Mark 9

Mark 9 continues to reveal the identity and mission of Jesus through key moments with His disciples. The chapter begins with the Transfiguration, where Jesus is revealed in divine glory before three of His closest disciples, and follows with teachings on faith, humility, and avoiding sin. These teachings address both the spiritual and practical aspects of discipleship, emphasizing the need for trust, self-sacrifice, and careful avoidance of anything that could cause one to sin.

Mark 9:1 (NKJV)
1 And He said to them, “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.”

When Jesus says, "there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom," it can be understood as referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This event, as recorded in Acts 2, marked the outpouring of the Spirit on Jesus' disciples, empowering them to carry out the mission of the kingdom. The presence of the Holy Spirit within believers symbolizes the kingdom of God being realized in the hearts of those who follow Christ. Rather than solely looking toward a distant, future eschatological event, this passage suggests that the reign of Christ begins in the present through His Spirit, who indwells and transforms His followers. The "coming" of the Son of Man in this context highlights the personal and transformative presence of Jesus in the lives of believers, marking the beginning of God's kingdom on earth.

Mark 9:2-4 (NKJV)
2 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.
3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus’ divine nature is revealed as His appearance changes, and He shines with radiant glory. The presence of Elijah and Moses symbolizes the Law and the Prophets, affirming Jesus as the fulfillment of both. This event strengthens the disciples’ understanding of Jesus as the Son of God and foreshadows His ultimate glorification.

Mark 9:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Then Peter answered and 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”—
6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

Peter, overwhelmed by the divine encounter, suggests building shelters, possibly to prolong the moment. His response shows both his reverence and confusion, as he seeks to honor Jesus, Moses, and Elijah without fully grasping the uniqueness of Jesus’ divine identity. This incident reflects the disciples' struggle to understand Jesus’ true nature.

Mark 9:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

God’s voice from the cloud affirms Jesus as His beloved Son and instructs the disciples to listen to Him. This divine declaration underscores Jesus’ authority and unique relationship with the Father, emphasizing that He is above both the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah).

Mark 9:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

Jesus instructs the disciples to keep the Transfiguration a secret until His resurrection, showing His intent to gradually reveal His identity. The disciples’ confusion about “rising from the dead” highlights their limited understanding of His mission, as they still expect a political Messiah rather than a suffering Savior.

Mark 9:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

The disciples ask about Elijah, as prophecy indicated he would precede the Messiah. Jesus clarifies that Elijah’s role was fulfilled in John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. He also foreshadows His own suffering, aligning His path with the prophetic vision of the suffering Messiah.

Mark 9:14-16 (NKJV)
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

Returning from the mountain, Jesus encounters a crowd and a dispute involving His disciples and the scribes. His presence immediately commands attention, illustrating the contrast between His authority and the limitations of His disciples, who struggle without Him. This sets the stage for a demonstration of faith and reliance on God’s power.

Mark 9:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
18 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.”

A man brings his son, suffering from a violent, unclean spirit, to Jesus after the disciples failed to cast it out. This failure highlights their dependence on Jesus and the necessity of strong faith and spiritual readiness when confronting evil forces.

Mark 9:19-20 (NKJV)
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus expresses frustration over the lack of faith among the people, indicating His desire for them to fully trust in God’s power. When the boy is brought before Jesus, the demon’s reaction shows its fear of Jesus’ authority, foreshadowing its impending defeat.

Mark 9:21-22 (NKJV)
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

The father’s plea reflects desperation and wavering faith, as he questions Jesus’ ability to heal. His request for help illustrates the vulnerability of human faith in the face of overwhelming challenges, setting up a powerful lesson on belief and divine assistance.

Mark 9:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Jesus emphasizes the power of faith, encouraging the father to trust fully. The father’s honest response—acknowledging his struggle with doubt—reveals the importance of seeking God’s help to strengthen faith, even when it feels weak or incomplete.

Mark 9:25-27 (NKJV)
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

Seeing a crowd gathering, Jesus decisively commands the spirit to leave the boy and never return. The spirit’s intense reaction as it exits shows its violent resistance to Jesus’ authority. The boy appears lifeless afterward, causing onlookers to think he has died, symbolizing the hold the spirit had over him. Jesus, however, takes his hand and lifts him up, restoring him to life and health. This act demonstrates Jesus’ power not only to cast out evil but to bring complete healing and restoration.

