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.
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.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
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.
6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
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.
8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
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.
10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
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.
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.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
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.
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.
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.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
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.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
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.
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.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
The ninth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, as narrated in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, is a rich tapestry of significant events, profound teachings, and powerful manifestations of Jesus Christ's divine authority. It covers a range of themes including faith, humility, discipleship, and the nature of Christ's messiahship. The chapter is divided into several sections, each with its own distinct narrative but all weaving together to present a comprehensive picture of Christ's ministry.
The chapter begins with the Transfiguration, a significant event in Christ's life where He revealed His divine glory to His closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Mark's Gospel, as it marks a turning point in the understanding of Jesus' identity. Here, Jesus is not only revealed as the Messiah but also as the divine Son of God. The event is also significant because it is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus had been preaching about. It is a glimpse of the future glory of the Kingdom, a promise of what is to come for those who believe in Him.
The narrative then shifts to a different setting where Jesus demonstrates His authority over evil spirits by healing a boy possessed by an unclean spirit. This event underscores the theme of faith, as the boy's father pleads with Jesus, saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24). This interaction highlights the human struggle with doubt and the power of faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to overcome the impossible.
Jesus then makes a second prediction about His impending death and resurrection. This prediction is met with misunderstanding and fear from His disciples, illustrating the gap between Jesus' understanding of His mission and the disciples' expectations of a political messiah. It also foreshadows the suffering and sacrifice that are integral to Jesus' messiahship, challenging the prevailing notions of power and kingship.
The chapter then delves into a discussion about greatness, where Jesus teaches His disciples about the true nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God. Contrary to the world's standards, greatness in God's Kingdom is not about power, status, or prestige. Instead, it is about humility, service, and self-sacrifice. Jesus uses a child as an example, illustrating that to be great is to be like a child – humble, trusting, and dependent on God.
The latter part of the chapter addresses the theme of tolerance, as Jesus instructs His disciples not to hinder those who are not against them but are doing works in His name. This teaching underscores the inclusivity of God's Kingdom and the importance of unity among believers. Furthermore, Jesus warns against causing others to stumble in their faith, using strong imagery of cutting off one's hand or foot, or plucking out one's eye. This metaphor highlights the seriousness of leading others astray and the necessity of personal sacrifice for the sake of preserving one's faith and that of others.
The chapter concludes with Jesus' teachings on being "salted with fire" and living in peace with one another. The metaphor of salt is used to symbolize the purifying and preserving effect of trials and tribulations in the life of a believer. It also speaks to the responsibility of believers to act as "salt of the earth", influencing the world with their faith and good works. Meanwhile, the call to peace emphasizes the importance of harmony and unity within the community of believers.
In sum, the ninth chapter of Mark's Gospel presents a multi-faceted portrayal of Jesus Christ - as the Transfigured Son of God, the Healer, the Suffering Servant, and the Teacher. It challenges conventional understanding of power and greatness, underscores the centrality of faith and humility, and illustrates the transformative power of Jesus' ministry. As such, it offers valuable insights for believers seeking to understand and live out their faith in the context of their daily lives.
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