Introduction
‘And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’ Mark 9:1
Some of Jesus’ immediate disciples would be alive when the kingdom reign of Jesus would be manifested from heaven. After His resurrection, Jesus would ascend to the throne of David in heaven, Luke 1:31-33 / Daniel 2:44 / Daniel 7:13-14.
He would sit down at the right hand of the Father and rule over all things, Ephesians 1:20-22 / Philippians 2:8-11 / 1 Peter 3:22.
It was a spiritual kingdom in the sense that men responded on earth in their hearts to the fact that He was Lord and Christ Acts 2:36-37. The manifestation of Jesus’ reign in heaven was made known by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4 / Luke 24:49 / Acts 1:8.
The presence of the kingdom’s reign in heaven would be manifested on earth by the obedience of men and women who submitted to His reign.
The Transfiguration
‘After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone.’ Mark 9:2
Although Mark, Mark 9:2, and Matthew, Matthew 17:1, say after six days, Luke says eight days, Luke 9:28.
The Jews counted any part of a day to represent a whole day and so, by counting the partial beginning and end of two days, with six full days, we would have the eight days of Luke.
Jesus’ ‘inner circle’, that is, Jesus took Peter, James and John, Matthew 26:37 / Mark 5:37 / Luke 8:51, were privileged to be taken by Jesus to a high mountainside. Peter, James and John were with Him in Jairus house, the synagogue ruler, when Jesus healed his daughter, Luke 8:49-56. Peter, James and John went with Him when He went to pray at Gethsemane, Mark 14:33.
The Mountain
The mountain, Matthew 17:1 / Mark 9:2 / Luke 9:28, in question is either Mount Taber in modern-day Syria or Mount Hermon in Israel, which is the highest mountain in Israel, 2 Peter 1:17-18.
Robertson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The tradition that places the transfiguration on Mount Tabor is beyond question false.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Robertson would appear to be correct for these reasons.
1. Tabor does not qualify as a ‘high’ mountain, being only 1,800 feet in elevation, compared with Hermon’s 9,000 feet.
2. Tradition favouring Tabor, first advocated by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the fourth century, is much too late to have much weight.
3. Mount Tabor was populated, having a fortress on top, during the time of Christ, and was not suitable for such an event as the transfiguration. To have ascended Tabor would not have taken them ‘apart’, as Matthew expressed it.
4. Mount Tabor was three days journey removed from the last-named geographical placement of Christ and his disciples and, although a sufficient time interval of six or eight days had elapsed, none of the gospel narratives mentions a journey of any kind. Hermon, on the other hand, was nearby and is the most likely site.
5. Furthermore, when the gospels again take up the narrative, they were still in the vicinity of Hermon. Peter, in after years, called it the Holy Mount, 2 Peter 1:18, and in the words of A. L. Williams, ‘We may conclude that we are not intended to know more about it, lest we should be tempted to make more of the material circumstances than of the great reality.’
Why did they go up the mountain? Luke 9:28 tells us they went up the mountain to pray.
Why didn’t He take the other disciples with Him? Why did Jesus take only Peter, James and John up the mountain? Matthew 17:1 / Mark 9:2 / Luke 9:28. He simply was preparing them for leadership, remember that Peter had just confessed that Jesus is the Christ, Mark 8:28-38.
The transfiguration was the conformation of Peter’s confession, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It also points to a change from the law and the prophets to the One to whom the law and prophets pointed, Luke 24:44.
Peter was given the keys to the kingdom and Jesus says to him, ‘whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,’ Matthew 16:19. Which means he was given the right to teach the new law of forgiveness with its terms and conditions.
James was executed by Herod, Acts 12:1-2 which tells us that James must have been a man of influence or Herod wouldn’t have bothered to kill him. John seems to be the quiet one but at the cross of Jesus, he was given the responsibility of looking after Jesus’ mother, which also tells us that by this time Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather was dead, John 19:26-27.
How do you think the other disciples felt when Jesus only took Peter, James and John to certain places? I can imagine they felt a little jealous, that’s possibly why they started arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, Luke 9:46 / Luke 22:24. This could be possible because Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about what happened up on the mountain, Matthew 17:9.
