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Summary

Mark 9:1–13 – The Transfiguration

What happens:
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There he is transfigured before them. His clothes become dazzling white. Elijah and Moses appear and talk with Jesus. A cloud overshadows them and a voice from the cloud says “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” The disciples fall facedown in fear. Jesus touches them and tells them not to be afraid. When they look up, they see only Jesus.

What it means:
The Transfiguration reveals Jesus’ divine glory and affirms his fulfillment of the Law and Prophets through Moses and Elijah. God’s voice confirms Jesus as his beloved Son and calls us to heed his teaching above all else.


Mark 9:14–29 – Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

What happens:
Jesus and the three disciples descend and find a crowd arguing with teachers of the law. A man pleads for his son, possessed by a spirit that makes him mute and convulse. The disciples had failed to cast it out. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and it departs, leaving the boy healed but weakened. Later, privately with the disciples, Jesus explains that this kind of spirit comes out only by prayer.

What it means:
Jesus demonstrates authority over forces that resist human effort alone. Prayer connects us to God’s power and opens the door for deliverance and spiritual breakthrough where our strength falls short.


Mark 9:30–32 – Second Prediction of Jesus’ Death

What happens:
Leaving Galilee, Jesus again predicts his betrayal, death, and resurrection. The disciples do not understand what he means and are afraid to ask him for clarification.

What it means:
Jesus prepares his followers for the cost of his mission. Their confusion shows that understanding God’s plan often requires reflection and openness to learn rather than assumption.


Mark 9:33–37 – True Greatness in Service

What happens:
Jesus and the disciples reach Capernaum and debate who is the greatest. Jesus sits them down and says anyone who wants to be first must be last and servant of all. He takes a child in his arms and says welcoming a child in his name is welcoming him and the Father who sent him.

What it means:
Greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by humility and service, not status or power. Receiving the vulnerable reflects our reception of Christ himself.


Mark 9:38–50 – Warnings and Exhortations

What happens:
John reports someone driving out demons in Jesus’ name who is not part of their group. Jesus tells them not to stop him if he is not against them. He then warns that causing others to sin is serious, urging radical removal of anything that leads to sin. He speaks of salt losing its taste and calls his disciples to be at peace with one another.

What it means:
Kingdom work transcends group boundaries when guided by Jesus’ name. The call to holiness may require painful choices to avoid causing harm. Preserving our distinctive witness and unity sustains our saltiness as followers of Christ.


Application

  • Reflect on Jesus’ glory and listen to his words above all other voices
  • Rely on prayer to overcome challenges beyond your own strength
  • Embrace the cost of following Jesus even when his path seems confusing
  • Choose humility and service as the path to true greatness in God’s kingdom
  • Guard your life against anything that leads you or others into sin
  • Cultivate unity and peace among believers to preserve your witness

Bible

1And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

2And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

7And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

8And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

10And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

11And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

12And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

13But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

14And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

15And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

16And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

17And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

30And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

31For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

32But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40For he that is not against us is on our part.

41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

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