The Gospel of Mark
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Thoughts on Mark 9:2-4...
Six days after Jesus gave his missionaries and the people a lesson about mission, he added another item of preparation for some in his area.
He didn't take all of his missionaries with him on this trip, but only Peter, James, and John; as on other occasions, these were his friends, He led them up into a mountain where they were alone, with no one to interfere with them.
What hill this was can't be determined from the text.
On this mountain, Jesus was changed before the three missionaries; His body became a spiritual body. His garments became shining and white. Christ's appearance was one of splendor, more so even than that of Moses, after he had spoken with God.
And there appeared unto the missionaries, so that they could recognize them, Elijah and Moses, who then had a conversation with Christ concerning his glorification.
Moses the Law's teacher and God's prophet Elijah were the old covenant's representatives. Moses had died and been buried by God who alone knew where his grave was, and Elijah had been taken up into heaven without death by God. They were God's friends from of old.
Six days after Jesus gave his missionaries and the people a lesson about mission, he added another item of preparation for some in his area.
He didn't take all of his missionaries with him on this trip, but only Peter, James, and John; as on other occasions, these were his friends, He led them up into a mountain where they were alone, with no one to interfere with them.
What hill this was can't be determined from the text.
On this mountain, Jesus was changed before the three missionaries; His body became a spiritual body. His garments became shining and white. Christ's appearance was one of splendor, more so even than that of Moses, after he had spoken with God.
And there appeared unto the missionaries, so that they could recognize them, Elijah and Moses, who then had a conversation with Christ concerning his glorification.
Moses the Law's teacher and God's prophet Elijah were the old covenant's representatives. Moses had died and been buried by God who alone knew where his grave was, and Elijah had been taken up into heaven without death by God. They were God's friends from of old.
paradox3
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Up next is the story of the healing of the boy with the unclean spirit. In this case the longer version is Mark's with more detail provided about the boy's ailment and his healing. Both versions have Jesus able to heal the boy after the disciples cannot. More prayer on the part of the disciples is required in Mark. In Matthew it is prayer and fasting.
And Matthew ends chapter 17 with the story about the fish with a coin in its mouth to pay the taxes. A most curious tale. When it was discussed on the Matthew thread, some saw it as a story about God in unexpected places.
Just thinking a little here about the differences between Matthew and Mark.
Mark is shorter & faster moving with no birth narrative. Matthew focuses more on fulfillment of prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures although Mark certainly has some of this. The ethical teachings of Jesus seem to get more attention in Matthew as well.
Tomorrow I will go back to my usual style of summary & reflection with the remainder of Mark 9.
And Matthew ends chapter 17 with the story about the fish with a coin in its mouth to pay the taxes. A most curious tale. When it was discussed on the Matthew thread, some saw it as a story about God in unexpected places.
Just thinking a little here about the differences between Matthew and Mark.
Mark is shorter & faster moving with no birth narrative. Matthew focuses more on fulfillment of prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures although Mark certainly has some of this. The ethical teachings of Jesus seem to get more attention in Matthew as well.
Tomorrow I will go back to my usual style of summary & reflection with the remainder of Mark 9.
Thoughts on Mark 9:16-20...
Jesus asked about a disturbance, "What's this disputing about?"
The scribes had begun a quarrel, and the people had taken sides, some with the scribes, some with the 12.
One man came forward, answering. Jesus being absent, he had appealed to the missionaries to heal his boy, but they couldn't do so.
The man said that his son was possessed with a demon that prevented him from speaking. The demon at times made the boy foam at the mouth and grind his teeth, until his body couldn't stand the strain.
Jesus voiced complaint. His cry about the generation's unbelief was directed to the Jews. They'd heard the gospel but didn't listen.
Upon Jesus' command the boy was brought to him. No sooner had the boy seen Jesus than the demon gave a demonstration of his hatred against Jesus and of his spite against God.
He twisted the boy so that he fell to the ground in convulsions, where he rolled foaming. It was an exhibition of Satan over the boy, calculated to teach his strength and his hatred against God.
