Jesus takes only his three leading disciples with him up onto a high mountain away from everyone else. He obviously has a clear purpose in doing this and up on the mountain he suddenly appears transformed as if dressed in dazzling light and beside him appear these two men from past history. Luke's Gospel tells us they spoke about Jesus' end in Jerusalem, these two prophets from the past; Moses the Lawgiver who delivered Israel out of Egypt, and Elijah the prophet of power who called the nation back to God and overcame the false prophets of the idol worshipping society. These two have the privilege of arranging with Jesus what will happen soon.

Peter is both terrified and yet thrilled by who he sees, and without thought suggests setting up shelters for them. Shelters are, of course, a sign of permanence. Peter wants to hold onto this time, but God has other plans. He steps in and tells them His Son is far more important and that they should listen to Him. Jesus himself is far more important than any particular spiritual experience we may have had. This is the primary lesson every Christian has to learn.

D. Application?

1. Ask God to help you keep Jesus as the most important person in your life?

2. Thank and praise Jesus today for all that makes Him unique.

Chapter: Mark 9

Passage: Mark 9:9-15

A. Find Out:

1. When did Jesus say the others could talk of what they had seen? v.9

2. How did they respond to this? v.10

3. What did Jesus say was written about himself? v.12b

4. What did he say about Elijah coming? v.13

5. What were the rest of the disciples doing? v.14

6. How did the people receive Jesus? v.15

B. Think :

1. How do these three disciples cope with Jesus talk about rising from the

dead?

2. Why do you think that is?

3. How could verse 13 have been true?

C. Comment :

Coming down from this mountain top experience, Jesus warns the others to say nothing of what has happened until after his resurrection. The three disciples are confused and cannot cope with the thought of being raised from the dead. Despite the fact that Jesus has previously told them about his death and subsequent resurrection, they still cannot take in the reality of it, and start to ask about apparently unfulfilled prophecy in respect of the coming of Elijah.

They have heard that Elijah the prophet has to come before the Messiah (see Malachi 4:5) and he doesn't seem to have appeared so far, except in this brief episode on top of the mountain. Jesus declares that Elijah, the forerunner, has already come (Matthew 11:14 tells us that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist being the fulfilment of that prophecy) and that in his preaching and baptising has restored many to God in preparation to receive Jesus.

Finally they return to the argumentative teachers of the law and the demanding crowds. All great experiences have to have an end and we have to live in the real world. The contrast is difficult to take!

D. Application?

1. Do we have hearts that are open to receive new things?

2. Do we realise that Jesus is with us wherever we are in the down-to-

earth world of the every day?

Chapter: Mark 9

Passage: Mark 9:16-29

A. Find Out:

1. What was wrong with the man's son? v.17

2. What was the problem with the disciples? v.18b

3. What was Jesus' verdict on it all? v.19a

4. What did Jesus say was necessary? v.23

5. What did the man acknowledge? v.24

6. How does this sort of faith come? v.29

B. Think :

1. Why do you think the man had originally had confidence in the disciples?

2. Why did they appear powerless in this situation?

3. What does this teach us about these sorts of situation?

C. Comment :

Previously Jesus had sent the disciples out to heal and to cast out demons. There they had had no problems. Now, they are presented with a demon who does not seem to respond to them. A particular difficulty like this reveals the faith level we are at. For the disciples it was fairly low. Jesus seeks to find the cause of the difficulty.

The key to this particular problem seems to be the length of time this demon had been in residence. This particular evil spirit had been in occupation of this boy since he was very small (this says something about the family he came from!) and in a sense had a long established right of occupation that made him particularly difficult to dislodge. Prayer, according to Jesus, was the answer here. That may be because when we pray consistently and persistently, we draw closer to the Lord and are more open to hear what He might say about how to deal with it. Jesus, of course, has just come from a mountain top encounter with His Father. Belief is also essential as well, and this comes as we receive God's word, as we read Scripture and as we listen to Him in prayer

D. Application?

1. Do we need to confess unbelief and ask the Lord to help our belief?

2. Do we have such a relationship with the Lord in prayer that we receive

His directions?

