be there. And if he wasn’t there, asking for healing, the boy would never be healed. Not that Jesus couldn’t heal him. But because the father didn’t believe enough, to ask for Jesus to heal him.
Faith in Jesus is all about the possibility that exists, at the crossroads. That place in life where you need to decide. Where you need to take a step to the right or to the left or to go straight ahead or even to turn around. In those moments, believing that all things are possible for one who believes, is a vital decision making motivation. For the father, the crossroads of his son’s demon possession, opened him up to the possibility of his son being healed by Jesus. This is a mustard sized seed of faith.
Your faith will always determine your actions. You’ll do what you believe. The father believed Jesus could heal his son, so he brought his son to Jesus. The father’s lack of faith isn’t in Jesus ability. It’s in Jesus availability. Jesus can, but would he?
Mark 9:24 – “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” – This is the father’s statement of faith and confession, all rolled up into one simple prayer. A prayer that has, as its motivation, the healing of his son. We’re learning that the boy’s healing is directly impacted by the father’s faith. If the father doesn’t believe that Jesus can heal his son, his son will not be healed by Jesus. And vice-versa.
This is as real as you can get. Literally standing before Jesus and confessing that you have doubts. And then asking Jesus to help you overcome your doubts. For in the asking, the father is inviting Jesus to meet where he is, but not leave him where he is.
This statement of faith and confession is the very thing that Jesus wants everyone – the disciples, the teachers of the law, the son and us – to hear. The message: Jesus accepts imperfect faith. Bring your doubts directly to Jesus. Trust in the possibility of faith in Jesus and never forget that your life is a journey to be. Not the static feeling of this is all my life will ever be.
“Help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24) is not rebellion against or rejection of God’s promise. The father didn’t deny God’s promise, he desired it. However, it simply seemed too good to be true. Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.”
Mark 9:25 – “I command you, come out of him” – Upon seeing that this scene was attracting a crowd, Jesus moves from a connection with the father, to exorcising the demon from his son. He simply speaks and the demons listen. There’s power in the spoken word. Power to harm and power to heal.
“Never enter him again” – We want to remember that all of the exorcisms in Mark are pre-Pentecost. This means that, before the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, given to all who believe in Jesus at Pentecost, one could be re-possessed by a demon. Yet, as a follower of Jesus, post-Pentecost, we’re all possessed by the Holy Spirit. Thus, demon possession is impossible. For there’s no room at the inn.
Mark 9:26 – “He’s dead” – This is the crowd’s perspective, because the boy looked dead. But this is also symbolic of what Jesus is trying to teach the disciples (and us). In Mark 8:31-32, Jesus tells his disciples that he must die and be raised from the dead. Now he will literally (from the perspective of the crowd) raise this boy from the dead. The boy isn’t dead, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. And to the people, this was a duck. The boy was dead.
Mark 9:27 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “buts” in the Bible.
“Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet” - In Mark 1:31, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law who had a fever by taking her by the hand and lifting her up. Josh Groban sang the words “You raise me up”. And all who have been baptized have been raised up. For, in baptism you “die” to your old self. You’re washed clean, because of what Jesus did on the cross. And you’re raised up, out of the water, as a new creation. Just like this boy was raised up by Jesus, so that he could begin to live a new life, void of demon possession.
Mark 9:28 – “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” – The disciples, as was their custom, waited until they got alone with Jesus and then they asked him this question. James (Jesus’ brother – from another Father) writes in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given.” James learned this first hand. For James didn’t believe in his older brother, while he was alive. It wasn’t until after the resurrection that James gains wisdom.
The disciples are being real. They really want to know why they couldn’t help this father and exorcise the demon possessing his son. Afterall, in Mark 6:13, we read about how the disciples “drove out many demons”. Thus, they want to be better. They’re coming to Jesus in order to learn and to grow, to gain wisdom. Just like all of us. We want to do the exact same thing.
Mark 9:29 – “This kind can come out only by prayer” – The point that Jesus is trying to make to the disciples isn’t that they didn’t pray enough. Or that they didn’t pray the right words. Or that they didn’t pray in the right way. The point is that the disciples were just like the father. They believed. But they needed help to overcome their unbelief.