The Transfiguration
‘There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 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.’ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)’ Mark 9:3-6
Jesus had taken three of His closest friends with Him to a high mountain, there, whilst Jesus was praying, Luke 9:29, He began to glow with breath-taking brilliance, Matthew 17:2 / Mark 9:2-3 / Luke 9:29.
The word transfigured, ‘metamorphoo’ means to be changed or transformed and so, in some way Jesus’ appearance was changed into a state of heavenly glory in order to manifest His deity, John 1:14.
Matthew tells us that ‘His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light,’ Matthew 17:2. This light was an outward appearance from within, the light came from within Jesus, John 18:6 / Exodus 34:35 / 2 Corinthians 3:13.
Imagine Being There!
I can imagine James and John tugging one another’s cloaks and saying to Peter, ‘Peter, Peter is it just me or is Jesus’ head glowing a little?’ And the more he glows, the more they say, ‘He’s definitely glowing’.
We read these passages like they went and got a drink, and they went and got a burger and chips. Just as though it was the most normal thing in the world for Jesus’ head to begin to glow.
I can imagine the jaws of those men would have dropped, I can imagine them backing away, even from the Lord that they knew and here is glowing as though God is ripping open the flesh of Christ and letting divinity itself peak out.
And as that bright light is shining and as Jesus is glowing and what an amazing scene, it just gets better. For all of a sudden appearing with them are Moses and Elijah and it seems the disciples knew and recognised Moses and Elijah, Matthew 17:3 / Mark 9:3 / Luke 9:30.
Moses And Elijah
Elijah and Moses appeared, and the disciples were awestruck, Matthew 17:3 / Mark 9:4 / Luke 9:30. We don’t know how the disciples recognised Moses and Elijah. The only possible explanation is that God opened their eyes.
Moses was the great Lawgiver, Exodus 24:12-18 / John 1:17, the one who had led Israel out of Egyptian bondage and through the wilderness. Elijah was a great prophet, one of two men in the Old Testament who went directly to heaven without dying, 2 Kings 2:11.
Notice they were talking to Jesus, Matthew 17:3 / Mark 9:4 / Luke 9:20, but what were they talking about? Luke tells us that ‘they spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem,’ Luke 9:31. The word ‘departure’ is the Greek word, exodus, which means going from one place to another, 2 Peter 1:15.
Luke tells us they were discussing the fulfilment of the purpose for which both Moses and Elijah came to do their work and talking about the fulfilment of the promised ‘head crusher’ that started with the seed of woman in Eve, Genesis 3:15, and had continued to Jesus, Luke 9:31.
After feeling sleepy, Luke 9:32, the disciples were now fully awake, Luke 9:32. Peter was profoundly moved by the occasion and suggested that they build three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah, Matthew 17:4 / Mark 9:5 / Luke 9:33. Mark tells us that Peter didn’t know what to say, they were so frightened, Mark 9:6.
There are times when we simply need to listen, rather than doing. Peter’s problem was that he needed to connect everything with something he needed to do. Peter always jumped up and said, ‘Well Lord I guess I need to say something’.
Peter was always the one who would jump up and say, ‘I’m not going to let that happen to you Lord, well, I’ll be the last one to leave you, Lord’, Matthew 26:31-35 / Luke 22:31-34 / Mark 14:27-31.
And the Lord finally had to say, ‘Peter, will you just hush up, put that sword down, Luke 22:49-51 / John 18:10-15 / Matthew 26:51-55, before the rooster crows three times you’ll deny me’, Matthew 26:33-35 / Mark 14:29-31 / John 13:37–38.
And Peter is still doing it, he’s here on the mountain and James and John are saying, ‘look at this’ and Peter jumps up and what does he say? ‘We’re very glad to be here,’ Matthew 17:4 / Mark 9:5 / Luke 9:33.
That’s literally what he says, he jumps up and says, ‘Well, I’m glad I came here today.’ ‘It’s good for us to be here Lord’. ‘In fact, we need to do something about this, we need to build a shelter for Moses and a shelter for Elijah,’ Matthew 17:4 / Mark 9:5 / Luke 9:33
No doubt he felt that it would honour Jesus to receive a shelter alongside Moses and Elijah, but it seems as though Peter wanted to stay on the mountain for a while and enjoy the company but there was work to be done in the valleys.
