Mark 9 "I Believe, Help My Unbelief!"

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Jesus opens this chapter with some confusing words, 

"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.”

People get confused by this statement by assuming that the "kingdom coming with power" means the second coming of Christ. This is why many first century Christians thought Jesus was going to return in their generation, which is the subject of  Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.

What is it referring to then?

I think it is referring to Pentecost when God kingdom came in great power when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, as they waited behind closed doors in fear of the Jews. When the Holy Spirit came upon them in great power, they started speaking in many languages the Good News of Christ and did many signs and wonders. 

The Transfiguration

In this story Jesus took his inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John, up high on a mountain where they beheld his glory. They got a glimpse of what Jesus would look like after he was resurrected from the dead. Also Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus. Elijah was represented the prophets. Moses represented the Law, known as the Torah. 

Peter unsure what to say suggested they put up tabernacles around Jesus, Moses, and Elijah so he could freeze the moment in time. We often call these experiences, "mountaintop experiences", which was literally true in this case. But as we all know, mountaintop experiences can be very powerful. But there comes a time in which they end, and we need come back down off the mountain into our old life. But the hope is that the experience was so transformative, that we come back a changed person. 

God the Father also affirms Jesus His Son by saying, "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased."  This validated the experience for the disciple, and reminded them that Jesus was truly the Son of God. 

Have you had a mountaintop experience? How did it change you? How were you able to memorialize the moment so you would not forget it?

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit

Jesus meets a man who had brought his son, who was possessed by a demon. The man said he had brought the boy to his disciples, but they could not cast him out. This particular demon threw the boy to the ground, and he fell into convulsions and foamed at the mouth. This is a description of what we know today as a "grand mal" seizure. I know because I have had two of them. 

Unfortunately because of this bible story, some people thought if someone was having a seizure, they were demon possessed, which is obviously not true. This was a very destructive demon we learn, as the father tells Jesus that this demon tried to kill the boy by throwing him into the fire or into the water. 

This affirms what John's gospel says about the devil that he came to "steal, kill, and destroy." John 10:10 That's right Satan's goal is to kill the followers of Jesus. This is why it says in the scripture, "the devil was a murderer and a liar from the beginning."  John 8:44

The man asked Jesus, "If you can, please heal him?" It seems as if Jesus is taken back a little by the comment as he says, 

‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Jesus says effectively. I can, the only question is do you believe I can. Then the man makes a very interesting statement, 

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I love the man's honesty, and I think Jesus did too. Though one may be a believer in Jesus, it doesn't mean you will not have doubts or "trouble believing". Faith is a gift from God, but it grows as a we learn to trust in and believe that Jesus will do what He says he will do. I think we all might have times in our life when we say, "I believe help me overcome my unbelief."

Jesus rebuked the spirit and it shook the boy violently and came out of him. The disciples privately asked Jesus why they could not deliver the boy from this demon. Jesus said, 

"This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Notice Jesus heals different kinds of illnesses and different kinds of levels of demonic possession. In this case the disciples needed to engage in spiritual warfare before they went to into deliverance ministry with the boy. When we engage in deliverance ministry (the ministry of casting out demons), we need to be very careful to have spent a lot of time in prayer. Not only just personal prayer, but corporate prayer with other Christians. We call this "prayer coverage"! 

When we are fightin,g spiritual battles, we need spiritual weapons. Two of the greatest weapons we have are prayer and God's Word. In prayer we speak in God's authority, and similarly when we use scripture we are using God's authority. Both are a means to access spiritual power, which we will need to fight our enemy the devil. 

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

For the second Jesus tells the disciples that he will betrayed into the hands of men who will eventually kill him. But then he will be raised from the dead. The disciples didn't understand what he was talking about it but didn't want to ask Jesus about it. It reminds of me of the statement, "The only dumb question is the one that wasn't asked."

As they continue on their journey together, some of the disciples started arguing about who among them was the greatest. Jesus redefined true greatness in two ways. First, he said the way up is the way down. True greatness comes not with being served but in serving others. Secondly, he places a child in his hand and says, "Whoever welcomes one of these little ones welcomes me!"

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

The disciples saw some people driving out demons in Jesus' name. The disciples thought it was a bad thing because they didn't think the man was one of them. But Jesus told them not to stop them. Why? Because even if they weren't believers, when the saw the true power of God being released in Jesus' name they might come to faith in Jesus. He adds, "Whoever is not against us is for us". 

There are many that may be wrong in some aspect of their presentation or teaching, yet they still set forth Jesus in some manner. Let God deal with them. Those who are not against a Biblical Jesus are still for Him, at least in some way. Paul saw many men preaching Jesus from many motives, some of them evil – yet he could rejoice that Christ was preached (Philippians 1:15-18). (Guzik)

Causing to Stumble

Mark's gospel ends with Jesus issuing a stern warning about those who cause other believers, especially younger believers to stumble. He says it would be better for a man to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea than cause a little one to stumble in their faith. 

This reminds us that our lives as Christians is not just about "me and Jesus". Our witness to our faith is not just a verbal testimony, but our very lives. Sometimes the way we live our lives is a more compelling than our conversion story. But if we lives our lives in a way that causes others to stumble, we need to eliminate that behavior according to Jesus. 

He uses the famous metaphor, "If your hand causes you to sin than cut it off!"

Now obviously Jesus is not commanding "self-mutilation". This is not a literal statement. What he is saying is we must be willing to cut something out of our lives, if it leads someone else into sin. We don't just live unto ourselves. We don't live in a bubble. Our actions have repercussions. If you are a Christian and you have made that known, people will be watching you. Perhaps they will be looking for you to make a mistake so they can say, "See all Christians are hypocrites!"

Are there areas of your life that you need to "cut off" or "prune" so that your words about Christ will match your actions?