Jesus asked about a disturbance, "What's this disputing about?"
The scribes had begun a quarrel, and the people had taken sides, some with the scribes, some with the 12.
One man came forward, answering. Jesus being absent, he had appealed to the missionaries to heal his boy, but they couldn't do so.
The man said that his son was possessed with a demon that prevented him from speaking. The demon at times made the boy foam at the mouth and grind his teeth, until his body couldn't stand the strain.
Jesus voiced complaint. His cry about the generation's unbelief was directed to the Jews. They'd heard the gospel but didn't listen.
Upon Jesus' command the boy was brought to him. No sooner had the boy seen Jesus than the demon gave a demonstration of his hatred against Jesus and of his spite against God.
He twisted the boy so that he fell to the ground in convulsions, where he rolled foaming. It was an exhibition of Satan over the boy, calculated to teach his strength and his hatred against God.
unsafe
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Mark 9 (GNT)
9 And he went on to say, “I tell you, there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.”
unsafe says ---here is one instance where the understanding of this verse is revelled in Matthew 16 so at times one must go back or go ahead to get the understanding of the scripture ----
unsafe says ----what is the power that the Kingdom of God will come with ----Jesus will come in His Father's Glory as King ---with His angels and He comes to reward each according to one's deeds ====
unsafe posting from Matthew here
Matthew 16:27-28 (GNT)
27 A)'>For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds. 28 I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Son of Man come as King.”
The Transfiguration
unsafe says ----Jesus took Peter --James and John with Him to the Mountain so there were 3 witnesses to this event ----Moses and Elijah appeared Moses because God Had given the Law through Moses and it was about to be fulfilled and Elijah was a Great Prophet in the old Testament and He was also the power and spirit behind John the Baptise who preached repentance and who changed the hearts of many ---so Jesus is fulfilling the law and the prophets with His Death in a few days ---
unsafe posting from Luke 1 here
Luke 1:13-17 (ERV)
13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name him John. 14 You will be very happy, and many others will share your joy over his birth. 15 He will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even before he is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16 “John will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.17 John himself will go ahead of the Lord and make people ready for his coming. He will be powerful like Elijah and will have the same spirit. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will cause people who are not obeying God to change and start thinking the way they should.”
unsafe says -----You can also Read Malachi 4 which talks about Elijah as well
So the transfiguration was a sign the cross was near and it gave the Disciples a better understanding of His divine nature and assurance that He would be resurrected after His Death ----
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit
unsafe says -------This again is about Faith and Healing -----
The Disciples couldn't heal the boy and there was auguring going on between the Disciples and the scribes about the failure to help the boy ----and their unbelief led them into an argument with some teachers of the Law ---Remember Jesus has given them power to drive out demons but they had no confidence ---Faith --- in that power they were given -----
Jesus says -----19 And He answered them, O unbelieving generation [without any faith]! How long shall I [have to do] with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.
unsafe says ---He classifies His Disciples with the unbelieving people of the world ------Jesus has the boy brought to Him and speaks to the Father and the Father shows he has big doubts by saying ---But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us.---
23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!
unsafe says -----So the lesson here is that doubt blocks the right belief which in turn blocks the right action which in turn creates the wrong outcome ------Right believing brings the right action which brings the right results ------
Jesus Tells His Disciples that Prayer and fasting was needed to drive this demon out -----This demon was powerful and didn't want to free his victim so easily ------
9 And he went on to say, “I tell you, there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.”
unsafe says ---here is one instance where the understanding of this verse is revelled in Matthew 16 so at times one must go back or go ahead to get the understanding of the scripture ----
unsafe says ----what is the power that the Kingdom of God will come with ----Jesus will come in His Father's Glory as King ---with His angels and He comes to reward each according to one's deeds ====
unsafe posting from Matthew here
Matthew 16:27-28 (GNT)
27 A)'>For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds. 28 I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Son of Man come as King.”