According to Jewish tradition, these shelters would have been temporary places of prayer and meditation, Leviticus 23:34 / Exodus 25:8-9. Peter may have been suggesting that places of honour be placed at the location for the honour of Jesus, Moses and Elijah.
God’s Voice
‘Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.’ Mark 9:7-8
As Peter was speaking, a cloud enveloped the disciples and then God’s voice boomed from heaven, ‘This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him’, Matthew 17:5 / Mark 9:7 / Luke 9:34-35. The voice of God is very seldom heard in the New Testament, in fact only three times, Mark 9:7 / Matthew 3:17 / John 12:29.
Notice that when the disciples heard the voice of God, the natural reaction was worship, Matthew 17:6. Falling facedown suggests that they worship God, Daniel 8:17 / Revelation 1:17 / 2 Peter 1:18.
Remember that prophets weren’t worshipped. And so, because Jesus was God, all three disciples worshipped as a natural response to their realisation of the presence of God.
They had obviously fallen to the ground in reverence and so Jesus reassuringly touches them and tells them to get up. I can imagine the disciples being very afraid after hearing God’s voice, no wonder Jesus reassures them that they have nothing to be afraid of.
Matthew tells us ‘when the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Matthew 17:6-7.
Moses and Elijah vanished and only Jesus remained, Matthew 17:8 / Mark 9:8 / Luke 9:36. The lesson was simple, they used to listen to Moses and Elijah but now they must listen to Jesus, Acts 4:12 / Hebrews 1:1-3. No other prophet assumed to be the Son of God.
The Descent
‘As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what ‘rising from the dead’ meant.’ Mark 9:9-10
As they descended, Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone about what had happened until after He was raised from the dead, Matthew 17:9 / Mark 9:9. Luke tells us the disciples kept what they had witnessed to themselves and didn’t tell anyone, Luke 9:36.
Jesus told them not to say anything until, He, the Son of man was resurrected, Matthew 17:9 / Mark 9:9. Why were they told not to say anything to anyone?
One plausible reason could be if the disciples spoke about what had just happened publicly, especially during this crucial point in Jesus’ ministry, it may have caused a lot of unnecessary confusion among the people.
There’s also the possibility which we alluded to earlier that the other disciples may possibly have become jealous of Peter, James and John for having the special treatment, Mark 9:34 / Luke 22:24.
Peter, James and John had no idea about what Jesus meant about rising again, Mark 9:10. They didn’t believe in the death of Jesus, at this time, never mind believing that He would rise from the dead, Mark 9:10.
Remember the disciples and the Jews as a whole had no concept of the resurrection, every blessing in the Old Testament was all about the land and long life.
This is why the disciples never really understood anything Jesus taught about the afterlife, or they were afraid to ask Him about it. The resurrection from the dead was a whole new concept because it was Jesus who brought immortality to light, 2 Timothy 1:10.
‘And they asked him, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.’ Mark 9:11-13
By the appearance of Elijah on the mountain, their thinking was focused on the prophecies of the coming of Elijah, Matthew 9:10 / Mark 9:11 / Mark 4:5, but Elijah had already come in the sense that John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, Matthew 17:11-12 / Mark 9:12-13 / Luke 1:17.
The teachers of the Law had correctly understood and interpreted the Old Testament law concerning the prophecies that a messenger must first come before the coming of the Messiah, Isaiah 40:3 / Malachi 3:1 / Malachi 4:5 / Matthew 11:14.
These prophecies were of John the Baptist who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, Luke 1:16-17. He came preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, Mark 1:1-4, but the teachers of the Law failed to understand and accept that these prophecies were fulfilled in John Himself.
As it is with most people who don’t understand one thing, this leads to another misunderstanding about something else. The disciples understood that Jesus was speaking about John the Baptist, Matthew 17:13.
The Jews didn’t recognise John as the fulfilment of prophecy in preparation for the Messiah, so they wouldn’t recognise Jesus, John 1:11. This is clearly seen later because they will eventually want to crucify Christ, because of their refusal to believe who He was, the Son of God, the Messiah. Mark 9:12.