Just like Jesus taught the father, the disciples needed to focus in on their relationship with Jesus (prayer is a relationship). And they needed to take a leap of faith. Not a leap of “I have no other options”. Not a leap of “I hope so”. But a leap of “With God, all things are possible”. (Foreshadowing what Jesus will teach us in Mark 10:27.)
Who Jesus is revealing himself to be flies head-long in the face of the what the disciples have always been taught about the Messiah. Jesus is asking the disciples, the father and you and I as well, to take a leap of faith, based on who Jesus is and will always be. The disciples, as well as the father and you and I as well, have become conscious of the greatness of our unbelief.
Mark 9:30 – “They left that place” – Geographically speaking, this is simply a record of the fact that Jesus and the disciples are leaving the region of Caesarea Philippi. The location of Mt Hermon, AKA the Mount of Transfiguration.
Spiritually and relationally speaking, this is a signal to Mark’s community (and us) that Jesus and the disciples are in motion. Jesus is forcing the issue and teaching his disciples (and us) not to get stuck in what has been. Jesus wants his disciples (and us) to build on what has been. Build on what they’ve learned, what they’ve heard, what they’ve seen and what they’ve experienced. Build it all into what will be.
“Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were.” – We will always find a way to do what we want to. Jesus wants to be alone with his disciples. There’s a time for every season under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This is a time for teaching, without interruption.
**When was the last time you spent alone time with God, in order to be taught?**
Mark 9:31 – “because he was teaching his disciples” – There’s a verse break in the middle of a sentence. Why? Human beings! In 1551 Robert Estienne, known as Stephanus, a French printer, scholar and Protestant reformer, introduced chapter and verse numbers. The goal was to make the Bible more accessible to people for study. Stephanus obviously wanted the emphasis in Mark 9:30 to be on the fact that Jesus wanted to be alone with his disciples. Making the emphasis in this verse to be on what Jesus was teaching his disciples, while alone with them.
“He said to them” – This is the second of three teachings of Jesus, concerning the Easter story. The first was in Mark 8:31. This teaching is precisely why Jesus wanted to be alone with his disciples. Afterall, his first attempt to teach them these things didn’t go that well.
Mark 9:32 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “buts” in the Bible. This but acts as a sharp contrast highlighting the gap between Jesus’ divine clarity and the disciple’s spiritual blindness. It’s not that the disciples wouldn’t understand, they couldn’t understand. At least they couldn’t understand, yet.
This “but” signifies the power of “yet”. The possibility of what will be learned, heard, seen and experienced from this point forward. For faith is all about possibility.
“Afraid to ask him about it” – There’s a popular, all-be-it untrue, opinion that some version of “do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the Bible. One for every day of the year. Depending on translation the number is more like 100-115 times. Yet, the point is still valid. Not being ruled by fear, as a follower of Jesus, is an important concept to learn and put into practice.
This verse demonstrates the main reason for God’s repetition of “do not be afraid”. For fear will prevent you from being real. The disciples don’t understand, but they’re afraid to ask. Yet, if they don’t ask, how can Jesus ever meet them and walk with them?
Fear prevents you from asking questions, seeking help, seeking guidance and becoming all that God has created and gifted you to be. There truly is no such thing as a dumb question. If the question is asked from pure motives.
**What fear is preventing you from being real with God?**
Mark 9:33 – “They came to Capernaum” - Geographically speaking, this is simply a record of the fact that Jesus and the disciples have transitioned from one place to another. Capernaum is Jesus’ “Home Base”. It’s the location of Peter and Andrew’s house, the very place where Jesus started his public ministry.
Spiritually and relationally speaking, this is a signal to Mark’s community (and us) that Jesus and the disciples have arrived. Not only to a physical place that’s important, but also to a time that’s important. Jesus is forcing the issue and teaching his disciples (and us) what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus wants his disciples (and us) to build on what has been. To build on what they’ve (and we’ve) learned, what they’ve (and we’ve) heard, what they’ve (and we’ve) seen and what they’ve (and we’ve) experienced. And then start to build all of this into who we will be and what we’ll do, as followers of Jesus.
