Mark 9:21-25 Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” the boy’s father 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.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 
 
OUR Lord is frustrated with his people. These are mainly the Jews, who had been given God’s promises beginning with their father Abraham. For about 2,000 years the LORD had worked mighty miracles to form, favor and protect Israel. Even in his judgments on their idolatry, the merciful God offered his gracious forgiveness. Even the generation who witnessed Jesus’ power did not believe he is God’s Son. Perhaps the possessed boy’s father summed up Israel’s blind eyes with, “If you can.”  
   Yet in truth, too often we cannot see God’s mercy. When your prayers produce no visible results, you may want to tell Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on me and help me.” The boy’s father had few, if any expectation Jesus would respond because his son had suffered for so long.
   It’s true, isn’t it, that these words may echo in your heart? You experience many broken circumstances that appear beyond repair. And you wonder if God cares. What do you do with your doubt or even with unbelief?
    The father’s prayer, “Help me overcome my unbelief.” is a prayer that is essential to open our heart to hear God’s answer. It reveals an attitude and a passion you want to know God is hearing your prayers. With humility and submission, you realize you must talk to God often and honestly to begin to build your faith. He knows what you are thinking and feeling. Your Lord can handle your honesty. That’s how Jesus prayed in Gethsemane: Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus’ combination of intimacy and honesty tells you God will indeed help you with your unbelief when you earnestly seek his favor.
          Remember, God is One who Speaks. He has granted his creation very personal access to himself. The Bible records the LORD gave many unbelieving generations the opportunity to know him. That opportunity is before you each moment of each day. Jesus will help your unbelief when you speak to the God who speaks to you. The Helper will help you grasp the depth and breadth of his power that extends through you to know and to submit to his will on earth.   

Mark 9:20 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.
 
WHEN Jesus is around, everything changes. Is Jesus around your life? He wants to be. Do you let his authority rule your thoughts, your desires, your actions, and your relationships?
   How does a Jesus-is-around-your life happen? Look to the disciples’ journey to become apostles. See how Jesus’ authority became a whole part of their lives. As young men, they may have had some goals, some purpose centered on their own ambitions. Some were as Nathanael, apparently of little purpose: (Jesus said) “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:48)
   But when Jesus came to command, “Follow me.” They began to be around Jesus, and their lives changed under his leadership. As they literally and spiritually walked step-by-step with Jesus, his truth, love, forgiveness and healing became an increasing influence on their lives.
   The Holy Spirit wants us to know following Jesus requires perseverance. That’s why Mark 9 and many gospel accounts illustrate the disciples’ challenges. Alone with the possessed boy, they couldn’t do a heeling Jesus anointed and expected them to do. Jesus had to take control of the healing.
   We praise God that the disciples did come to know a Jesus-is-around-you life. They followed Jesus to his work on the cross and through the wonder of his resurrection. They watched him ascend and followed his instructions to wait for the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit touched them with the fire of God’s renewing power, the disciples became apostles because Jesus was always around them as demonstrated in this markable account:  Acts 3:2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  
   Know what happens when Jesus is around you. Eagerly the two disciples lived with a Jesus-like purpose to change the world. Their thoughts, desires, actions and relationships were completely based on their faith in Jesus Christ.
    How would your life change if you faithfully know Jesus is around you?
    

Mark 9:14-16 When Jesus, James, John and Peter came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around the disciples and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As 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. 
 
JESUS is taking care of his disciples. As he and the others returned from the Transfiguration, they could have easily fixed their attention on the adoring crowd. It’s nice to be noticed!
   But Jesus noticed his disciples needed help. They were arguing with the teachers of the law. The Rabbi took control. “What are you arguing about?” indicates he wants to be involved in the conflict. He is Wisdom, and he has come to settle the matter at hand:
 
Mark 9:17-19 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 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.” 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.”
 
The disciples could not heal the demon-possessed boy. Jesus had earlier granted them power over the demons: Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. What had happened to their authority? Did the teachers’ opposition to Jesus affect the disciples’ faith to do God’s work?
   A similar faith lesson is found in Moses’ ascent to Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. When he returned, he found his brother Aaron had made a golden calf idol, rejecting the LORD, who had delivered them from Egypt. When the prophet was gone, the people lost their faith in God.
   Jesus was upset at the unbelieving teachers of the law who knew of Moses and many other times the Jews had rejected God’s authority. And he’s upset his disciples had too little faith to do the work he had anointed them to do. Evil strives to bind up our faith and turn our thoughts against God’s salvation. We must be faith-filled to repulse the devil’s distractions, so we can do the work he anoints us to do. 
          Once again, the Lord comes to do what no one else can do. He is dismayed knowing someday he will leave his kingdom in his disciples’ hands. Of course, he wants them to be faithful hands. 

