Mark 9

CHAPTER 9THEME: Transfiguration; demon-possessed boy; death of Christ; mark of greatness; rebuke of sectarianism; teaching about hell

Mark 9:1

TRANSFIGURATIONWe come now to the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and we have again the account of the Transfiguration. This can be found in the first three Gospels, the synoptic Gospels. Then Mark tells us in detail that while the Transfiguration was going on at the top of the mountain, there was complete failure of the disciples at the foot of the mountain. They could not cast the demon out of the boy. Then Jesus again announces His death, and the disciples dispute as to who should be greatest among them. Jesus rebukes their party spirit and warns against hell. So this is another chapter just loaded with dynamite in the Gospel of action. Mark is customarily briefer in his account than the other evangelists, but he gives the longest account of the Transfiguration. It is interesting to ponder why he would emphasize it. It is our judgment that the Transfiguration sets forth the perfect humanity of Christ and was not given to set forth His deity. As we said, the synoptic Gospels all relate it, but John does not. John’s Gospel, which sets forth the deity of Christ, does not give the account of the Transfiguration. You will remember that in the last verse of chapter 16 in Matthew, Jesus said, “…There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” There are all sorts of interpretations of that, but I think it is very clear that our Lord made definite reference to His transfiguration. Two men who were there, Peter and John, make reference to it. Peter says in 2Pe_1:16-18: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” He is saying that they were witnesses of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When? At the Transfiguration! I believe that the reason this is stated at this particular juncture before His death and resurrection was for us to understand that whether He went to the Cross or not, the Kingdom is in His hands. He could have stepped off this earth back to heaven and He would have been the sovereign Ruler of the universe. But that way He couldn’t have saved you and He couldn’t have saved me. I’m not going to develop that further, but that is important.

Mark 9:2

Of course, the question arises as to why He took these three men. Let me say first that He didn’t take them because they were His little pets or superior to the others. I think that they were the weakest of the apostles, and He had to carry them along with Him like babies or they would not have come along at all. I was noticing a mother go down the street who had three children with her. She was carrying one, she was leading one by the hand, and one was walking behind her. She’d have to stop every now and then for him to catch up. I watched them as they made very slow progress down the street. I thought to myself, That little fellow following her surely is taking a lot of time. But then I realized that the one she was carrying couldn’t go along at all unless she carried him. I feel that Peter, James, and John are rather like that. They seemed to be an exclusive group, but I think they were just babies, and He had to carry them. So He took them in for the Transfiguration. Peter says that they were eyewitnesses of His majesty. This is it. This is the glorified Christ as He will come some day to this earth. This also, friend, is a picture of what you and I will be someday. We are told that we shall be like Him (see 1Jn_3:2). You will recall that John says, “…we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (Joh_1:14). The word transfigured here is the Greek word metamorphoom, or metamorphose in English. The Transfiguration took place in the body of Jesusit wasn’t just a light or some effect produced from the outside. The Transfiguration was the light that shone from within. I rather think that Adam and Eve were clothed like that, with a light from within. The Transfiguration teaches, therefore, the perfect humanity of Jesus and not His deity.

Mark 9:3

His rainment became white. It was whiter than was even believable, because the light came from within, you see. The word fuller means a cloth dresser and refers to the laundry. In other words, no modern washday miracle could have produced such brightness. All of it came from within.

Mark 9:4

Elias is the Greek form of Elijah. Elijah was the representative of the prophets. Moses was the representative of the Law. We are told that both the Law and the prophets bore testimony of the death of Jesus. Luke tells us that they talked about the decease of Jesus. We know that Moses knew of Christ because we are told in Heb_11:26 concerning Moses: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Moses knew He was coming. All of the prophets spoke of His suffering and the glory that should follow.

Mark 9:5

Peter was the spokesman for them here just as he always was the spokesman. And Simon Peter generally spoke when he didn’t know what to say. I think that Simon Peter put his foot in his mouth time and time again and he certainly did it here.

Mark 9:7

All attention now is focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. His Word is final. We don’t put Moses or Elijah on a par with Him.

Mark 9:8

By the way, that “Jesus Only” is a marvelous headline, is it not? “Jesus Only” is not only a headline in Mark’s Gospel, but it ought to be a headline in the lives of believers today. In a brief way he states such great and weighty wordsJesus Only!

Mark 9:9

You see, the death and resurrection of Christ must go along with this story. The Transfiguration sees no man. It presents the ideal or the goal. But that goal can only come through the death of Christ upon the Cross and through His resurrection from the dead. And you will notice that He always puts His death and resurrection together.

Mark 9:10

They were entirely ignorant of the Resurrection. At the time of Jesus’ resurrection they rushed to the cemetery, but they did not expect to see a living Savior. You don’t go to the graveyard to see the living, but to pay respect to the dead.

