← All Chapters The Book of Mark · Chapter 9

Mark 9: Glory, Faith, and Lowly Greatness

Jesus is revealed in dazzling glory on the mountain, then leads his disciples toward the cross by teaching faith, humility, and self-denial.

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Mark 9 (WEB)

1 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.”

2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.

3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

6 For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.

7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.

11 They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12 He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?

13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”

14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.

15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him.

16 He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”

17 One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”

19 He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”

20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.

21 He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood.

22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”

26 After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, “He is dead.”

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

29 He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.”

30 They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it.

31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.”

32 But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”

34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.

35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

36 He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,

37 “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.

41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

42 Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.

43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,

44 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’

45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—

46 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’

47 If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,

48 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Summary

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where he is transfigured before them, his clothing dazzling white, while Elijah and Moses appear and the Father's voice calls them to listen to his beloved Son. Coming down, they find the other disciples unable to free a boy from a destructive spirit. Jesus tells the desperate father that all things are possible to one who believes, and the man cries out for help with his unbelief; Jesus casts the spirit out. As they pass through Galilee, Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection, but the disciples do not understand and are afraid to ask. When they argue about who is greatest, he sets a child before them and teaches that true greatness is servanthood. He warns solemnly against causing little ones to stumble and against sin, calling them to be salted with fire and to live at peace with one another.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Transfigured in glory, he confirms the Father's voice, heals a tormented boy, and teaches the way of humble service.
  • Peter, James, and John — The three disciples who witness the transfiguration and hear the Father declare Jesus his beloved Son.
  • The boy's father — A desperate man whose son is afflicted; he begs Jesus for help and confesses his struggling faith.
  • Elijah and Moses — The prophet and lawgiver who appear talking with Jesus, witnessing to his glory and mission.

Key Verse

Mark 9:24 (WEB)

Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father, and we are called above all to listen to him.
  • Honest faith can hold both belief and weakness, crying out for the Lord to help our unbelief.
  • The path to glory runs through the cross, which Jesus willingly foretells and embraces.
  • True greatness in God's kingdom is found in serving and welcoming the lowly.
  • The Father commands us to listen to his beloved Son. From the cloud a voice declares, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him' (Mark 9:7, WEB), setting Jesus above even Moses and Elijah.
  • Faith and weakness can cry out together to Jesus. The father cries, 'I believe. Help my unbelief!' (Mark 9:24, WEB), and Jesus answers his honest, struggling faith.
  • Some victories come only through prayer. When the disciples ask why they could not cast out the spirit, Jesus says, 'This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting' (Mark 9:29, WEB).
  • Greatness in the kingdom means humble service. Jesus teaches, 'If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all' (Mark 9:35, WEB).
  • Sin is to be taken seriously and cut off. Jesus warns that it is better to enter life maimed than to be thrown whole into hell, urging radical dealing with sin (Mark 9:43-47, WEB).
  1. What happens at the transfiguration, and what does the Father's voice tell the disciples to do?
  2. How does the boy's father respond when Jesus speaks of believing, and what does Jesus do?
  3. How do the disciples react when Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection?
  4. What lesson does Jesus teach by setting a child in the midst of his arguing disciples?
  5. Where in your own life do you need to pray, 'I believe; help my unbelief'?
  1. On the mountain Jesus is transfigured, his garments dazzling white, with Moses and Elijah beside him (Mark 9:2-4). The Father's voice from the cloud declares him the beloved Son and commands, 'Listen to him' (9:7), centering everything on Christ.
  2. The father cries out, 'I believe. Help my unbelief!' (9:24), confessing both faith and weakness. Jesus rebukes the spirit and frees the boy (9:25-27), showing he welcomes even a faith that trembles.
  3. Jesus plainly tells them he will be killed and rise again, but they do not understand and are afraid to ask (9:31-32). Their confusion shows how hard it was to grasp a Messiah who must suffer.
  4. Jesus sets a child before them and says whoever receives such a little one receives him (9:36-37). True greatness is to be last of all and servant of all (9:35), welcoming the lowly rather than seeking status.
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to name where they wrestle to trust God, and encourage them with the father's honest prayer. As leader, receive their honesty gently and do not press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.