Gospel of Mark Chapter Nine Commentary by
Pastor Ron Beckham
Audio Sermon – Mark 9
Transfiguration
Verse 1 of this chapter has been misunderstood. Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” A quick glance would suggest that what we call the “Second Coming” or “Rapture” would occur during the lifetimes of some of these men. But the narrative continues in Verses 2-4: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus." The “some standing here” turned out to be Peter, James and John, and this seeing of “the kingdom of God” was six days later.
There are some who don’t talk when they should, but Peter was someone who talked too much. In Verses 5-6, he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.” When you are afraid – ask! It’s right to pray, all the time.
Verse 7 reveals God the Father, who said, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” And then in Verse 8, “Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.” Notice the continuing shock to the disciples, who did not expect any of this. And now in Verse 9 we find them rushing “down from the mountain,” and Jesus “commanding them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”
If you feel that you don’t know very much, you’re not alone because none of us know anything except what the Lord reveals. In Verse 10 we see that Peter, James and John kept quiet about the transfiguration until after Jesus rose from the grave. And they were “questioning what this rising from the dead meant.” They didn’t understand, we don’t, but trust in the Lord, who reveals everything when we need it. He is the One who knows what we need.
The disciples asked Jesus in Verse 11, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered: “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things,” as mentioned in Malachi 4:5-6. Jesus spoke of Himself in Verse 12, that He must "suffer many things and be treated with contempt,” as also seen in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. His response in Verse 13 reflects the angel’s words in Luke 1:17 that John the Baptist would come "in the spirit and power of Elijah,” and Jesus concluded, “Elijah has… come, and they did to him whatever they wished...” John the Baptist “made ready” the people and then Herod, the people’s king, killed him.
When a situation arises that is greater than your ability to handle it, note Jesus in relation to His disciples in Verse 14. They were in trouble and He saw the “great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.” He sees your situation and He comes to help - often. In Verse 15 the people ran to Jesus in excitement. And in Verses 16-18, we learn the source of the dispute, as Jesus asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” even though He already knew. Someone answered, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
Jesus had given gifts to His disciples, as seen in places like Mark 3:14-15 and 6:7, including the ability to cast out unclean spirits. We don’t do anything and the disciples couldn’t either because all must be in faith. Not by some “faith” that WE can do it, but faith that GOD will respond to the need. And so He said in Verse 19, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And notice in Verses 20-22 that things can get worse before the healing comes. When the demon saw Jesus, the spirit convulsed the boy, and “he fell on the ground… foaming at the mouth.” Jesus asked some questions of the father, now hearing that the convulsions happened “from childhood.” The demon threw the boy “into the fire and into the water to destroy him.” In weak faith the father was asking Jesus for help, who replied in Verse 23, “If you can believe, all things are possible…” In Verse 24, the father of the child cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” That should be the cry of us all.
Notice that God responds to even the tiniest faith. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying in Verse 25, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” And “the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.” And he looked dead, “so that many said, ‘He is dead’" (Verse 26). But in Verse 27, Jesus took the boy by the hand and “lifted him up, and he arose.” The disciples wondered in Verse 28, as many have wondered through the centuries, why couldn’t WE do it? And Jesus responded in Verse 29, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” We need to pray all the time. God will help us.
In Verses 30-32, they all went through Galilee, and He was protecting His disciples by keeping them away from people and teaching them: “The Son of Man (Jesus) is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” They did not understand and were afraid to ask, but when you are afraid, go to God who will help you.
In Verses 33-37, they were in Capernaum and He asked them an embarrassing question: “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept quiet, “for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” He spoke especially to the twelve He called apostles and said words we all need to hear: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” He showed them a little child and said, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” You are that child, safe in the arms of the Lord. Today is the day to TRUST in Him.
Verses 38-40 reflect the petty differences so common among people: John the Apostle said, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” Jesus answered, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.” People may not precisely share your doctrinal beliefs, but if they help others in the Name and power of Jesus Christ, receive them. Jesus continued in Verse 41: “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” It’s good to be right but to receive one another is better.
Jesus underscored a great danger in Verses 42-49 - “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire - where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched,’” a quote from Isaiah 66:24. It’s not that we are to hurt ourselves physically but instead those who trust in the Lord must be transfigured into people who love, giving up something of ourselves for others. This “worm” and “fire” were Greek psychological terms describing mental distress. We are instead to be like a good meal to one another, cooked with “fire” and seasoned with “salt.” In Verse 50 we learn what it's about: “Have salt in yourselves,” He said, “and have peace with one another.”
Father, forgive us that our love is so limited. We surrender to You. Transfigure us that we may be like salt, treating others with love, making life better for them, even if they are not just like us. In Jesus Name. Thank You. Amen.