The Greatness Of Jesus
God’s refusal of Peter’s suggestion to construct three shelters teaches us a lot of things. The problem with Peter’s plan was that it put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah, He isn’t. Jesus is above everyone in this case, above the greatest figures of the Old Testament era.
Our problem is like Peter’s, we often tend to build multiple shelters, one for Jesus and one for our parents or one for Jesus and another for our preacher, or a favourite activity. Jesus must have the only shelter, He must be the supreme authority in our life, nothing else can be on a par with Him.
Through the years people have built cathedrals to honour Jesus, people have fought wars to honour Jesus, people have gone on fasts to honour Jesus and people have thrown banquets to honour Jesus, people have married multiple wives and people have remained celibate to honour Jesus.
But God calls out to us all and says, ‘before you go building your booths, or making your plans before you do what you think will honour Me, will you please stop and ‘Listen to Him’.
The world would be a better place if it stopped to actually listen to Jesus’ words and obey them, and our churches would be in better health if they stopped to listen to what Jesus actually teaches on any given subject.
Our own Christian walk would be totally transformed if we stopped long enough to listen and apply Jesus’ words to our very lives.
Who are you listening to?
Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit
‘When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. ‘What are you arguing with them about?’ he asked.’ Mark 9:14-16
Jesus, Peter, James and John had remained part of a day and night on the mountain of transfiguration, Luke 9:37. While He was on the mountain, the scribes were entering into an argument with the other disciples, Mark 9:15-16.
As Jesus descended the mountain, He noticed a great commotion in the valley, the crowd ran to meet Him, Mark 9:14-15 / Luke 9:37. Notice as soon as the people saw Jesus they were overwhelmed, Mark 9:15, why?
It’s certainly possible that just like Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai his face was radiant as he reflected God’s glory, Exodus 34:35. But here the glory of God is Jesus and He’s isn’t reflecting God’s glory, He is God’s glory.
‘A man in the crowd answered, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 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 out the spirit, but they could not.’ ‘You unbelieving generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’ So, they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, how long has he been like this?’ ‘From childhood,’ he answered. ‘It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ Mark 9:17-22
The father of the tormented boy asked Jesus to do something, if He could, the man obviously feels hopeless and helpless. The demon caused this poor boy to lose his speech, threw him to the ground in convulsions, foaming at the mouth, his teeth gnash together, he screams and becomes rigid, Mark 9:17 / Luke 9:39. Mark also says that the demon caused epileptic fits that would cause the boy to be cast into fires, Mark 9:20.
He begged the disciples to help, but they couldn’t, Matthew 17:16 / Mark 9:18 / Luke 9:40. While Jesus had been with three of the apostles on the mountain, the others had been unable to cast a demon out of a boy.
The apostles had normally been able to cast out demons, but here they couldn’t, probably because of a lack of faith, Matthew 17:19-20.
This failure puzzled them and surprised the bystanders. Jesus’ enemies were taking advantage of this lapse to discredit Him, we can imagine how embarrassed the disciples must have felt as they were being ridiculed.
Jesus says to all who were present that they were an unbelieving and a perverse generation and asks, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Matthew 17:17 / Mark 9:19 / Luke 9:41.
Jesus asks that boy be brought to Him, and when Jesus saw the effect, the demon was having on the boy, Luke 9:42, He asks how long he has been like this, Mark 9:20-21.
It seems as though everyone was still having a hard time accepting Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. John 9:3. The father of the tormented boy asked Jesus to do something if He could, the man obviously feels hopeless and helpless.
‘If you can’? said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. ‘You deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He’s dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.’ Mark 9:23-27
Notice that the Lord turned the boy’s father’s statement back on him, ‘If you can! All things are possible to him who believes,’ Mark 9:23. The father said that he believed, but recognising the possibility that his faith wasn’t as strong as it needed to be, he begged Jesus to help his unbelief, Mark 9:24.
Everyone thought the boy was dead, and so, with that, Christ commanded the unclean spirit to leave the boy, the demon cried out and threw the boy into convulsions but left, Mark 9:25 / Luke 9:42.
The Jews believed that no one could cast out a mute spirit unless you knew its name. Mark gives an extended account of the events surrounding the exorcism, Mark 9:25-26.