Mark 9:11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”   
 
JAMES, John and Peter are still with Jesus. They are walking to meet the other disciples after they have seen Elijah, Moses and Jesus clothed in heaven’s glory. As they try to understand all that has happened, the disciples ask Jesus why their teachers have said, “Elijah must come first and restore all things.” Since they had just seen Elijah, perhaps they are wondering if he will reappear for some specific purpose. What should they expect?
   As a reminder, Elijah was a prophet who lived around 850 BC. 1 Kings records God sent him to Israel, the Northern Kingdom, to convict the idolatrous people of their sin. Elijah performed about 12 remarkable miracles, including the resurrection of a widow’s son. At the end of his life on earth, God took him directly to heaven: 2 Kings 2:11 As Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. If he did not die, could he return?
   Then about 400 years before Jesus, Malachi prophesied: Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
   The Jews expect Elijah’s return to open the door for Messiah. His work will cause some to repent and live more faithfully in God’s kingdom. Others would reject his ministry and reject the LORD’s salvation. Having just seen Elijah at the Transfiguration, the disciples are trying to confirm Malachi’s prophecy. They ask Jesus about Elijah’s role. Jesus answered:
 
Mark 9:13 “But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” And from Matthew 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. 
   John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy. The evidence is also in the angel Gabriel’s word to John’s father, Zechariah: Luke 1:17 “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
   The disciples needed to set their minds on things above. Jesus helped them understand the prophecy regarding Elijah pointed to John the Baptist. This meant God’s kingdom plan was in motion.
   But then they were at the point of the most difficult prophecy of all: “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?” He had to keep them focused on God’s ultimate redemptive plan.
   That is always to be our focus, isn’t it? Too many hard things can cause us to question the Scriptures or wonder about Jesus’ promises to save. His kingdom is in motion . The disciples learned this fact. They became apostles to preach that truth. We must continue to do the same.    

Mark 9:9-10 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. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
 
PETER, James and John had just experienced Jesus’ glorious Transfiguration. For a brief moment God’s revealed majesty had come to earth. When they saw Moses and Elijah, these Jewish-trained men would have remembered Moses’ (Exodus) and Elijah’s (1 Kings 19) experiences with God on Mt. Sinai. The disciples were, indeed, privileged men. Heaven had come to earth! This is the clear evidence of eternal life. They also heard the evidence Jesus is the Son of God when the Father affirmed the Son. Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” What greater evidence did the world need? Surely this was an event all Israel must hear.
   But with great emphasis Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen. The Commander spoke. His disciples needed to listen.
   And then he said something else. The disciples could later tell the others when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
   We can’t understand the disciples’ emotions and questions. They became afraid of his holy glory and confused with his orders. What did Jesus mean rising from the dead? How is it possible to match death with this heavenly vision? This is the second time Peter, James and John had heard Jesus refer to his death and resurrection. He will tell them once more. But there is no indication Jesus spent time to teach them what he meant. In fact, Luke tells us Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. (Luke 18:34) So we wonder, “Why the mystery? Why the waiting to tell others?”
    The disciples still had much to know about Jesus. Jusus had recently rebuked them, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mark 8:33) Our Lord reveals as much of himself to us as he wants us to know at a particular time. We can consider possibilities for Jesus’ “Wait.” order. But it is not good to conjecture on things we do not know. What the disciples did know is Jesus told the three to wait.
   And they obeyed. When the disciples saw Jesus alive from the grave, the three could add the evidence of Jesus’ heavenly body with their account of the Transfiguration. This helped the apostles and the church to know Jesus is the risen Son of God. Peter testifies to the certainty of the resurrected Christ in 2 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
   God revealed himself completely to the disciples when they were ready. They suffered and died for the truth because they knew with all their heart the Lord is alive awaiting them in heaven. May God reveal the same truth to you.
 
 

