Welcome to Week 9 of our study in the Gospel of Mark, and the week in which we switch from seeking to understand the identity of Jesus to understanding his mission. What had Jesus come to do? What does he expect his followers to do?
We are surveying all of chapter 9 this week and there are two things I’d like to say. First, there is simply no way in the framework of a 5-day devotional to really dig in and cover all the angles. For that, we have the Out of Water podcast where Pastor Sam and I will dig deep into the text. So if there are things you read and realize aren’t covered in the study notes, that’s expected.
Second, because there is quite a lot of reading in the primary text throughout the week, we won’t add related verses this time. Let’s get started!
Study notes by Mark Lautenschlager, prayer guides by Tracy Lautenschlager.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
The Transfiguration
Observe
Jesus reveals himself in glory to three of his disciples, doing for them what he refused to do for the Pharisees.
{Mark 9:1-13 ESV} {1} And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” {2} And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, {3} and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. {4} And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. {5} And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” {6} For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. {7} And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” {8} And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. {9} And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. {10} So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. {11} And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” {12} And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? {13} But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
The Pharisees had asked Jesus for a sign from heaven and he refused. However, here he does precisely that, but only for his inner circle of closest friends. Why? Chapter 8 ended with the disciples still struggling to understand what Jesus was saying about why he had come and what needed to happen to him. They’d seen Jesus raise other people from the dead but it seems the idea he would resurrect himself just didn’t register with them. So up the mountain they go and Jesus shows himself in his glorified state, along with Moses and Elijah. What an overwhelming sight this must have been! Verse 6 tells us the disciples were terrified. What happened next didn’t make that any better, I’m guessing. The voice of God is heard from the clouds confirming Jesus was his Son and they should listen to him. After this incredible display, down the mountain they go. You’d think at this point Jesus had done enough for his disciples to simply accept anything he said without question. And yet, when Jesus told them to tell no one what they’d seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead, the disciples immediately began discussing what this rising from the dead business was all about. In modern so-called scholarly circles, theologians debate whether Jesus returned from the dead bodily or whether it was something less, perhaps some manifestation of his spirit. Belief in the resurrection is every bit as important as believing in the sacrifice made by the crucifixion. You cannot be a Christian and not accept the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus.
- The disciples were terrified by what they saw, so how do you think you would react if you were on that mountain with them?
- People seem to be able to believe that Jesus was a real person, accept that he was a great teacher, agree that he was killed by crucifixion (even going so far as to assent this was done as a sacrifice for us), but when they arrive at the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave they have trouble seeing that as a true, literal story. Why do you think that is and what is so important about believing in the resurrection?
Dear Jesus, On most days I cannot imagine why you love us and why you have saved us. Why save me? These disciples must have felt the same when Jesus was transfigured before them. “Why am I here to see this, and what do I do with this experience?” When I consider your glory, it is frightening, and, like those disciples, I want to reduce it to something I understand. I confess that I want to make a nice, contained space for you; I want to make you manageable in my life. But you have defeated death and called me, and so transformed the meaning of my life. I choose death with you to gain life with you, wherever you lead. Amen.
Day 2
Bathed in Prayer
Observe
Jesus and the disciples who had been on the mountain (Peter, James, and John) returned to the rest of the disciples only to find that they were surrounded by a crowd and caught up in an argument.
{Mark 9:14-29 ESV} {14} And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. {15} And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. {16} And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” {17} And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. {18} And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” {19} And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” {20} And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. {21} And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. {22} And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” {23} And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” {24} Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” {25} And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” {26} And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” {27} But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. {28} And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” {29} And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
The disciples were puzzled. Had they not been given authority over unclean spirits when they were sent out to spread the word? They’d been able to cast out unclean spirits then so why not now? They had grown overconfident. They knew they could cast out unclean spirits so why should they need to wait for Jesus or turn to God in prayer before trying? Are we not guilty of doing the same? A ministry that was birthed through countless hours of prayer becomes old hat, a habit that we perform without thinking. Prayer is the first thing to be left behind, but as we see here, it is the most important thing. Everything we do in service to the Lord must be bathed in prayer. If we don’t have time to pray, we need to cut out something else. Prayer is not optional, it is the source of our power!
- Do you agree or disagree with the premise that prayer is often the first thing to be left behind? Why?
- It is no secret that many Christians believe they don’t pray often enough. Why do you think that is the case? What discourages us from praying?
Heavenly Father, As I try to live as your follower, I often do what I see others do. I move through the motions of ministry. I give all the right responses, even saying that I will pray, but then I don’t do it. Of course, I don’t sense your presence at those times because I fail to enter into your presence through prayer. Forgive me. Draw me to my knees, Lord, and in your mercy I pray that you would sometimes reveal the results of fervent prayer, and I will give you all the glory. Amen.