Mark 9:28-29 (NKJV)
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

This passage occurs after Jesus casts out a demon that the disciples were unable to expel. When they ask why they failed, He explains, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” This emphasizes that certain spiritual challenges require a deeper dependence on God. Fasting plays a key role in this because it leads an individual to seek God in a focused and intentional way, setting aside physical needs to prioritize spiritual growth and connection. Through fasting and prayer, faith is strengthened as one humbles themselves and acknowledges complete reliance on God. This process aligns the believer’s heart with God’s power and will, enabling them to face greater spiritual battles with confidence and authority. Jesus’ teaching underscores that a higher level of faith and spiritual readiness is necessary for confronting particularly difficult situations, and this is cultivated through dedicated time with God in prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:30-32 (NKJV)
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.
31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Jesus takes time in private to prepare His disciples for His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. However, the disciples do not grasp the meaning of His words and feel hesitant to question Him. Their confusion shows their ongoing difficulty in accepting a suffering Messiah, as it contradicts their expectations of a conquering king.

Mark 9:33-34 (NKJV)
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

When Jesus asks about their conversation, the disciples remain silent, knowing that they had argued about who was the greatest. This moment exposes their struggle with pride and ambition, contrasting sharply with Jesus’ message of humility and service.

Mark 9:35 (NKJV)
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Jesus addresses their debate by redefining greatness as service. He teaches that true leadership in God’s kingdom is characterized by humility and a willingness to serve others, overturning worldly ideas of status and power.

Mark 9:36-37 (NKJV)
36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Using a child as an example, Jesus illustrates the value of welcoming and caring for the humble and vulnerable. By accepting such people, His followers are honoring Jesus Himself and, by extension, God the Father. This teaching calls the disciples to a compassionate, servant-hearted approach to others.

Mark 9:38-40 (NKJV)
38 Now John answered Him, saying, “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.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is on our side.”

John expresses concern over an outsider casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus, however, instructs tolerance, explaining that anyone working in His name is ultimately aligned with His mission. This moment broadens the disciples’ understanding of who can serve in God’s work, promoting unity rather than exclusivity.

Mark 9:41 (NKJV)
41 For 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.

Jesus emphasizes that even small acts of kindness done for His sake are significant in God’s eyes. This teaching encourages believers to appreciate and value every service, regardless of its scale, as it reflects a heart aligned with Christ’s mission.

Mark 9:42 (NKJV)
42 “But 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.”

Jesus gives a strong warning against leading others, especially vulnerable believers, into sin. His words highlight the seriousness of influencing others and the responsibility to be a positive example, showing the gravity of causing spiritual harm to others.

Mark 9:43-44 (NKJV)
43 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—
44 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Jesus uses hyperbole to stress the need for drastic action against sin. By saying to “cut off” anything that leads to sin, He encourages believers to remove any obstacle to holiness, emphasizing the eternal consequences of unrepented sin compared to temporary sacrifices in this life.

Mark 9:45-46 (NKJV)
45 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—
46 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Reiterating the previous point, Jesus extends the warning to one’s “foot,” again urging extreme caution in avoiding sin. This metaphor underscores that eternal life is worth any personal sacrifice or discipline, as it holds far greater value than temporary comforts or habits.

Mark 9:47-48 (NKJV)
47 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—
48 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

This passage, which speaks of "the fire that shall never be quenched" and "the worm that does not die," is understood as describing the final destruction of the wicked, rather than eternal conscious torment. The term "hell" used here refers to Gehenna, a valley outside Jerusalem historically associated with burning refuse, symbolizing complete and irreversible destruction. The phrase "unquenchable fire" signifies a fire that consumes everything it touches, illustrating the finality of judgment. Similarly, the "worm that does not die" reflects the enduring nature of this destruction, not the continuous suffering of the wicked. This passage highlights that hell represents the ultimate end of sin, where those who reject God face complete annihilation, rather than ongoing punishment.

Mark 9:49-50 (NKJV)
49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

This passage speaks about the spiritual refining process through trials and the need for integrity in faith. When Jesus says, “For everyone will be seasoned with fire,” He is referring to all believers, emphasizing that every person will face challenges and difficulties that serve to purify and strengthen their faith. The fire symbolizes these trials, which refine a person’s character and spiritual life. Salt, in this context, represents the preserving and life-giving qualities of faith that should remain active and vibrant. If salt loses its flavor, it becomes ineffective, much like faith that becomes compromised or weak. The call to "have peace with one another" underscores the importance of unity within the Christian community, showing that true faith is reflected not only in personal purity but also in harmonious relationships with others. These verses highlight that everyone—especially believers—will go through trials to refine their faith, and they are called to preserve their spiritual vitality and live in peace with others.