 Mark 9:4-8 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 
 
The Bible’s last book is called The Revelation of Jesus Christ. This could be the entire Bible’s title. Each Bible book reveals the Son in some particular element of God’s love story for humanity.
   Mark gives us a moment of God’s revelation on a mountain in Israel. James, John and Peter watched as Jesus became robed in his heavenly glory. In that moment the three men experienced their eternal future. What joy they would have known! And we also see that even the vocal Peter and the Sons of Thunder, James and John (Mark 3:17) did not know what to say, they were so frightened.
   The Bible repeatedly tells you that the people to whom God reveals his become very afraid when an angel or the angel of the Lord – often viewed as the pre-incarnate Jesus - approach then. God’s purity is so great, our sinful hearts and minds resist and react to his presence. Fear grips you when you realize you are in the hands of the sovereign God whose judgment determines your eternal future. You have nowhere to turn when you know his wrath against sin demands his perfect judgment on your life. What, then, do you do?
   It’s time to stand before the Son and confess your need for his mercy. You submit to the authority of the one whom the Father declares, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”  Yes, you listen to his call to the truth and pray for salvation with confidence. You know that because of the cross you can trust God’s grace to transfigure your soul into his glory: Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. God’s glorious revelation of his mercy turns your fear to faith. And now you can glimpse heaven. The  Spirit reveals to you the Father is well pleased with his Son. He has overcome the grave, and he wants you to eternally tabernacle with him.
   One more thought: How did the disciples know Elijah and Moses? This is one more way God reveals heaven to us. We can be sure that in heaven we won’t need introductions. We will know everyone. You can also understand that the Spirit was present, and he would have opened Peter’s, James’ and John’s minds to know the Prophet and the Law Giver. Think of this: The Old Covenant leaders met with the New Covenant leaders. The entire gospel story from the law, to the prophets, to the Savior, to the apostles was revealed through the six on that mountain that day. God did this for many reasons. One is he wants you to trust the evidence of heaven. He is very pleased to reveal to you Jesus’ highest glory and the depths his love.

Mark 9:2-3 After 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. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
 
JESUS begins to fulfill his prophecy of Mark 9:1. Transfigured means “to transform one’s appearance revealing great beauty and magnificence.” That’s what happened to Jesus that day. He became extraordinarily beautiful. Dazzling light and brightness overwhelmed the disciples. Peter, James and John saw a glimpse of Jesus’ heavenly existence. This was an extraordinary blessing for these men to receive that extraordinary view of heaven. Do you think God had something extraordinary for them to do?
   If so, Jesus’ effort seems at first to be wasted on these men. In the coming days, John and James would seek their own kingdom glory, requesting to sit at Jesus’ left and right hand in his reign (Mark 10). Peter would continue to push back against Jesus’ commitment to the cross. And, of course, there is Peter’s faithless denial of Jesus. Did it do any good for these men to see Jesus’ dazzling glory?
   If you’re paying attention, every experience with God is extraordinary because God is not ordinary. Each thing he does in your life makes a difference. After Peter saw the resurrected Christ, and Jesus restored him to ministry (John 21) he surely remembered the Transfiguration. His anointed ministry transformed his mind, so he personally knew the words he taught to the church: 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
   Likewise, John could write his gospel and his epistles with more certainty that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Surely John remembered Jesus’ Transfiguration when he saw the Revelation of the Son of God displaying Jesus’ and heaven’s glory.  
   And what about James? He died a martyr in the early church. Having seen Jesus’ full glory on the mount and later from the grave, James would have seen death as his portal to the full presence of Jesus’ eternal glory. He knew heaven awaited him because Jesus had promised John 14:2 “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”  James knew about heaven. He was eager to go there.  
   God is a faith-builder. He reveals himself to you, so you will know the glory oof his saving power. He knows you are on a journey. As he remained present with Peter, James and John to guide them to their gospel work, he does the same with you. Be alert to his revelations. Understand how he is speaking to you when you read the Bible, pray, join in study with others and experience daily life. When your faith seems weak and challenged, remember all of the Bible’s “heroes” experienced those same challenges. Their response was to remain committed to Jesus. He is the only One who can strengthen your relationship with him.
    

Mark 9:1 And 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.” 
 
MANY have used Jesus’ prophecy to discredit him. They say Jesus said some of his disciples and others listening to  him that day would not die before he returned in glory. If that is what he said, he is a false prophet. Did Jesus really tell the truth?
     The truth is that Jesus was preparing his followers for the great change about to occur on earth. Jesus was in the final stage of his ministry; he was on his way to the cross. In those final weeks, he displayed his glory in several magnificent demonstrations of his holiness.
   That began as we’ll see in the next verses when Jesus presented his glory to Peter, James and John in the Transfiguration. John 11 then records Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. Jesus then entered Jerusalem in triumph to fulfill the prophets’ words. Then we know he died and rose to life. The glory of his resurrection and ascension was evident to all disciples and many more. Then the Spirit came in power to begin the church (Acts 2). The apostles ministered the gospel in the kingdom’s power, and the Son of Man’s glory became known throughout the Roman world. Jews and Gentiles came to faith. They planted churches, and the kingdom grew in power overcoming great persecution.
   Then about 40 years after Jesus’ prophecy, the LORD uses Rome to destroy Jerusalem. This was the glory – the evident power – of God’s judgment on his people who had rejected his Son. We know the apostle John lived to see all of this. And there were certainly many more who witnessed the Son of Man’s glory revealed through 40 years of kingdom power moving through the nations.
   How wonderful it is to see the kingdom power has progressed throughout the world to this day. And God is still revealing his glory to his faithful and to new nations. Yes, the church has suffered setbacks and many difficulties caused by unfaithful leaders. But still God’s power works through the sins to establish his church’s purity. Jesus’ glory is continually evident through the redemption of lost souls and healing of broken lives. We can see that when we believe the Bible and experience its truth in our lives, life works. God’s Word transforms the human heart to know his love as the fruit of his Spirit fills us.
   As we await the Son of Man’s glory to come on the clouds, let’s be aware of his glory in our hearts, our home and his church. He promises you will see him when you look for him. Psalms 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  

