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.

The Kingdom Coming with Power

1
He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power.” ​

The Transfiguration of Jesus

2
After six days Yeshua took with him Peter, Jacob, and Yochanan, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. ​
3
His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4
Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Yeshua. ​
5
Peter answered Yeshua, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6
For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
7
A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” ​
8
Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Yeshua only.
9
As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ​
10
They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
11
They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ​
12
He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?
13
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.” ​

Jesus Heals a Demoniac Boy

14
Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
15
Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.
16
He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”
17
One of the multitude answered, “Rabbi, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
18
and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”
19
He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.” ​
20
They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
21
He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood.
22
Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”
23
Yeshua said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ​
24
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” ​
25
When Yeshua saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
26
Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, “He is dead.”
27
But Yeshua took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
28
When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
29
He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.” ​

Jesus Predicts His Death Again

30
They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it.
31
For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.” ​
32
But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

True Greatness: Servant of All

33
He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
34
But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. ​
35
He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” ​
36
He took a little child, and set him in their midst. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37
“Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

Tolerance and Inclusion in Ministry

38
Yochanan said to him, “Rabbi, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39
But Yeshua said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40
For whoever is not against us is on our side. ​
41
For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Messiah’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

Warnings Against Sin and Stumbling

42
Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. ​
43
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehinnom, into the unquenchable fire, ​
44
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
45
If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehinnom, into the fire that will never be quenched—
46
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
47
If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehinnom of fire,
48
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ​
49
For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ​
50
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in 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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