MARK LESSON 18

     We will begin this lesson in Mark 9:1.

     Mark 9:1 "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death,
till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."

     Many believe that this statement just prior to the
transfiguration was speaking of those (Peter, James, and John) who went
with Jesus up the mountain and saw Jesus in all His glory.  To many
this is a mystery.

     Mark 9:2  "And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and
James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by
themselves: and he was transfigured before them."

     Six is significant, here, showing Jesus' dealings with man had
been completed and now He was ready to glorify God.  Peter, James, and
John were leaders among the disciples.  These were loyal.  He would
allow these three to see His glory and to hear the Father say, "This
is my beloved Son:  hear him."  The word transfigured means "to
transform or to change".  This happened high in the mountain away from
the others.  This was not for everyone to see.

     Mark 9:3 "And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as
snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them."

     This was a white so bright that it was difficult to see.  No
cleanser on earth could get it this white, because this white far
surpassed any other white on earth.  This was Jesus seen in His glory.

     Mark 9:4 "And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they
were talking with Jesus."

     We see, here, Elias (Elijah) as a representative of the prophets
and Moses representing the law.  This meeting with them on the
mountain top seen by Peter, James, and John allowed these three to
realize that Jesus truly was Messiah.  Moses died on the way to the
promised land, and Elijah was carried away into heaven without benefit
of the grave; so we see here,  also, that these two show that Jesus is
King over the quick and the dead.  Elijah represented those who are
alive in Christ, and Moses represented those who are dead in Christ.
Jesus was about to face the cruel death of the cross.  This appearance
showed that what the prophets could not bring in the way of salvation, 
and the law could not bring, the death on the cross would bring:
salvation to whosoever will.

     Mark 9:5 "And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is
good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for
thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."

     Peter still did not realize fully who Jesus was.  They were fully
awake, this was not a dream.  Three different people would not dream
the same dream, anyhow.  This statement "that it is good for them to
be there" seems as though Peter might be pretty satisfied with his
position with Jesus.

     Mark 9:6 "For he wist not what to say; for they were sore
afraid."

     Supernatural things have a way of frightening people who are just
used to seeing natural things.  Probably, because it was night made it
more frightening.

     Mark 9:7 "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a
voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear
him."

     When the children of Israel were going to the promised land, a
fire led them by night and a cloud by day.  The presence of God was in
the cloud.  This cloud, also, had the presence of the Father God.  The
voice coming out of the cloud made this even more frightening. All
three of the disciples heard the voice of God say that Jesus was His
Son.

     Mark 9:8 "And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they
saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves."

     In the account in Matthew, we read where the disciples were so
afraid that they fell on their faces, and Jesus came and reassured
them that all was well; and when they looked up,  Moses and Elijah
were gone.  This is not exact Scripture, but this is what it was
saying. This would be very frightening.  One thing that puzzles me a
little, is how they knew the other two were Moses and Elijah.  Perhaps,
their understanding was opened by the Lord.

     Mark 9:9 "And as they came down from the mountain, he charged
them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the
Son of man were risen from the dead."

     Don't you know these three disciples wanted to tell the other
disciples this happening?  This had to burn within them.  These three
had to be very close to have shared so many things.

     Mark 9:10 "And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning
one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

     Even though they had been told that Jesus would die on the cross
and the third day rise again from the dead, somehow it had not soaked
in; and they hadn't realized that it was really true.

     Mark 9:11  "And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that
Elias must first come?"

     In Matthew 17:13, the disciples realized that Jesus was speaking of
John the Baptist when He spoke of Elias, Matthew 17:13 "Then the
disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." In
fact, it follows the same statement Jesus made here in verses 12 &
13.

     Mark 9:12 "And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh
first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of
man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought." Mark 9:13
"But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done
unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him."

     Jesus was just saying that the spirit of Elias was present in John
the Baptist, and John had already been beheaded when Jesus spoke
here.  Many believe that one of the two witnesses in Revelation is
Elijah, or Elias as he was called here.  Elijah is a mystery, because
he did not go the way of the grave.  He was accompanied to heaven by a
chariot of fire.

     Mark 9:14  "And when he came to [his] disciples, he saw a great
multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them." Mark
9:15 "And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were
greatly amazed, and running to [him] saluted him."

     It seems that they ran to Jesus to greet Him, when they saw Him
coming and left the scribes that had been questioning them.  The
people had grown to a multitude.  The multitude partially followed Him
because they had heard of the miracles He had done.  Possibly, many of
them had needs in their own lives.  His teachings were not like the
teaching of the law.  They gave hope to the common people.

     Mark 9:16 "And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?"

     We see, here, that Jesus did not avoid the scribes, but asked
them, why are you asking them questions? Why don't you just ask me?