Chapter: Mark 9

Passage: Mark 9:30-37

A. Find Out:

1. Why didn't Jesus want the people with him? v.30,31

2. How did the disciples respond to what he said? v.32

3. What were they later arguing about? v.34

4. What did Jesus say "the first" must be? v.35

5. Who did Jesus use as an illustration? v.36

6. What did he say about them? v.37

B. Think :

1. What was Jesus first teaching his disciples about?

2. What were the disciples more concerned about?

3. How did Jesus' second teaching in this passage confront that?

C. Comment :

We see, first of all, Jesus trying to avoid other people so that he can have a time alone with the disciples. From now on they are making their way slowly towards Jerusalem and Jesus is explaining to them again what must happen there. He has already spoken to them about this but still they seem unable to take it in. It is perhaps hard for us to comprehend just how difficult it was for them to take in what Jesus was saying, so let's consider that first of all.

They had been witnessing the most amazing day to day ministry that had ever been seen on earth. To hear Jesus speak about this ending and himself being put to death and rising from the dead was almost impossible for them to take in the light of this ministry. Perhaps in the half understanding of this, they started talking about who was the greatest among them, perhaps because they were considering who should carry on being leader if Jesus did really die!

Jesus, being aware of this, brings some corrective teaching: to be leader you must be a servant! To be a servant means you must be willing to welcome the lowest member of society, and when you do that it will be like welcoming Jesus himself and His Father as well.

D. Application?

1. Do we select in receiving Jesus' teaching, or open to ALL He says?

2. Are we willing to be servants to all around us?

Chapter: Mark 9

Passage: Mark 9:38-50

A. Find Out:

1. Why did the disciples object to the exorcist? v.38

2. Why did Jesus say not to stop him? v.39,40

3. What should happen to one who causes sin? v.42

4. What 3 parts of the body can cause you to sin? v.43-45

5. Where is Jesus warning against? v.43-45

6. What does he say we should have in us? v.50

B. Think :

1. What, in the first part, was the motivation of the disciples?

2. What, in the second part, is Jesus warning against ?

3. What was Jesus desire for them?

C. Comment :

After being corrected for arguing about who among them was the greatest, the disciples then show further their divisive spirit, by telling Jesus about how they stopped others working who were not with Him. He points out that such people should be encouraged because they are for Him in reality. In fact anyone who does something because of or for Him will be blessed.

From there Jesus warns them against either putting stumbling blocks in the way of young believers, or of sinning themselves. In a threefold warning he declares they would do better to loose part of themselves rather than sin and end up in hell (which appears to be shown here as an ongoing condition). From describing hell as fire, he says we all need purifying with fire and then moves to speak of salt. We all need purifying, and on the other hand we all, as Christians, are to be as salt in the world. Without it there is no future for us, but within us it should purify us from grumbling and divisiveness and leave us in a place of peace, to purify the world. We need the purifying effect in us and we need to be a purifying effect.

D. Application?

1. Are we divisive in the way we view other Christians (? my brand of

"church"?)

2. Am I a divider like the disciples were at this point, or is "salt" at work in

me?

RECAP: "Revelation & Misunderstanding" - Mark 9

SUMMARY :

In these 5 studies we have seen:

  - Jesus taking Peter, James & John up the mountain

  - Jesus being transfigured & meeting Moses & Elijah

  - On his return finding the disciples in difficulty

  - Jesus releasing a deaf mute from a demon

  - The disciples arguing who is the greatest

  - The disciples stopping other deliverance ministries

  - Jesus teaching them about servanthood

COMMENT :

A chapter revealing yet again the problems of the disciples. Up the mountain Peter speaks without understanding. Back down the mountain the disciples are unable to deal with a boy brought to them. Then they argue about personal position and eventually try to shut down the good others are doing. In the face of their foolishness, Jesus just patiently keeps on bringing simple teaching to try to bring them to a place of understanding.

LESSONS :

1. Jesus is to have central place in our lives.

2. We should confess unbelief and ask for Jesus help to bring us into a place of faith.

3. We are to have servant hearts.

4. We are not to have a divisive attitude towards other Christians from other parts of

the church.

PRAY :

1. Today affirm to the Lord that you WILL let Him have the central place in your life,

Lord of ALL.

2. Ask Him to help you have a servant heart that is concerned for all the church.

PART 5 : Different Attitudes

As we go into this next chapter watch out for the different heart attitudes shown there: hard hearted, childlike attitudes, materialistic attitudes and servant attitudes.