Mark 9

1 Then He said to them, "I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power."

The Transfiguration

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed^[a] in front of them,

3 and His clothes became dazzling-extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-

6 because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.

7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:^[b] This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!

8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept this word to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

11 Then they began to question Him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"^[c]

12 "Elijah does come first and restores everything," He replied. "How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."

The Power of Faith over a Demon

14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.

15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed^[d] and ran to greet Him.

16 Then He asked them, "What are you arguing with them about?"

17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, "Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."

19 He replied to them, "You unbelieving generation! ^[e] How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me."

20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 "How long has this been happening to him?" Jesus asked his father. "From childhood," he said.

22 "And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

23 Then Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' ^{[f] [g]} Everything is possible to the one who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, "I do believe! Help my unbelief."

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, ^[h] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!"

26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him^[i] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, "He's dead."

27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

29 And He told them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting]." ^[j]

The Second Prediction of His Death

30 Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.

31 For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed ^[k] into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later."

32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Who is the Greatest?

33 Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"

34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

36 Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

37 "Whoever welcomes ^[l] one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me."

In His Name

38 John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone^[m] driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us."

39 "Don't stop him," said Jesus, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterwards speak evil of Me.

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, ^[n] since you belong to the Messiah-I assure you: He will never lose his reward.

Warnings from Jesus

42 "But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-it would be better for him if a heavy millstone ^[o] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell-the unquenchable fire, [

44 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] ^{[p] [q]}

45 And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell- [the unquenchable fire,

46 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] ^{[r] [s]}

47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge 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 Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ^[t]

49 For everyone will be salted with fire. ^{[u] [v]}

50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another."

Mark 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The transfiguration. (1-13) An evil spirit cast out. (14-29) The apostles reproved. (30-40) Pain to be preferred to sin. (41-50)

Verses 1-13 Here is a prediction of the near approach Christ's kingdom. A glimpse of that kingdom was given in the transfiguration of Christ. It is good to be away from the world, and alone with Christ: and how good to be with Christ glorified in heaven with all the saints! But when it is well with us, we are apt not to care for others, and in the fulness of our enjoyments, we forget the many wants of our brethren. God owns Jesus, and accepts him as his beloved Son, and is ready to accept us in him. Therefore we must own and accept him as our beloved Saviour, and must give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Christ does not leave the soul, when joys and comforts leave it. Jesus explained to the disciples the prophecy about Elias. This was very suitable to the ill usage of John Baptist.

Verses 14-29 The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.

Verses 30-40 The time of Christ's suffering drew nigh. Had he been delivered into the hands of devils, and they had done this, it had not been so strange; but that men should thus shamefully treat the Son of man, who came to redeem and save them, is wonderful. Still observe that when Christ spake of his death, he always spake of his resurrection, which took the reproach of it from himself, and should have taken the grief of it from his disciples. Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to inquire. Alas! that while the Saviour teaches so plainly the things which belong to his love and grace, men are so blinded that they understand not his sayings. We shall be called to account about our discourses, and to account for our disputes, especially about being greater than others. Those who are most humble and self-denying, most resemble Christ, and shall be most tenderly owned by him. This Jesus taught them by a sign; whoever shall receive one like this child, receives me. Many have been like the disciples, ready to silence men who have success in preaching to sinners repentance in Christ's name, because they follow not with them. Our Lord blamed the apostles, reminding them that he who wrought miracles in his name would not be likely to hurt his cause. If sinners are brought to repent, to believe in the Saviour, and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives, we then see that the Lord works by the preacher.

Verses 41-50 It is repeatedly said of the wicked, Their worm dieth not, as well as, The fire is never quenched. Doubtless, remorse of conscience and keen self-reflection are this never-dying worm. Surely it is beyond compare better to undergo all possible pain, hardship, and self-denial here, and to be happy for ever hereafter, than to enjoy all kinds of worldly pleasure for a season, and to be miserable for ever. Like the sacrifices, we must be salted with salt; our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified by the Holy Spirit. Those that have the salt of grace, must show they have a living principle of grace in their hearts, which works out corrupt dispositions in the soul that would offend God, or our own consciences.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or transfigured
• [b]. 2 Pt 1:16-18
• [c]. Mal 4:5
• [d]. Or surprised
• [e]. Dt 32:5; Mk 6:6; Php 2:15
• [f]. Other mss add believe
• [g]. Jesus appears to quote the father's words in v. 22 and then comment on them.
• [h]. A spirit that caused the boy to be deaf and unable to speak
• [i]. Other mss omit him
• [j]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [k]. Or handed over
• [l]. Or Whoever receives
• [m]. Other mss add who didn't go along with us
• [n]. Lit drink in the name; Messiah
• [o]. A millstone turned by a donkey
• [p]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [q]. Isaiah 66:24
• [r]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [s]. Isaiah 66:24
• [t]. Isaiah 66:24
• [u]. Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
• [v]. Lv 2:16; Ezk 43:24