The Transfiguration
unsafe says ----Jesus took Peter --James and John with Him to the Mountain so there were 3 witnesses to this event ----Moses and Elijah appeared Moses because God Had given the Law through Moses and it was about to be fulfilled and Elijah was a Great Prophet in the old Testament and He was also the power and spirit behind John the Baptise who preached repentance and who changed the hearts of many ---so Jesus is fulfilling the law and the prophets with His Death in a few days ---
unsafe posting from Luke 1 here
Luke 1:13-17 (ERV)
13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name him John. 14 You will be very happy, and many others will share your joy over his birth. 15 He will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even before he is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16 “John will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.17 John himself will go ahead of the Lord and make people ready for his coming. He will be powerful like Elijah and will have the same spirit. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will cause people who are not obeying God to change and start thinking the way they should.”
unsafe says -----You can also Read Malachi 4 which talks about Elijah as well
So the transfiguration was a sign the cross was near and it gave the Disciples a better understanding of His divine nature and assurance that He would be resurrected after His Death ----
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit
unsafe says -------This again is about Faith and Healing -----
The Disciples couldn't heal the boy and there was auguring going on between the Disciples and the scribes about the failure to help the boy ----and their unbelief led them into an argument with some teachers of the Law ---Remember Jesus has given them power to drive out demons but they had no confidence ---Faith --- in that power they were given -----
Jesus says -----19 And He answered them, O unbelieving generation [without any faith]! How long shall I [have to do] with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.
unsafe says ---He classifies His Disciples with the unbelieving people of the world ------Jesus has the boy brought to Him and speaks to the Father and the Father shows he has big doubts by saying ---But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us.---
23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!
unsafe says -----So the lesson here is that doubt blocks the right belief which in turn blocks the right action which in turn creates the wrong outcome ------Right believing brings the right action which brings the right results ------
Jesus Tells His Disciples that Prayer and fasting was needed to drive this demon out -----This demon was powerful and didn't want to free his victim so easily ------
paradox3
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Thanks @unsafe for being so clear about when you are bringing the words of Matthew and Luke into our discussion. I like Luke's gospel very much and I am almost tempted to read ahead now. But we will get there when we get there. 
I appreciate your interpretation of the "boy with the unclean spirit" story. The idea that the disciples were granted power by Jesus but lacked confidence is something to think about. Do you think this applies to present day disciples? This is where my thinking is going but I know you find some of my speculation on the bible kind of "airy-fairy".
Demons are certainly prevalent in this gospel.
I appreciate your interpretation of the "boy with the unclean spirit" story. The idea that the disciples were granted power by Jesus but lacked confidence is something to think about. Do you think this applies to present day disciples? This is where my thinking is going but I know you find some of my speculation on the bible kind of "airy-fairy".
Demons are certainly prevalent in this gospel.
Thoughts on Mark 9:30-32...
Jesus and the 12 had been in Gaulanitis. They now made a journey through Galilee.
Jesus wanted to be alone with his missionaries, for they needed more instruction before his passion.
He often talked about his suffering. The passion was so set before him that he spoke of it in the present...
He's delivered into men's hands. Judas delivers him to the Jewish rulers, then these deliver him to the Roman governor. Jesus, God's Son, is given to weak men. And they kill him. And that's in their opinion, the end of him. For him, however, it's just the beginning. After three days he rises from the dead.
The missionaries continued to follow him even though they weren't getting what he was talking about. And, simultaneously, they were scared to ask him about it.
Humanity on its own can't understand Christ. The gospel's hidden from humanity until God shows Christ to heart and mind.
Jesus and the 12 had been in Gaulanitis. They now made a journey through Galilee.
Jesus wanted to be alone with his missionaries, for they needed more instruction before his passion.
He often talked about his suffering. The passion was so set before him that he spoke of it in the present...
He's delivered into men's hands. Judas delivers him to the Jewish rulers, then these deliver him to the Roman governor. Jesus, God's Son, is given to weak men. And they kill him. And that's in their opinion, the end of him. For him, however, it's just the beginning. After three days he rises from the dead.
The missionaries continued to follow him even though they weren't getting what he was talking about. And, simultaneously, they were scared to ask him about it.