“What were you arguing about on the road?” – Jesus asked this question, not because he didn’t already know the answer. But Jesus asked this question to force the disciples to name it and claim it. There’s power in speaking what you think and how you feel. Regardless of how wrong or right it may be, in that moment. For in the speaking, in the getting real with yourself, with God and with others, you’ll start to learn and grow. Keeping something to yourself, wearing a mask, keeping secrets, not being real is a sure-fire way to find yourself separated from yourself, from God and from others. And this separation is so much more damaging than any realness, any vulnerability, that you could ever share.
Mark 9:34 – “But” – Always pay attention to the “Buts” in the Bible.
“They kept quiet because…” – This is one of the many reasons why God shares the command “Do not be afraid” (or it’s subsidiaries) many times over and over again in the Bible. The disciples don’t say anything, because they’re afraid of what Jesus was going to think about the fact that they had been arguing about who was the greatest among them. They were afraid to be real with Jesus, even though Jesus already knew the topic of their argument. The disciples came to a crossroads and decided to make a right, out of their fear of what Jesus would think, if they made a left.
Mark 9:35 – “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve” – In Jesus’ day, a teacher (Rabbi) would sit and the students (disciples) would stand. This would have also been significant to Mark’s Gentile Christian community in Rome. For, in their culture, students would stand when a teacher entered a room, as a sign of respect. Mark is telling his community (and us) that some very important teaching is coming. So, pay attention! Which we already knew, because of the “But”.
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” – This is the second passage in Mark that I invite you to memorize. (The first was Mark 9:24). This is who a follower of Jesus is called to be. Which will, in turn, influence what a follower of Jesus will do.
Notice how Jesus structures this teaching. There are two callings: (1) To be last. And (2) To be a servant of all. Why not just be last or just be a servant of all? Because isolating both of these callings, left to our own devices, will leave the door open for personal, purpose driven manipulation.
For if all you have to do to be first is to be last, you’ll gladly go to the back of the line. For you know that this last position is really the first position. Nobody else simply realizes this fact, but you. Likewise, if all you have to do is to be a servant of all, you’ll gladly serve all. For you’ll know that serving all is really the best thing you can do, in order to be first. Nobody else simply realizes this fact, but you.
This is a winning perspective, not a walking perspective. For you’ll do what you do, even though you don’t like it or even want to. So that you can receive something that you like and want very much – To be first.
Thus, in Jesus combining being last and serving others, he has forced the disciples (and us) to move past doing what they’re doing (and what we’re doing), in order to gain some advantage or to win some prize. Jesus is taking the disciple’s destination motivation of being first and transforming it into the destination motivation of being a dearly loved, sacred, child of God. Transforming their want to, as followers of Jesus, away from winning to walking. Because they’ve already won.
This is about who we all are, as followers of Jesus. Not what we do, as followers of Jesus. For God knows that if our want to is transformed, our doing, our questions, our decisions, our very lives will be transformed.
Mark 9:36 – “He took a little child whom he placed among them.” – This is one of those Bible passages, if taken out of context, comes off as weird and creepy. But, taken in context, is one the most valuable lessons that Jesus ever taught. A “little child”, in Jesus’ first-century culture, possessed little to no social standing, legal rights or power. Thus, making them opposite of the greatness that the disciples had been arguing about on the road to Capernaum.
Mark 9:37 – “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” – This implies that this mandate applies to everyone. No one is exempt from this call to servant leadership and humility. Followers of Jesus are called to literally follow Jesus and be his representatives here on earth. Jesus is our example and we are to follow his example. Does this mean that we have to drop what were currently doing and go out and find little children that we can serve? No and yes.
No, in the sense that Jesus is simply using a little child as a teaching tool. For they represented a very lowly member of society. Thus, there would be no personal profit or honor to gain in welcoming and serving little children.
You serve others because of Jesus. You serve others because God first served you – life, grace, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life in heaven… You serve, not to gain anything else, but because you’ve already received everything.
Yes, in the sense that everyone is a dearly loved, sacred, child of God. Regardless of their socio-economic standing. Thus, there’s huge personal profit and honor, that you’ve already gained, that allows you to welcome other little children, just like you. You serve, not to gain anything else, but because you’ve already received everything.
