Mark Chapter 09
Memory verses for
this week: 1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day
of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath
prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Introduction:
We continue with our study
of Mark Chapter 9. In chapter 8, Christ fed the 4,000 there on the
east side of Galilee. Again the Pharisees come and tempt him asking
for a sign, but Jesus told them that no sign would be coming to
them. He healed the blind man and then questioned the disciples as
to who the people thought that He was. Peter identified him as
Christ, the Son of God. We begin this week with the transfiguration
before the Lord’s inner circle of Peter, James, and John.
I. The
Transfiguration
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there
be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till
they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and
James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by
themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow;
so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Mark 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they
were talking with Jesus.
Jesus declares in verse one that some who were present would
not taste death until they had seen the kingdom of God come with
power. Six days after Jesus made this statement, Peter, James, and
John have the privilege to see how it would be when Jesus comes in His
glory. They saw both Elias and Moses. Moses represents the dead in
Christ that shall be raised at the coming of Christ. Elijah
represents the living saints at the coming of the Lord. These three
men had a little taste of what it will be like when Jesus comes and we
are caught up with him. Note that Peter and his companions recognized
Elijah and Moses although they had lived many years before this time.
This gives us some knowledge of what things will be like after the
resurrection. We will know as He is known, and we will be like
Jesus. The raiment becoming so white speaks of Christ’s purity and
righteousness.
Mark 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good
for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee,
and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mark 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Peter was never shy, and he speaks out and says that it was
good to be there. Wherever Jesus is certainly is a good place to
be. It will be so wonderful to be present when the resurrection
takes place.
Matthew Henry said this about these verses.
The
great delight that the disciples took in seeing this sight, and
hearing this discourse, is expressed by Peter, the mouth of the rest;
He said, Master, it is good for us to be here, v. 5. Though Christ was
transfigured, and was in discourse with Moses and Elias, yet he gave
Peter leave to speak to him, and to be as free with him as he used to
be. Note, Our Lord Jesus, in his exaltation and glory, doth not at all
abate of his condescending kindness to his people. Many, when they are
in their greatness, oblige their friends to keep their distance; but
even to the glorified Jesus true believers have access with boldness,
and freedom of speech with him. Even in this heavenly discourse there
was room for Peter to put in a word; and this is it, "Lord, it is good
to be here, it is good for us to be here; here let us make
tabernacles; let this be our rest for ever.’’ Note, Gracious souls
reckon it good to be in communion with Christ, good to be near him,
good to be in the mount with him, though it be a cold and solitary
place; it is good to be here retired from the world, and alone with
Christ: and if it is good to be with Christ transfigured only upon a
mountain with Moses and Elias, how good it will be to be with Christ
glorified in heaven with all the saints! But observe, While Peter was
for staying here, he forgot what need there was of the presence of
Christ, and the preaching of his apostles, among the people.
[i]
Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice
came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Mark 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw
no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
God was not pleased with Peter’s suggestion, and tells them
to look at the one and only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them
that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son
of man were risen from the dead.
Mark 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning
one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Jesus commands the three men to not tell anyone about their
experience until after He was raised from the dead. They did not
comprehend this, and they question one another about what Jesus meant
about rising from the dead.
Mark 9:11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that
Elias must first come?
Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh
first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of
man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they
have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
The disciples question Jesus about why the scribes say that
Elias must first come before the messiah was to come. They had just
seen Elias, and they are confused.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I
will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall
turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse.
The prophet Malachi told of the coming of Elijah before
Christ comes in power and great glory. At this time, He will take the
throne of David and reign 1000 years in the Millennial kingdom. If
the Jews had received Christ, Elijah would have been the one who came
rather than John. John came not as Elijah, but came in power and
spirit of Elijah. John the Baptist was NOT Elijah.
John 1:21 And they
asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that prophet? And he answered, No.
John 1:22 Then said
they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that
sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
John 1:23 He said, I
am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of
the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
II. The Powerless
Disciples and the Mighty Christ
Mark 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great
multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him,
were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Mark 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
When Jesus reaches the nine disciples at the foot of the
mountain, He discovers that the Scribes have been disputing with
them. Jesus asks them why they are questioning the disciples.