Humanity on its own can't understand Christ. The gospel's hidden from humanity until God shows Christ to heart and mind.
We are told Jesus is shrouded in light during his transfiguration but do we know why this is important or what is taking place?
BetteTheRed
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Isn't the clue in setting him up next to Moses and Elijah? And were they similarly glowing? Peter wants to make "three tents" (like Sukkot huts, I think) for them; does that imply equality?
paradox3
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@Jae has told us upthread that the body of Jesus was transformed into a spiritual body. His clothes became exceedingly white and He was transfigured. The transfiguration is not described any further in Mark.
I think the gospel writer wants us to understand that Jesus stands in succession with Moses and Elijah. They seem to be well-known to Jesus who chats with them but the disciples are terrified. After Peter suggests building the huts, God overshadows them with a great cloud and says, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
So the disciples were afraid and in need of direction by God. Then Moses and Elijah disappeared suddenly.
On the way down the mountain, Peter, James and John are instructed to tell no one what they saw until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.
paradox3
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Possibly Peter sees equality between Moses, Elijah and Jesus because he lacks understanding. It it interesting that God finds it necessary to tell the disciples to listen to Jesus.
I have always understood the "three tents" or "three huts" to be tabernacles. In my Sunday School days I did not realize that tabernacles were Sukkot huts. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot commemorates the forty years in the wilderness. The gospel writer must be giving us a tie-in to Moses here.
When they come down from the mountain Jesus explains the significance of Elijah to the disciples.
The disciples are not sure what rising from the dead means. As we have discussed already, this is a common theme with the disciples. They follow Jesus willingly but seem to misunderstand and question many things.
Could this also indicate some sort of advancement towards God maybe a higher understanding? Again speculating.
Interesting.....equality to one another or God IYO?
paradox3
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Summary: Mark 9: 33-50
1. The disciples argue among themselves about who is the greatest. Jesus responds that whoever wants to be first must be a servant to all. He picks up a little child and indicates we are to welcome such children in His name. This will also welcome Jesus and the One who sent Him.
2. The disciples complain that someone else is casting out demons in Jesus' name but Jesus doesn't object to this.
3. Jesus cautions against stumbling (sinning) and speaks of the fires of Hell which will never be quenched.
4. Jesus states that everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good but can lose its saltiness. Jesus says, "Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another." (9:50 NRSV)
1. The disciples argue among themselves about who is the greatest. Jesus responds that whoever wants to be first must be a servant to all. He picks up a little child and indicates we are to welcome such children in His name. This will also welcome Jesus and the One who sent Him.
2. The disciples complain that someone else is casting out demons in Jesus' name but Jesus doesn't object to this.
3. Jesus cautions against stumbling (sinning) and speaks of the fires of Hell which will never be quenched.
4. Jesus states that everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good but can lose its saltiness. Jesus says, "Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another." (9:50 NRSV)
It seems Jesus tends to turn the order of "the world" upside down or rearrange it somewhat.
paradox3
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Reflection: Mark 9: 33-50
The last two verses about salt confuse me completely. Here they are from The Message, which I always count on for a possible interpretation when I am puzzled.
Mark 9:49-50 The Message (MSG)
49-50 “Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you’ll be well-preserved, protected from the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.”
The last two verses about salt confuse me completely. Here they are from The Message, which I always count on for a possible interpretation when I am puzzled.
Mark 9:49-50 The Message (MSG)
49-50 “Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you’ll be well-preserved, protected from the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.”
Natrium is an icon of Na ... a conjured in some traditions as the beginning of Nathan ... the palm of wisdom?
semi han sup ... as in abstract it isn't over or complete as Yet ...I isn't done ... in the mean radical sense!
It is something else again ... reorganize ...
semi han sup ... as in abstract it isn't over or complete as Yet ...I isn't done ... in the mean radical sense!It is something else again ... reorganize ...
On further reading it is said that Moses and Elijah represents the Law and the prophets and when God says "this is my son listen to Him" it is indicated that Jesus is above both and we are now to listen to him. The huts are supposedly representing the feast of the tabernacle.