Mark9

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, revealing His glory alongside Moses and Elias, with a voice from heaven declaring Him God's beloved Son. Descending, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy whom His disciples could not help, emphasizing the need for faith and prayer. He then teaches His disciples about His impending suffering and resurrection, and the importance of humility, service, and avoiding causing others to stumble.

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The Kingdom Coming with Power

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

The Transfiguration of Jesus

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;

and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

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

And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.

And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.

And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead.

And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, How is it that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?

And he said unto them, Elijah indeed cometh first, and restoreth all things: and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be set at nought?

But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would, even as it is written of him.

Jesus Heals a Demoniac Boy

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

And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked them, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;

and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.

And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me.

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

And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.

And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.

Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.

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

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again.

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

True Greatness: Servant of All

And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?

But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,

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

Tolerance and Inclusion in Ministry

John said unto him, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is for us.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Warnings Against Sin and Stumbling

And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.

And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.

Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.

And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;

where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire.

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

Study Notes for Mark 9

Verse 1

This verse concludes the teaching from 8:34-38, assuring the disciples that some of them would witness a powerful manifestation of God's rule. This promise is immediately fulfilled in the Transfiguration (v. 2).

Verse 2

The phrase 'after six days' links this event directly to Peter’s confession and the first passion prediction (8:29-31). The 'high mountain' setting evokes Mount Sinai, symbolizing divine revelation.

Verse 4

The appearance of Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament covenant and prophetic expectation.

Verse 7

The heavenly voice is the Father's testimony, echoing the baptism (1:11) but adding the crucial command: 'hear him,' establishing Jesus' supreme authority over the Law and Prophets.

Verse 9

Jesus maintains the Messianic Secret, commanding silence until after the resurrection. Only the resurrection would fully explain how the glorious Messiah must also be the suffering servant.

Verse 11

The disciples raise a common scribal question based on Malachi 4:5, which prophesied that Elijah must return to prepare the way before the great day of the Lord.

Verse 13

Jesus identifies John the Baptist as the promised Elijah, noting that just as John was rejected and suffered (Mark 6:14-29), so too must the Son of Man suffer.

Verse 19

Jesus’ sharp rebuke, 'O faithless generation,' is likely aimed not only at the doubting crowd and antagonistic scribes but also at the disciples who failed to cast out the spirit (v. 18).

Verse 23

Jesus shifts the focus from his own capability to the father’s belief. This teaching emphasizes that faith is the necessary human response required to activate God's power.

Verse 24

The father’s honest plea, 'help thou mine unbelief,' is a profound theological statement recognizing that even imperfect human faith must be aided and perfected by divine grace.

Verse 29

The disciples’ failure was due to spiritual deficiency. Jesus indicates that some powerful demonic forces require a deepened state of dependence on God achieved through dedicated prayer and spiritual discipline.

Verse 31

This is the second of three clear Passion Predictions (8:31; 9:31; 10:33) in Mark, emphasizing that suffering and death are central to the Messiah's mission, followed by resurrection.

Verse 34

The disciples’ argument about who is greatest, immediately following the prediction of Jesus’ suffering, illustrates their persistent misunderstanding of the Kingdom’s nature.

Verse 35

Jesus radically inverts common understanding of status: true authority and greatness in the Kingdom are found only through humility and sacrificial service (*diakonos*).

Verse 40

This statement establishes a principle of tolerance and generosity, advising the disciples against sectarianism. Those who perform good works in Christ’s name should not be hindered.

Verse 42

The 'little ones' refers to new or vulnerable believers. To 'offend' (Gk. *skandalizō*) means to cause someone to lose their faith or fall into sin, incurring the severest judgment.

Verse 43

The graphic imagery of cutting off a hand or foot emphasizes the necessity of radical self-discipline to eliminate sources of sin, avoiding eternal consequences.

Verse 48

The description of hell (Gehenna) as a place where 'their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched' is drawn from Isaiah 66:24, depicting irreversible and eternal judgment.

Verse 49

This difficult verse suggests two types of 'salting': purification through fire (judgment/trial) for believers, and the necessary preservation/consecration of every 'sacrifice' (life) dedicated to God.

Verse 50

Salt represents moral and spiritual influence. Disciples must maintain their purity and distinctiveness ('saltness') to be effective in the world, while also maintaining peace and harmony among themselves.

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Mark9

The Kingdom Coming with Power

The Transfiguration of Jesus

Jesus Heals a Demoniac Boy

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

True Greatness: Servant of All

Tolerance and Inclusion in Ministry

Warnings Against Sin and Stumbling

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