Mark 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I
have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mark 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to
thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Mark 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how
long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto
me.
Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him,
straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and
wallowed foaming.
Mark 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this
came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into
the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have
compassion on us, and help us.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things
are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and
said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he
rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I
charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
One of the scribes says that they had brought this boy who
was possessed of a devil to the disciples and they could not heal
him. Jesus is upset that they had not displayed more faith and been
able to heal him. He asks them to bring the child to him, and if he
truly believed, the boy could be healed. The father cries out for
the Lord to help him with his unbelief. When we need help, we need
to turn to God like this man did. Jesus healed the boy and rebukes
the foul spirit that was in him. These had to be comforting words to
the father when Jesus says the dumb spirit would never again enter the
boy.
Mark 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of
him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and
he arose.
Mark 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked
him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by
nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The disciples want to know why they could not heal the boy.
Jesus tells them that to have this ability took much prayer and
fasting.
III. Jesus Foretells
His Death
Mark 9:30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee;
and he would not that any man should know it.
Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son
of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him;
and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
Mark 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to
ask him.
Jesus was constantly teaching. He wanted His disciples to
know what was going to happen. His central message was that He would
suffer and die and be raised again. But their spiritual ears were
dull of hearing: “they understood not that saying.”
J. Vernon McGee said this about the disciples.
They didn’t quite understand this matter of being raised from the
dead. Here He is talking about His own death for them and you would
think that these men might have at least made some inquiry. They dared
to dispute among themselves who would be greatest in the Kingdom after
He had just announced His death. They should have been ashamed of
their conduct here. This is not the first time He has announced His
death and resurrection to them, and still they do not understand.
[ii]
IV. The Dispute for
Who Should be Greatest
Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he
asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had
disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
After arriving in Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples enter
into a house. Jesus questions them as to what they were disputing
about on the trip there. This was very embarrassing since they were
arguing about who would be the greatest in the Lord’s kingdom. It
says they held their peace and did not answer him. Jesus was God… He
knew what they had been saying.
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto
them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all,
and servant of all.
Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them:
and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name,
receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but
him that sent me.
Here we find Jesus trying to tell them about His upcoming
death, and the disciples were filled with pride and selfish ambition.
His mind was set on the cross, but the disciples were thinking about
crowns. He makes a great point and teaches them by using a small
child as an example. The two marks of true greatness are humility
and service. If a person would receive a child in his name, then
that person would receive him.
V. The Disciples
Rebuked and Warned
Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one
casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad
him, because he followeth not us.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man
which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of
me.
Mark 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
The disciples want to stop a man who was casting out devils
in Jesus’ name. Jesus told them to leave him alone. If he is not
against us, he is for us.
Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in
my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall
not lose his reward.
Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that
believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about
his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into
hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
Jesus tells how that even a cup of water given in his name
will be rewarded. And to harm a child, severe punishment is
promised. God loves all children, and anyone offending them will face
a horrible punishment in Hell. Hell is not a make believe place, but
is as real as Heaven. It says in Hell, the worm dies not and the
fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into
hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better
for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having
two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mark 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every
sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness,
wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace
one with another.
Jesus warns that Hell is real, and that we must be people
with salt in ourselves. If we are saved (Know Jesus as our Lord and
Savior), we need to live like a Christian. Salt that has lost its
taste is worthless, and we are warned to be people worth ‘our salt.’
J. Vernon McGee said this:
These are strange statements. The thought is
that both fire and salt purify. Fire purifies by burning away the
dross and impurities. Salt penetrates and burns out the corruption and
stays the spread of impurities. If we have salt—the cleansing work of
the Word of God—working within us, it sanctifies and brings peace.
[iii]
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Prov
4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day.
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[i]Henry,
Matthew, Matthew Henry’s
Commentary on the Bible,
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.
[ii]J.
Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible
commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System,
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.
[iii]J.
Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file],
electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.