Mark 9 ~ were afraid to ask Him about it

Mark 9 ~ (New International Version)

- Audio link - Mark 9

¹And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵Peter 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." ⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

⁸Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹As 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. ¹⁰They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

¹¹And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

¹²Jesus 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? ¹³But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

¹⁴When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

¹⁶"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.

¹⁷A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸Whenever 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."

¹⁹"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

²⁰So 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.

²¹Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered. ²²"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."

²³" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

²⁴Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil [unclean] spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

²⁶The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

²⁹He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer [prayer and fasting]"

³⁰They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" ³⁴But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

³⁶He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷"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."

³⁸"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

³⁹"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

⁴²"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. ⁴³If your hand causes you to sin, 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.['their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' ] ⁴⁵And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ⁴⁷And 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, ⁴⁸where
" 'their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Ever have a prayer request you were worried about placing before the Lord? Sometimes the Scriptures have two different opinions on the matter on your mind. Jesus says here - whoever is for you, cannot be against you. Jesus also says in:

Matthew 12:30
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters

The Scriptures are not double minded, it says life has twists - turns & situations can be unclear. When Jesus was asked for (another) sign, in Mark 8, He'd already shown many signs - He wasn't there to be directed by the religious - living off their own power. The Apostles were convinced Jesus was very holy and went with Him, with the one verbal invitation. They stood with God of All & spent a lot of time confused, uncertain and afraid. Mankind is recorded again & again in the Scriptures being in awe at the great works of God's hand. They didn't leave Him, more were gathered to Him, Jesus sent 70 disciples ahead of them speaking of God & the Kingdom of Heaven. We know Jesus loved these people. How?

Mark 3:35
Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.

Jesus placed them as His family. Frequently, He addressed them as "beloved".

Uncertainty, when we address Father God, in the depths of our being, is something God takes pity on; His compassion is great. Remember, when Jesus prayed He said, let Your will be done. God is still God, even when we don't completely understand. Jesus trusted God in all things. Our greatest prayer conversations tell Him of our desires, our questions - as it really is. Uncertainty and confusion is not sin. He knows.

Look at the compassion of Jesus:

~ "will not taste death"
~ Jesus did not abandon the unbelieving generation - He healed them.
~ Jesus helped the boy's father overcome his unbelief.
~ Jesus didn't leave the boy after he was healed. "Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up."

~ Jesus asked them about arguments and discussions they had. He was very involved with them. Rarely did Jesus rebuke them.
~ The disciples pushed small children away - these were important matters for fully informed people. Jesus welcomed and blessed the children.
~ Salt isn't meek, mild food. Jesus encouraged people to be themselves, but knowing mankind, He encouraged peace in the same breath.

Remember Peter fell in deep waters when he felt his own faith slip. Jesus didn't abandon Peter, He loved Peter and asked Peter to love others. We can always let the Lord know when we feel unsure.

Father God, knows. Jesus loves you, He will not fail you.

<><