Jesus rebuked the demon, Matthew 17:18 / Mark 9:25 / Luke 9:42 / Luke 4:41, which shows His power over the devil, Matthew 4:24. The demon did what all demons have to do, the demon left the boy immediately, Matthew 17:18 / Mark 9:26 / Luke 9:42. Jesus said on this occasion that all things are possible to those who believe, Mark 9:23.
The Jews believed that no one could cast out a mute spirit unless you knew its name. Jesus said on this occasion that all things are possible to those who believe, therefore, this healing was a test of Jesus’ divine power in contrast to the lack of power in the disciples because of their lack of faith. Jesus had total control over the world of Satan and his works and because of Jesus’ command, the demon immediately left the boy.
Unlike what some people claim today concerning casting out demons, here there were no formulas, performances, money or ceremonies in order to exorcise this demon, Jesus simply spoke, and it was done.
‘After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’ Mark 9:28-29
Later, the disciples asked why they had been unable to cast out the demon, Jesus explained that they weren’t relying on God enough, but on their own power. Perhaps their prior success in expelling demons had caused them to be self-reliant, Mark 6:13 / Mark 6:30, and they had neglected to pray in faith to God so that He would cast out the demon, John 9:31 / John 11:41. The KJV says ‘this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.’
Barnes in his commentary, says the following, concerning prayer and fasting.
‘In order to work miracles of this kind to cast out devils in cases so obstinate and dreadful as this, faith of the highest kind is necessary. That faith is produced and kept vigorous only by much prayer, and by such abstinence from food as fits the mind for the highest exercises of religion and leaves it free to hold communion with God.’
The disciples seem to be somewhat embarrassed over their inability to take care of the demon-possessed boy and notice it was the disciples’ unbelief, not the belief of the one who was healed that was questioned. They could have cast out the demon because Jesus had given them such authority.
They had demonstrated a lack of faith, Matthew 17:20 / Matthew 19:26 / Matthew 21:21-22 / Luke 10:1 / Luke 10:17, but if they had the faith as small as a mustard seed, Matthew 17:20 / Matthew 21:21-22 / Mark 11:23-24 / Luke 17:6 / 1 Corinthians 12:9 / 1 Corinthians 13:2, they could achieve much more, Matthew 17:20.
Nothing would be impossible to them for nothing is impossible for the One who actually does the miraculous work, Mark 9:23 / John 11:40.
However, the qualification for being able to command the power of the supernatural demanded that they believe, Matthew 19:26 / Matthew 21:21-22 / Luke 10:1 / Luke 1:17.
Faith takes time to grow, and the disciples were no different, in fact by the time Jesus leaves them to return to the Father, they would indeed do great things for God.
Please note that this kind of faith is supernatural miraculous faith, 1 Corinthians 12:9, we must remember to keep these verses in their proper context.
Jesus wasn’t talking to all the disciples, but only to the twelve and so this isn’t a promise for Christians today, He was promising them, the twelve, special authority in reference to their work as His personally chosen and sent apostles.
Time and again the disciples demonstrated a lack of clear spiritual understanding, they saw Jesus multiply loaves and fishes but failed to see that He could handle another food emergency. Peter affirmed that Jesus was the Christ but thought it best to give Him some needed ‘advice.’
He believed Jesus was great, but on the same level as Moses and Elijah. The nine disciples in the valley boldly attempted to expel a demon, but without relying on the Lord. They were like those formerly blind who even now saw men like trees walking.
We all take time to grow as Christians and there are times we exercise a lack of faith, especially when we just go through the ‘routine’ of being a Christian, but when difficult times come, we quickly realise what we’ve been neglecting in our spiritual lives.
Maybe those difficult times come, to remind us to ask God to increase our faith in Him.
Have you asked God to increase your faith lately?
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
‘They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9:30-37
Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for the tragedy that was nearing. He warned them that He would be betrayed into men’s hands and be killed, Luke 9:44, but encouraged them by announcing that three days later He would rise again, Mark 9:31. The disciples didn’t understand, Mark 9:32 / Luke 9:45, why?
They didn’t understand the purpose of Christ’s death and when Jesus spoke of His death, the subject didn’t bring them any comfort, John 16:6 / John 19:30.