Day 3
The First Shall Be Last
Observe
As they travel back to Capernaum, Jesus once again explains that he must be arrested, killed, and rise from the dead. The disciples seem to have reached the point where they recognize he’s told them the same thing so many times they dare not ask any questions. They arrive in Capernaum and the topic of being someone important in God’s kingdom is raised.
{Mark 9:30-37 ESV} {30} They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, {31} for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” {32} But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. {33} And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” {34} But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. {35} And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” {36} And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, {37} “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
This is another one of those moments when Jesus asks a question to which he already knows the answer. But he asks it anyway in an attempt to let his disciples confess their silly argument. When no answer is forthcoming, Jesus answers the question anyway. He gives them two bedrock principles for being great in the kingdom of God: anyone who wants to be first must make themselves last and be servant to everyone, and anyone who accepts the weakest and most insignificant of people is in fact welcoming him. That certainly turns the entire power structure on its ear, doesn’t it? It is not a sin to be ambitious and want to overachieve for the sake of the kingdom, but it is a sin to channel that ambition into the wrong place and become important as the world measures importance. In the kingdom of God the ends most certainly do not justify the means.
- In recent times, we have seen one well known ministry figure after another go down in the flames of some kind of sin. What do you think happens to cause this along the way from starting out well to imploding on the front pages?
- Let’s bring it back local and focus on the good for a moment. Think of someone you know in our church who embodies being a servant to all. How does this affect you? What is something they do that you really admire? How do they bring glory to God?
Dear Lord, Thank you for the pastors, teachers and lay leaders you have called to this church, who have the hearts of servants. Thank you also for their families, who sacrifice so they can serve all of us. I pray that you will strengthen each person who ministers here. Protect their hearts. Help them to continue to serve you with humility, as your servants. Teach me to listen and learn from them with humility. Help me to be welcoming to all, for I only need to introduce them to you. Amen.
Day 4
Same Team
Observe
The disciples come to Jesus playing the tattletale game.
{Mark 9:38-41 ESV} {38} John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” {39} But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. {40} For the one who is not against us is for us. {41} For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
The disciples tell Jesus they’d run across someone casting out demons in his name, by implication this would seem to be successfully casting out, and they were upset because he wasn’t part of the group following Jesus around. Jesus tells them to leave such a man alone, because anyone truly serving in his name will not be quick to speak evil of him. There are many followers of Jesus today. Most of them will be outside the walls of this church. Some of them look like us and do things in a similar manner to us, and some are totally different. But if we are committed to the same gospel and have no doctrinal differences that would challenge orthodoxy, we are on the same team. Jesus wants us to work as partners, not remain in our holy huddle because we don’t like strangers.
- What is your favorite memory of working together with another church or ministry, whether through Church United or just on your own?
- Give some examples of red flag issues that represent differences that might prevent you from partnering with another church or ministry?
Father God, My vision of your church is so narrow, limited at times by my experiences and even by my prejudices and preferences. Lord, thank you for the wonderful tapestry that is your church, made up of all believers from all corners of the earth. Give me discernment, but help me to avoid unfair judgment. Help me to join with other believers in your work with joy and to give you the glory. I thank you for sending fellow laborers. Amen.
Day 5
Temptation to Sin
Observe
Jesus makes some very dramatic points about avoiding eternal punishment.
{Mark 9:42-50 ESV} {42} “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. {43} And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. {44} {45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. {46} {47} And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, {48} ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ {49} For everyone will be salted with fire. {50} Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The Greek word translated as hell in these verses is gehenna. Its name in Hebrew was the valley of Hinnom (ge hinnom) so you see where the name came from. This narrow, deep cleft in the rocks just outside Jerusalem had a lot of uses down through the years, none of them good, and in the time of Jesus it was where the city threw its refuse and sewage. It had been set on fire to dispose of these things and that fire burned without ever going out. Whether at the surface where it crawled with worms and maggots, or deeper where the fire burned, this was not a place you wanted to be. Jesus used this word to give a sense of what hell will be like, a place of torment that you want to avoid at all costs. So much so that Jesus listed body parts that might be leading you into sin that would keep you from heaven and get you cast into the burning morass with its worms and decay, and he said you should cut off or pluck out these body parts rather than miss entering heaven. Now Jesus wasn’t really telling you to cut off your body parts, this was figurative language, but it makes the point that there is nothing whatsoever more important than settling the issue of where you wind up after you die.
- Does the mental picture of a place like Gehenna have any effect on your determination to share the gospel with others?
- When you have an opportunity to explain the gospel to someone but you don’t, what was it that held you back?
Heavenly Father, I struggle with this strong language, but I need to embrace the urgency of it. Lord, I need to let go of everything that holds me back from you; show me what those things are and strengthen me to do it. I must learn to see around me people who desperately need you and put aside my self-consciousness and speak of you. I need to mend relationships. Because I don’t know the number of my days, but I want those days to count for your kingdom. Amen.