“And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” – This is a loaded phrase signifying that Jesus is the direct representative of God the Father. God is the Father, God is the Son and God is the Holy Spirit. Up to this point, pre-Pentecost, humanity doesn’t yet understand God the Holy Spirit. All humanity has is the concept of God the Father.
With the birth of Jesus, humanity received God the Son. In the future, humanity will receive God the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus is speaking to the disciples in a language that they could easily understand: The God you serve is me. So, when you welcome little children, you welcome me, God the Son. Which, in turn, means that you’re welcoming God the Father.
Mark 9:38 – “’Teacher’, said John” – John is an “inner-circle” (Peter, James and John) disciple. So, it makes sense that he would feel comfortable to directly ask Jesus a question. Yet, what he will ask demonstrates that, even though he was an “inner-circle” disciple, he still didn’t understand.
“We saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” - Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? The disciples, who are hot off their failure to exorcise a demon from a young boy, got mad when someone, that they didn’t even know, was successfully driving out demons. The disciples are prioritizing “us” over the success of Jesus’ mission. His mission to save everyone.
The disciples are exhibiting possessiveness over Jesus’ name. They’re failing to understand the inclusive nature of the kingdom of God. And this is all happening on the heels of the disciple’s argument over who was the greatest. We’re a little less than three years into this following Jesus thing and the disciples are already living with an elitist perspective.
Mark 9:39 – “Do not stop him” - Jesus is welcoming faithful ministry that exists outside of authorized, formal or institutional structures. He rebukes our fractured, faulty and sin-stained territorial instinct to favor institutional loyalty over the broader work of God. The disciples are more concerned with controlling who could use Jesus’ name than with the actual deliverance of people from evil, in Jesus’ name.
“For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.” – This man, whoever he was, that drove out demons in Jesus’ name, had a very strong faith in Jesus. These healings were simply an action in response to who he was, a follower of Jesus. Because of this, he now can’t, at least in no way that anyone would believe, say anything bad about Jesus. He was in. No need to bother with him. Let him go and be himself, right out in front of anyone and everyone.
Mark 9:40 – “For whoever is not against us is for us.” – You can be wrong about everything else, but right about Jesus and you’ll be right. Conversely, you can be right about everything else, and be wrong about Jesus and you’ll be wrong. We’re saved by grace, through faith in Jesus. The rest we can simply agree to disagree and move on.
Mark 9:41 – “Truly I tell you” – In the Old Testament days, when a prophet of God, someone who had a message from God, would write or speak they would make a statement of divine origin. They would declare something like: “Thus says the Lord.” Or “The word of the Lord is.” The purpose was to let all of us know that what was about to be shared didn’t originate in them. But it would be the words of God. Jesus, not being a prophet who merely shares God’s message, but God in the flesh; simply states “Truly I tell you”.
“Because you belong to the Messiah” – Jesus now turns his teaching attention to the fact that we’re all a part of the body of Christ. We’re all in the family, of God. Jesus is helping the disciples (and us) to focus on our shared identity as dearly loved, sacred, children of God. The disciples were willing to go out of there way to stop this stranger from ministering in the name of Jesus. Simply because he wasn’t one of them. Yet, Jesus is teaching them (and us) that even a cup of water, given because you “belong to the Messiah”, is the expectation. And a cup of water is so much less, yet so much better, than what the disciples gave to another dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
“Will certainly not lose their reward” – What’s the reward? Often, it’s interpreted as a heavenly reward. It signifies that God notices and treasures humble, Jesus centered service, ensuring that it’s not forgotten. Others suggest the reward includes the joy of service, right here and right now. The blessing of living into who you’ve been created and gifted to be.
Jesus’ point: Nobody who serves another in the simplest of ways, giving a cup of water in Jesus’ name, will ever be in danger of losing any heavenly or earthly reward. Yet, anyone who prevents another from serving another in the simplest of ways, giving a cup of water (exorcising a demon), are already in danger of losing any heavenly or earthly benefits.
This isn’t a salvation statement. Nobody can gain or lose their faith because of authorized, formal or institutional structures. This is a statement of identity and purpose, as a follower of Jesus, in this life. One can be saved by grace and still miss out on all that this truth can actually mean in their life. Yes, they’ll go to heaven someday. But they’ll miss out on being all that God has created them, gifted them and saved them to be, right here, right now.
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