They didn’t understand the purpose of Christ’s death and they were too busy arguing about who would be the greatest in Jesus’ coming kingdom, in other words, they were struggling with pride, and they even argued about this during the Supper, Luke 22:24.
Why were they afraid to ask Him about it? Mark 9:32 / Luke 9:45. As we saw above the concept of an afterlife was foreign to them, 2 Timothy 1:10.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the words, ‘it was hidden from them’, Luke 9:45.
‘It was God’s will that the apostles while being so thoroughly briefed on all that would take place, should also fail to ‘get it’, as we might say. This seems to be a hint here that they were providentially prevented from understanding it, but it is more likely that the very conception of human salvation as something which Almighty God alone could achieve, and that even he could not achieve it without the death of the Beloved on the cross, that such a colossal truth was utterly beyond the power of the natural man to understand it until after the fact. The concealment was not due to the design of God but to the limitations of men.’
This all happened at Peter’s house, Mark 9:33. Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt? He’s about to go and die for the world and all the disciples can do is argue about who is going to be the greatest. It must have disappointed Him greatly to see the disciples competing for power while He was preoccupied with His coming suffering.
The Greatest In The Kingdom Of Heaven
Notice they were arguing about who was the greatest, Mark 9:34 / Luke 9:46. There’s no doubt that the disciples were still thinking that Jesus was here to establish a physical kingdom, Acts 1:6, and they wanted to know who was going to be in charge.
Mark tells us that Jesus sat down, Mark 9:35, in other words, Jesus adopts the position of a teacher which signalled to the disciples that teaching was coming. It’s then disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Matthew 18:1.
It appears that selfish ambition is beginning to creep in among the disciples, Mark 10:35-45, in fact, this subject came up four times when they were with Jesus, Matthew 20:20-28 / Mark 9:33-34 / Mark 10:35-45 / Luke 22:24-27. In Jesus’ kingdom, He Himself would be the One with all authority, Matthew 28:12 / Ephesians 1:20-23.
It must have disappointed Jesus greatly to see the disciples competing for power while He was preoccupied with His coming suffering. Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt?
He’s about to go and die for the world and all the disciples can do is argue about who is going to be the greatest! Matthew 20:20-28 / Mark 10:35-45 / Luke 22:24-27.
The Child Object Lesson
Jesus didn’t need to ask what they were arguing about because He already knew and so, knowing what they had been disputing, Jesus took a child into His arms and used the child as a model of the humility that should characterise the disciples, Matthew 18:2-5 / Mark 9:36-37 / Luke 9:47-48.
Jesus tells them they must ‘change’, Matthew 18:3, which means to change their thinking, change their lives, change their attitude, Acts 3:19 / Acts 28:27. The need for change by the apostles was because of their sin of worldly pride and ambition.
They must also become ‘like little children’, Matthew 18:3, children submit to their father’s rule, they trust their father will always do what is right and as a result, they will obey their fathers, Ephesians 6:1-4 / Colossians 3:20 / Exodus 20:12 / Deuteronomy 5:16 / Proverbs 22:6.
As Christians, we need to have the same submissive attitude toward our heavenly Father if we want to receive eternal life, James 4:6-7 / 1 Peter 5:6-7.
The humility of a child should always be the characteristic of the disciple of Jesus, we should always be willing to serve and put others before us, not thinking too highly of ourselves, Matthew 18:4 / Mark 10:35-45 / Luke 9:48.
Jesus wants disciples who are humble like a child, free from prejudice like a child, teachable like a child, lovable as a child, He wants His disciples to have the same simple faith of a child, trust like a child, He doesn’t want His disciples to worry about anything but trust their Father and He wants His disciples to be as innocent as a child.
Welcoming a little child in Jesus’ Name, Matthew 18:5 / Mark 9:37 / Luke 9:48, refers to the complete acceptance of a child-like believer because of their innocent and unrestrained trust in the Lord. If we welcome a disciple of Jesus who is of the character which Jesus discusses in this context, we receive Jesus, Matthew 10:40-42.
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.’ Mark 9:38-41
John related how he had seen someone expelling demons in Jesus’ name and had forbidden him to do so. Evidently, John thought that no one should have been doing any work for the Lord who wasn’t following in their immediate company.
But Jesus had commissioned many to go out, preach, and expel demons. He was pleased with those who were faithfully serving Him in other places.