Mark 9:11

Our Lord made it clear that when anyone would say, “Well, after all, Jesus could not establish the Kingdom because the prophet said that Elijah must come first,” that John the Baptist had come in the spirit of Elijah. If they had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, John would have been the fulfillment of the prophecy. However, since they did not accept Jesus as their Messiah at His first coming, the prophecy of Elijah as His forerunner would be fulfilled at His second coming. Now, from their glorious scene on the mountain top, we go down to the total defeat of the disciples at the foot of the mountain.

Mark 9:14

DEMON-POSSESSED BOYThis is actually a picture of Christendom today. The Lord Jesus has already gone into the presence of the Father and is there in His glorified body. His apostles are there with Him. They have already gone on, and most of the church has already gone on. Moses and Elijah are there today. The Mount of Transfiguration pictures heaven today. But look at this poor earth and see the problem down here. This boy represents a mad earth today. I tell you, I believe that if we could get off and look at this earth and behold it as God looks at it, and probably as the angels look at it, we would come to the conclusion that man on this earth must be mad. He appears to be demon-possessed by the way he is acting and the things he is doing down here. The sad thing is that the man brought the boy to the disciples, but they couldn’t do anything. And the tragic thing about this hour is that the church is helpless in the presence of the world’s need. Right now, the organized church in desperation is reaching out, protesting and marching and getting involved in all kinds of things, and the world is actually criticizing the church because they feel it should get even more involved. But social matters are not our business! We ought to be able to help a poor demon-possessed boy today by presenting a Savior to him who will make him rational and who will bring him into a right relationship with God. Unfortunately, the same thing has to be said of the church, “They could not.” The disciples could not and we cannot.

Mark 9:19

What a wonderful statement! Bring him unto Me! We are attempting to do everything except bring lost men to Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:20

This case, friend, is a bad case. It may not have been quite as bad as the case of the man among the tombs over in Gadara because he was a grown man and had been demon-possessed for a long time. This was a boy but had he gone on in this state he would probably have been as bad, if not worse, than the other case. So this father just casts himself upon the Lord Jesus on behalf of his tortured son. When we do that, friend, He’ll do something to help.

Mark 9:23

The thought here is that Jesus turned to the father and asked him to believecould the father have been responsible in any way for the condition of the boy? It is not a question of “if thou canst do anything"the Lord Jesus can do everything. The question is, “If thou canst believe.” What about the father? The Lord Jesus told him that all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:24

Here is the father’s desperate plea of faith!

Mark 9:25

The question arises here whether this also is a case of our Lord raising the dead. I am of the opinion it is, but I don’t want to labor that point.

Mark 9:28

Now, in the Lord’s answer to the disciples, we find that the word fasting is not in the better manuscripts. The emphasis is upon prayer. And today, friend, the church is weak because prayer is weak in the church.

Mark 9:30

DEATH OF CHRISTYou will notice that He always puts His death and resurrection together.

Mark 9:32

They didn’t quite understand this matter of being raised from the dead. Here He is talking about His own death for them and you would think that these men might have at least made some inquiry. They dared to dispute among themselves who would be greatest in the Kingdom after He had just announced His death. They should have been ashamed of their conduct here. This is not the first time He has announced His death and resurrection to them, and still they do not understand.

Mark 9:33

MARK OF GREATNESSThis is the profound spiritual principle of greatness.

Mark 9:36

He illustrates this principle with the child. Note that Jesus took the child in His arms.

Mark 9:38

REBUKE OF SECTARIANISMJohn is always thought of as a ladylike apostle but notice his fiery disposition here. Jesus rebukes any kind of sectarian spirit. You will notice that the basis of unity which Jesus made is “in My name.” That which is done in the name of Jesus cannot be denied by any followers. However, the label of “Jesus” is put on much today that actually is not “in His name.”

Mark 9:42

TEACHING ABOUT HELLNow notice that in verse Mar_9:42, He comes back to the child that He has taken into His arms. This is tender, but it is severe upon those who offend a little child. Then He adds this:

Mark 9:43

Do you realize who it is here that is talking about hell? There are those today who say that He is the gentle Jesus. Friend, He is the only One who talked about hell. Paul never talked about it, but Jesus did. And since He did, it would be well for us to listen to Him. He said that there is a place, and it is called hell. I’m confident that it is a place, and it is a place just like He describes it. Verses Mar_9:44 and Mar_9:46 are not in the better manuscripts. It might be well if we omit them. Jesus talks about the hand, the foot, the eye.

Mark 9:45

The eye can lead to sin. Think of Eve who first saw the tree was good for food.

Mark 9:47

The eye can lead to sin. Think of Eve who first saw the tree was good for food.

Mark 9:49

These are strange statements. The thought is that both fire and salt purify. Fire purifies by burning away the dross and impurities. Salt penetrates and burns out the corruption and stays the spread of impurities. If we have saltthe cleansing work of the Word of Godworking within us, it sanctifies and brings peace.