1
Again He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
2
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and with them He went up onto a high mountain. There they were alone. Then Jesus was changed in appearance before their eyes,
3
and His clothes became dazzling white, exceedingly bright. No one on earth could bleach clothes like that.
4
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6
He said this because he did not know what to say, for they were very afraid.
7
Then a cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.”
8
And suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.
9
As they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
So they kept this matter to themselves, questioning among themselves what it meant to “rise from the dead.”
11
Then they asked Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12
Jesus answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and restore all things. Yet how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer much and be treated with contempt?
13
But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written about him.”
14
When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back to the other disciples, they saw a crowd around them, and some scribes were arguing with them.
15
When the crowd saw Jesus, they were all amazed and hurried to greet Him.
16
Then Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
17
One of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to You, because he has a spirit that makes him mute.
18
And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down; then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
19
Then Jesus said to them, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring the child to Me!”
20
So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately convulsed the boy, and he fell to the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21
Then Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He answered, “From childhood.
22
And often it has thrown 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, “You say, ‘If You can’? All things are possible for one who believes!”
24
Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
25
When Jesus saw that the crowd was coming together more and more, He rebuked the unclean spirit sharply, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
26
Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out. And the boy looked as though he were dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28
When Jesus had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29
He said to them, “This kind cannot come out except by prayer.”
30
Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and Jesus did not want anyone to know it;
31
for He was teaching His disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, three days later He will rise.”
32
But they did not understand this saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.
33
Then they came to Capernaum. When Jesus was in the house, He asked His disciples, “What were you discussing along the way?”
34
But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
35
Then Jesus sat down and called the twelve. He said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36
Then Jesus took a little child and placed him in their midst, and taking the child in His arms, He said to them:
37
“Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me.”
38
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow us.”
39
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40
For he who is not against us is for us.
41
Truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”
42
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43
And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than, having both hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire;
44
[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]
45
And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than, having both feet, to be cast into hell;
46
[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]
47
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, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,
48
where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
49
For everyone will be salted with fire.
50
Salt is good; but if the salt has become unsalty, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
📖 Mark 9 – Glory, Faith, and Humility in Following Christ
🧾 Summary of Mark 9
This chapter begins with an important event: Jesus is glorified on the mountain, then continues with the healing of the boy possessed by a spirit, as well as Jesus’ teaching about service, humility, and the seriousness of sin.
Main Points:
Jesus Glorified on the Mountain (verses 2–13):
The three chief disciples—Peter, James, and John—witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, shining with glory.
Elijah and Moses also appeared, and God spoke:
“This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.”
This confirms that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
Healing of the Demon-Possessed Child (verses 14–29):
A father brought his possessed son, but the disciples were unable to heal him.
Jesus said:
“All things are possible for the one who believes.”
The father of the child answered:
“I believe. Help my unbelief!”
Jesus cast out the spirit, then taught that a miracle like this can happen only through prayer and fasting (some manuscripts add fasting).
The Second Prediction of Jesus’ Suffering (verses 30–32):
Jesus again told them that He would be betrayed, killed, and rise on the third day. The disciples still did not understand it.
Who Is the Greatest? (verses 33–37):
The disciples argued about who was the greatest.
Jesus answered that the greatest is the one who serves and becomes like a little child.
The Disciple Who Forbade Others from Casting Out Demons (verses 38–41):
John reported someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name, but who was not part of their group.
Jesus forbade them from stopping him, because whoever is not against him is for him.
Warning about Sin and Leading Others Astray (verses 42–50):
Jesus gave a strong warning not to become a stumbling block, especially for children.
He used a forceful image: it is better to lose a body part than to enter hell with the whole body.
He also emphasized the importance of spiritual “salt” in the life of believers.
📘 Main Teachings of Mark 9
- Jesus is the Son of God, whom we must hear and believe.
- True faith is open about weakness and relies on God’s power.
- True ministry is humility and a willingness to be last.
- Everyone who works in Jesus’ name is a partner, not an opponent.
- Sin is a serious matter—it must be met with sincere repentance.
✨ Spiritual Meaning of Mark 9
- Spiritual experiences (such as on the mountain) are important, but they must be followed by real service below the mountain (in the real world).
- Confessing faith and confessing doubt can go together in the process of growing in faith.
- The kingdom of God is not about power, but about humility and a childlike heart.
- We are called not to monopolize ministry, but to be open to the wide working of God.
- Holiness of life must be a priority—do not let small sin destroy eternal life.
