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

1
Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.” ​

The Transfiguration of Jesus

2
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. ​
3
His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
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And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus. ​
5
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
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For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say.
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Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” ​
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Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.
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As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ​
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So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.
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And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ​
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He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?
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But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.” ​

Jesus Heals a Demoniac Boy

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When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
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As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him.
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“What are you disputing with them?” He asked.
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Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute.
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Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”
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“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.” ​
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So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
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Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said.
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“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
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“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” ​
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Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” ​
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When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
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After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.”
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But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
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After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
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Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.” ​

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

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Going on from there, they passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know,
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because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.” ​
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But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

True Greatness: Servant of All

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Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
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But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. ​
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Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.” ​
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Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them,
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“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

Tolerance and Inclusion in Ministry

38
John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
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“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.
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For whoever is not against us is for us. ​
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Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

Warnings Against Sin and Stumbling

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But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. ​
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If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. ​
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Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.
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If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
46
Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.
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And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck 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,
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where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’ ​
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For everyone will be salted with fire. ​
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Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one 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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