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.”
The Transfiguration
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.”
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
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.”
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
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.
Who Is the Greatest?
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.”
Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
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.
Temptations to Sin
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. 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. 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.” Mark 9 ESV
Mark 9
…37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8: 37-38
…4On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. 5You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him. 6On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.… Zechariah 14: 4-6
Truly I say to you there are some standing here who will not taste death until they have seen the Kingdom of God - I am going to try to maintain the same pace of a whole chapter throughout Mark, but there is a lot to unpack here so I will include links to where these topics have been discussed in Matthew. This follows Jesus telling the disciples about the call to self denial, Peter being rebuked for contesting Jesus about the cross. Everyone here is desirous of the kingdom, ruling, the eradication of Rome, peace, prosperity, but look at the end of Mark 8 above, this is a future coming "in His Father's glory with the Holy angels." Right now He is in the prophecies of His rejection, and He is heading towards His cross and our atonement.
Henry Morris - The fact that Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this remarkable promise immediately before the experience of Peter, James and John on the mount of transfiguration indicates that they understood the experience to be the fulfillment of the promise. In effect, the three disciples were translated in a vision (Mt 17:9) to the glory of the future kingdom (see notes on Mt 17:3,5,8). - Precept Austin
And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John - This was His inner circle, the leaders, and given the context this is His fulfillment of His previous statement to them, "some standing here", not all of the twelve, but these three, and they will be given a vision of glory much like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Paul and later John again for the writing of Revelation. There is still much confusion in their minds, their eschatology and desire for the kingdom is something they have harmonized to fit with the very near, at hand. As we heard from Peter previously, they are not desirous of Christ's death and as we will see in Judas they are not pro suffering for themselves either. This is the sort of vision necessary to strengthen their ministries and their call to an unpopular gospel with a horrific end. Peter will be hung upside down according to early church tradition, James will also be martyred and John will be sent to prison.
Transfigured before them - This is a taste of Jesus' eternal glory, that which we are being conformed to, and that which we look forward to, the restored human nature. We see things from the outside and address much the same way, but true transformation is from the inside out.
Transfigured (3339)(metamorphoo from metá = change of condition + morphoo = inward condition that which produces an outward expression which proceeds from and is representative of inward character and nature) has the basic meaning of changing into another form and is the term from which we get metamorphosis, as with a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Metamorphoo describes the process by which that on the inside shows forth to the outside such that that everyone can see.The believer's inner redeemed (divine - 2Pe 1:4+) nature is to continually be manifest outwardly in our daily thoughts, words and deeds. 4x in NT - Matt. 17:2; Mk. 9:2; Rom. 12:2; 2 Co. 3:18 Romans 12:2+ and 2 Corinthians 3:18+ refer to the transformation in the lives of believers brought about by salvation and progressive sanctification (from glory to glory becoming more like our Savior!). As Utley points out "In a sense this refers to the restoration of the divine image in mankind, lost in the Fall of Gen. 3. Jesus enables us to become truly human, truly Christlike." (cf 2 Peter 1:4+)
…51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.… 1 Corinthians 15: 51-53
For he did not know what to say for they were terrified - Seeing a resurrected Moses and Elijah would affect their theology, with certainty it would denounce the leaven of the Sadducees, but it will also raise questions. It is often thought that Mark is the pen for Peter's gospel, and you could imagine this conversationally, "why did you say you wanted to build them tabernacles, Peter? Mark, I was terrified, but you know me, I always say something."
This is My beloved Son, listen to Him - They don't want to talk about what's coming up, don't want to hear about His death or their coming suffering. Just like Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, the Father testifies to His love of the Son, and here He cuts off Peter's babbling. Peter, as we have seen and will see saw this as a sign of the earthly Kingdom, and he was ready to set up camp, sharpen his swords and chase out Rome. God tells him to shut up, and he is once again left in bewilderment, all of them, Peter is just the most vocal.
Why do the scribes say first Elijah must come - He tells that Elijah did come, and this was John, the forerunner of Christ. If they would have believed him and repented then the kingdom would come in it's fulness, but they rejected him and the Messiah Whom he served, just as the Scriptures foretold. Now three of them have seen Elijah and Moses, which will come, either in the spirit of Elijah or literally as the two witnesses in Revelation 11. John the Beloved, one of these, is the writer of Revelation, and the ministry then is back to the original people who rejected Christ, the woman in Revelation who is carried off on the wings of an eagle, Israel. Then their hearts will be turned towards Him.
25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”… Romans 11: 25-27
10Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.… Zechariah 12: 10-11
Verse 28 This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer - It wasn't a matter of holding your tongue right, of technique, like Salvation it is the power of the Lord, and prayer is a way for us to seek God's will. It is a means of grace so often neglected, the one I lack the most, but it is powerful in conjunction with the word. They may have and probably did start to think too highly of their own ability, start to misunderstand the meaning of faith, yet this is a great lesson, and listen to the words of the boys father before.
"I believe, help my unbelief."
Verse 32 They did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask Him - It is clear language, Jesus is going to die and rise again. The elders and the priest will prepare the sacrifice as always, but this is the culmination, the One that satisfies God.
…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6
If anyone would be first he must be last of all and servant of all - Jesus' ideas of leadership were other worldly, everyone saw the one being served as the greater, but here God has stooped so low, not only to wash men's feet, but to cleanse them from that which He Himself is without. God hates sin and men are sinners, yet He died for me, yet he continues to advocate for me, and has made possible a way for me to be right with Him, without sin. I should have no issue with being a slave to such love and righteousness. It should be easy for me to forgive others.
Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ - The Lord loves those who love His children, and He will not forget what is done as unto Him.
THOUGHT - What is your ministry? You have one! It may not be to preach, teach, etc, but you have been given a gift (1Cor 12:7, 11+) and with it a ministry (service) "for the common good." As Peter says "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1Pe 4:10-11+) Don't waste your once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfill your ministry, for if you do (enabled by the Spirit, Word and prayer), you will receive a FULL REWARD. And Jesus declared this reward ("your fruit) would "remain" (or abide) forever. So redeem the time now while you still have the time to redeem! - Precept Austin
Little ones who believe in Me to sin - Christians, these are the little ones, and many come using the name of Christ, yet lead people astray. He has given a very clear sign to spot many of them, they come to be served whereas His shepherds serve, they lay down their lives. American Christianity, western Christianity in general has enjoyed periods of much religious freedom, and so many birds have settled in the mustard tree, waiting to scoop up the seed, many wolves have snuck into the flock ready to eat the sheep. A true shepherd will point out false doctrine and correct it even at the risk of being called unloving. He will love those who don't love him, and will be committed to the truth even if to his death. We do the world no good by hiding our light, that is done from fear or because we are really not part of the true church. Either way it is self serving, and it is no love that won't warn others to flee from the wrath that is to come.
Have salt in yourselves - While we are here we are the preservative for a dying world, we are the salt that keeps back the totality of decay.
John MacArthur explains that "Jesus’ command,Have salt in yourselves, is a call to radical obedience; to a holy life preserved by righteousness. He then gave the disciple a direct practical application, commanding them to “be at peace with one another”—a fitting challenge to those proud, self-serving, hypercompetitive men who were constantly bickering over which of them was the greatest (cf. 9:34; Matt. 18:1-4; 20:20-24; Luke 22:24). When believers engage in radically loving, pure, sacrificial, obedient discipleship, they will be radical witnesses. Christians are the only true “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13+). There are no other spiritual influences for modeling the truth other than the lives of true disciples of Jesus Christ, who are known by the radical nature of their discipleship. (See Mark 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary) (Bolding added)
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