Mark 8:38 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
 
JESUS draws a very distinct line between faith and unbelief. To be ashamed of Jesus is to reject him. It’s simple: Jesus rejects those who reject him.
   The apostle Paul admonishes us to put aside shame of Jesus’ gospel: Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Paul effectively said, “I receive Jesus. Jesus saves!”
   The Jews needed to hear this to know God had moved from the law to the gospel of grace. To the Jews, Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s shame – his rejection – on Jesus of Nazareth as the law recorded: Deuteronomy 21:22 If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. A Jew telling the gospel of Jesus crucified, dead, buried, risen and ascended was quicky rejected. After all, God cursed the man hung on a tree! How did Paul – and the other apostles – overcome this?
   They knew the gospel’s power to remove sin’s curse. They had no shame in Jesus and his life-giving salvation; they fully accepted the gospel because they experienced the power of the risen ascended Jesus of Nazareth. Paul’s life was so dramatically transformed from Christian killer to Christ’s evangelist, that Jesus is the only explanation for his born again life! The same is true of the other apostles. And the same transforming power through the risen Jesus became true for thousands of new converts in the church’s early years. The evidence became clear: the gospel power is for the salvation of many! Paul would have written, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” to confess he fully accepted the Lord’s power to change.
    Do you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ saves and transforms people’s lives? It’s easy to say to other believers, “Yes, I do.” Is it more difficult, though, to tell unbelievers?
   The world may cause shame to overwhelm our faith. We may reject Jesus’ message because we question its power in our everyday lives. Or we may be ashamed of Jesus in the sense we are embarrassed to tell someone, “Jesus is the only way to heaven.” If we reject Jesus’ message, then we reject Jesus.
   Some of you, though, have lived very hard lives, and the gospel has saved you! Your dramatically changed life has given you a strong faith. You know, as Paul, that Jesus saves. You are not ashamed; you are eager to tell the gospel, even when people reject or mock you.  
   Let us understand the gospel’s power. The LORD God has shown the world he saves with the spoken word throughout history. Transformation comes because God comes into our souls to reveal his new life. Be convicted of Jesus’ salvation. Be faithful to tell the Lord’s good news. Stand with Jesus now. Stand with him forever.

Mark 8:34-37 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
 
WE truly do not know how horrible the cross is. You can read of its terrible effects on the human body and know the cross was the worst execution reserved for Rome’s worst criminals. But we have never watched a man die a tortured death on a cross.
   But the Jews did. How do you think they responded when Jesus spoke his “cross-taking-up” words? They may have wondered if Jesus was calling them to active rebellion against Rome. Crucifixion was designed to constrain open rebellion and sedition. Was Jesus the awaited Messiah calling his people to arms? Perhaps at these words some began to walk away. Not many were willing to die for their country.
   But then Jesus called us to a different kind of death. Jesus came to lead Israel into a rebellion against the Evil One, so they could safely dwell in the kingdom of God.
   So he told them how to get there. He told that to grasp the ultimate good news one had to first deny himself the worldly prizes and pleasures he desired. He must lose his life for me, so he will lose his life for the gospel. How is it the good news requires dying and losing?
   Stop then and consider what is wrong in your life. Are those things there because you’ve made some wrong choices? Do certain habits keep you from abundantly possessing Jesus’ saving truth? If you’ve answered, “Yes.” to one or both of these questions, then it’s time to die to those obstacles. It’s time to trust Jesus to raise your life toward his.
   Your LORD God knows the many things that blind and deafen you to his truth. From the day Eve desired the forbidden fruit, mankind’s mindset is to desire the things of this world far above the things of God. This spiritual war has caused great conflict. Through the ages God has called many, many martyrs who took up their cross of faith to wage the holy war. Following Jesus means being willing to die for the kingdom of God. Jesus died for you, so why wouldn’t we die for him?
   Denying yourself and dying to the world is the only way you can truly obey Exodus 20:3-5 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”  
   Die to yourself, so you worship only God.