There seems to be some arrogance on the part of the disciples here against one they considered unauthorized to work miracles in the name of Jesus. This one may have been one of the disciples who was previously sent out by Jesus to cast out demons, Luke 10:1-17.
We aren’t told who this person was, he was simply doing this work in the name of Jesus. Whatever the case, the disciples weren’t happy with his work. Because he wasn’t in what the disciples considered to be the inner circle of disciples, they thought that he should be discouraged from his work.
They thus manifested their sectarian attitude, thinking that this disciple should be a member of their party before he could truly represent Jesus.
Jesus didn’t condemn the work of the disciple who was casting out demons in His name. It was the enemy of righteousness about whom the disciples must be concerned, not someone who was giving glory to Jesus by his works.
Jesus wants the disciples not to discourage the good works of those who are not of their social group. It is interesting in this context to note that this exorcist was doing what the disciples couldn’t do for lack of faith, Mark 9:18-19 / Mark 9:29.
Therefore, the effective work of the unknown disciple may have intimidated the disciples concerning their weak faith. Jesus’ teaching on this matter went beyond good works. His teaching focused on acceptance, not rejection. The disciples of Jesus must be known for their willingness to accept, not eagerness to find occasions for rejection. The disciples must learn how to receive those with whom they may disagree.
Causing to Stumble
‘If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, 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, where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire. ‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.’ Mark 9:42-50
Jesus went on to warn of the danger of causing someone to fall. He said that it would even be better to tie a huge stone around a man’s neck and cast him into the sea than for him to cause another to stumble, Mark 9:41-42. He also warned of the danger of allowing anything to cause us to stumble.
Jesus stresses how serious we must be about possibly causing ‘these little ones’ to stumble, Mark 9:42. If disciples have an attitude of acceptance of others, they will be cautious about being an occasion for one to stumble.
Notice that the unquenchable fire, isn’t focused on the duration of the fire, but on the certainty, that it will exist to punish those who offend, Mark 9:43. Jesus wants us to understand that the punishment for sin will not go away. There will be a definite punishment for the wicked.
The Greek word Gehenna also finds its meaning in the continuous fire that consumed the rubbish that was dumped in the garbage heap of the valley of Hinnom.
Jesus used the word ‘Gehenna’ to emphasise the fact that offenders will face the punishment of the consuming worm and fire. His emphasis was on the fact that we cannot ignore the consuming fire, it will not go away.
However, that which is cast into the consuming fire will eventually be destroyed, Matthew 10:28 / 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. Therefore, it is best to cut off that part of one’s character that offends others. It’s best to cut it off least one cause another to stumble.
If one’s life doesn’t act as a spiritual preservative for society, then he has lost his Christian influence. He is of no value for kingdom business, and thus, not a proper candidate for an eternal heaven.
The Lord encouraged radical, decisive action, cutting off a hand or a foot or plucking out an eye in order to avoid abandoning Him, mark 9:45-47. He wasn’t speaking literally, but He was forcefully declaring that we should sacrifice anything that is tempting us to sin.
He described Hell as a horrendous place of maggots and perpetual fire that must be avoided at all costs.
Jesus quoted Isaiah 66:24, where Isaiah said that ‘their’ fire isn’t quenched. It was the worm and the fire that consumed the dead bodies in the seemingly unending fire of the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem.
Isaiah’s ‘fire’ was taken from the historical event of the burning of the carcasses of dead Assyrian soldiers after God killed 185,000 of them who sought to take Jerusalem.
The bodies of the Assyrians were burned in the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem. The event became the historical foundation for the metaphor that illustrated the final destruction of the enemies of God at the end of time, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.
When Jesus speaks about salted with fire, Mark 9:49, He possibly reverts back to correcting in their lives that which needs to be brought under control. It’s the fire of persecution and trials that purifies our character, 1 Peter 1:6-7.
One’s work is also tried by the fires of life, 1 Corinthians 3:13. The fire, therefore, purifies the character of individuals in order to preserve them through life and prepare them for heavenly dwelling.
The purified character of the disciples would increase their effectiveness and impact on society, Matthew 5:13-16. As salt acts as a preservative, their Christian influence in society would preserve society, Mark 9:50.