     Mark 9:17 "And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I
have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;"  Mark 9:18
"And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and
gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples
that they should cast him out; and they could not."

     This man, who brought his son to Jesus, didn't even wait till the
scribes answered Jesus.  He grabbed Jesus quickly and told Him of his
problem.  This problem that this young man had seemed to have more
than one side to it.  He was dumb and could not speak, but he
also had something similar to epilepsy.  It seems the disciples had
tried to deliver the man, and they were unable to do it.

     Mark 9:19 "He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation,
how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him
unto me."

     Jesus had just about been filled completely up with the lack of
faith of the Pharisees and scribes, but worse than that was the lack
of faith of His own disciples.

     Mark 9:20 "And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him,
straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and
wallowed foaming." Mark 9:21 "And he asked his father, How long is it
ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child."  Mark 9:22
"And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to
destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us,
and help us."

     A person with this severe a problem could not be handled by just
one person.  The they that brought him were possibly friends helping
the father.  This evil spirit did not like being in the presence of
Jesus the Christ.  He acted up immediately and tried to harm the boy
who had been brought to Jesus.  Jesus knows all, so He didn't ask the
man how long this had been for His benefit.  It was, probably, given to
show the utterly hopeless condition of the boy and the desperation of
the father in pleading for Jesus to have compassion and help them.

     Mark 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things
[are] possible to him that believeth."

     Faith is the most powerful force a man can have.  This statement
of Jesus' was for the man and for all generations to come.  Pray and
believe.

     Mark 9:24 "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and
said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

     The father here was so desperate, this was a last resort with him.
His heart was broken that his son had this problem.  He had waited so
long and tried so hard to believe, He was believing with everything he
had left.  He knew his own faith had not been enough in the past and
asked the Lord to help him have enough faith.  He called Jesus, Lord.
In doing so, he said: whatever happens, it is up to you Lord.

     Mark 9:25 "When Jesus saw that the people came running together,
he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,  [Thou] dumb and deaf
spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."

     This crowd (including the scribes) really ran over there to
criticize the Lord and His disciples.  They had already been disputing
(the scribes and the crowd) about this boy's condition.  Take note of
how Jesus delivered him.  First, Jesus spoke to the evil spirit and
told it to come out of the boy.  Jesus called it by name: "deaf and
dumb spirit".

     Mark 9:26 "And [the spirit] cried, and rent him sore, and came
out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is
dead."

     Satan had power over this boy, but this spirit had to obey the
voice of Jesus.  When Jesus said, "...come out...", the spirit threw
the boy down one more time and came out.  This poor boy was so
exhausted that he lay there as dead.  The people thought he was dead.

     Mark 9:27 "But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and
he arose."

     Jesus lifted this boy up and that is what He really does for us.

     Mark 9:28 "And when he was come into the house, his disciples
asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?"

     These disciples had been praying for the sick and casting out
demons as they ministered.  This particular evil spirit was much
harder to cast.  This spirit had been in this boy for a long time and
was deep seated.  This, also, was more than just one spirit, as well.

     Mark 9:29 "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by
nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

     Jesus was teaching a principle here.  Some illnesses and demons
are so severe that just prayer will not make them well.  Fasting for
three days will bring great results.  Jesus was teaching the principle
of fasting here.

                                 Notes
































                          Mark 18 Questions


1.  In V-1, there are some here that shall not die till after when?
2.  Who did Jesus take with Him to the mountain?
3.  What does transfigured mean?
4.  What happened to Jesus' garment?
5.  Who appeared with Jesus?
6.  Who represented the prophets?
7.  Moses represented what?
8.  How do Moses and Elijah represent the alive and dead?
9.  Why do you suppose these two appeared with Jesus?
10. What did Peter want to do to show great respect for the three?
11. What made them so afraid?
12. Where did God's voice come from?
13. What did God the Father say?
14. When the three got up off their face, who was left?
15. They were not to tell about the transfiguration until when?
16. What did they ask Jesus about Elias?
17. Who did Jesus say represented Elias?
18. Why is Elijah such a mystery?
19. How were Jesus' teachings different?
20. What kind of spirit did the man's son have?
21. What did the foaming, gnashing and falling down indicate was this
    disease?
22. Who had tried to deliver the boy and couldn't?
23. What did the father ask Jesus to have for him?
24. Why did Jesus ask him how long he had the evil spirit?
25. What did Jesus tell the man he must do?
26. What did the father answer Jesus?
27. What is possible to those who believe?
28. What did Jesus say to the evil spirit?
29. What did the people think had happened to the boy when the evil
    spirit left?
30. Why could the disciples not cast out the demons?

                                 Notes