Mark 9 - In the Name of Jesus!

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9 And he said to them, “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 may be a reference to what is coming next in this chapter, the Transfiguration, where 3 disciples saw Jesus' glory. 

The Transfiguration

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Jesus gave Peter, James, and John a glimpse of his future glory. Some people wonder if people from the Old Testament will be in heaven, and this passage seems to indicates that they will. Elijah and Moses were two significant figures in the Old Testament. Elijah represented the prophets. Moses represented the Law given by God as summarized by the Ten Commandments. A lot times it will say in the bible as a summary of the Old Testament, "As is written in the Law and by the prophets". Both the Law and the Prophets revealed God's will to the people of Israel. The Law focused on setting them apart from the other nations by their behavior. The prophets not only spoke into their current conditions, but also pointed to and predicted the coming of the Messiah. 

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

Peter was always the first one to blurt out an answer. Sometimes he was right and other times he was wrong. One thing he was not was shy. It says Peter was overwhelmed and often times we speak when we are anxious. Peter wanted to capture the moment by building shelters/tabernacles so they could remember what happened in the mountain. 

The God appeared in a cloud and spoke to them. We call this a "theophany", meaning "God is revealed". God repeated the words He had said when Jesus was baptized. God the Father reaffirmed his love for His Son, and told them to listen to Him. Perhaps the disciples needed to remember this, especially in the days that lie ahead. 

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Like with many other signs and wonders that Jesus did, He asked them not to tell anyone about it. Importantly he says, "Until He had risen from the dead". This is yet another time Jesus predicts his resurrection. There was a lot of confusion between the role of Elijah and the coming Messiah. Some equated Elijah with the Messiah. Jesus clarified that indeed Elijah came before him. Elijah suffered in the same way Jesus did for speaking the Word of God fearlessly. 

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

Apparently the disciples were asked to deliver a boy with an impure spirit, but the disciples could not. The boy had seizures which were fomented by the devil. 

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]”

Jesus was frustrated at the lack of faith. Maybe it was the lack of faith of the disciples, or the people, or both! Once again the spirit recognized Jesus and acted out. I am not sure that was a good idea because it didn't scare Jesus and only revealed itself to him. Faith was always connected to Jesus' healing someone. When this man asked Jesus to heal his boy, he seemd to express some doubt saying, "If you can heal him?" 

Jesus took umbrage at his remark. But the man says something important. He says, "I believe help my unbelief". I think this is an incredible admission by the man coupled with his desire to have more faith. He didn't try to fool Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd, he rebuked the demon in the boy. The evil spirit made quite a scene shrieking and causing the boy to go into convulsions. Once again Jesus commanded the demon to leave. Jesus had power and authority over demons, which is why they recognized him. 

The boy was so physically exhausted after what the demon put him through, he lay on the ground lifeless. But Jesus took by the hand and lifted him up. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast this demon out. Jesus told them that the key this power was prayer. 

This seems to indicate that certain demons have more power than others. But it reminds us that the principal weapon we have to fight the evil one is prayer. When we pray, we pray in the power and authority of Jesus' name. This is why we always end our prayers, "In Jesus' Name." Jesus' name is the name above all names. At the name of Jesus every knee should bow and tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. 

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

As Jesus left that town and they were walking out of Galilee, he shared once again what was going to happen to him. He would be killed and then rise from dead. The disciples were still confused but dared not ask him a second time. Perhaps they feared he would think they had little faith. Instead of talking about Jesus' death and resurrection, they were focused on who would be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus knew what they were talking about, so he told them the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Humility was the key to greatness. To illustrate this Jesus took a little child into his hands and remminded them that to such belonged the kingdom. 

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Apparently people were healing people in Jesus' name. Jesus didn't have a problem with it. It seems that he thought once they saw the power that came through him, they would be on his side. Jesus says, "Whoever is not against us is for us." 

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [b] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [c] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’[d] 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Jesus consistently demonstrated a soft heart for children. For those who would cause children to stumble there awaited a very severe consequence. Jesus also used the opportunity to talk about any stumbling block. Jesus unapologetically tells the disciples that if there is anything that prevents them from following him, they should go to any length to get rid of it. He reasons it is better to cut off your hand and going into heaven with one hand than to go to hell with two hands. He is not being literal here, but he knows how we can allow things to come between he and us. This is similar to when he says, "You cannot serve two masters. You grow to love the one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and money." You could insert anything for where it says, "money". We all have different weak spots.