They Did Not Understand

Announcements

Christmas Party Next Saturday

YG is next week, but not afterwards until the 8th (maybe). We’ll keep you posted.

Last Small Group Coming up

Pray

Recap

What are three differences between the feeding of the 4,000 and the feeding of the 5,000?

4,000 and 5,000!

7 Large baskets vs. 12 small baskets

few small fish vs. 2 fish

3 days vs. 1 day

Lesson

Up on a Mountain

Transfiguration

Candy Mountain is roughly 1,250 feet above sea level. West Richland itself is 617 feet above sea level. Moving from Colorado it was kind of a shock to be honest. The mountains we would brag about climbing were loving called “14ers” as they were 14,000 feet above sea level. In High School, some friends and I would hike Horse tooth Rock and watch the fireworks. We did this for about 3 years in a row. There weren’t many people up there to begin with so it was a quiet time together. There wasn’t any light pollution which made it easier to see the stars above. We didn’t know anything about constellations, but we loved what we saw. We would choose which fireworks display we wanted to watch. It was either Windsor’s, Ft. Collins, Loveland, or Cheyenne in WY. There were lots of little one’s in between too.

Apart from the fireworks, the disciples experienced something similar on the Mount of Transfiguration. Mt. Hermon in Palestine, which most scholars consider the likely place of the Transfiguration, is 9,000 feet above sea level. It’s taller than Candy, but not as tall as Pikes Peak in CO. It’s near Caesarea Philippi where the disciples were.

Read Mark 9:2-13.

Far more radiant than fireworks, Jesus Christ becomes radiant and revealed in His glory. Moses and Elijah, men who represent the law and the prophets, speak with Jesus but we aren’t told what is said.

He is utterly changed so that the disciples were terrified. Apparently when Peter gets terrified, he talks. But even in his fear, he wants to make tents and stay in this moment. “Let’s just stay here in this moment because I don’t know what else to do!”Just as in Mark 1:11, God confirms Jesus as His Son and tells the disciples to listen to Him.

It can’t stay like this forever though. Suddenly Moses and Elijah are gone, and they begin descending the mountain. The glory no longer being shown, they’re now commanded to “keep it to themselves” but they’ve got questions. Jesus reveals Elijah is John the Baptist, the one who makes the way of the Lord “and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” They will soon do the same to Jesus. And the disciples still do not understand what being raised from the dead “might mean (Mark 9:9-10).”

Down in the Valley

Arguing over a child

You would think that a moment like this would be the pinnacle of discipleship! Nothing else compares to that moment, and Peter, James, and John, are now top-tier, peak, ultimate, super-mega disciples.

But, that’s far from the truth.

In Mark 9:14-29 we see how the disciples and scribes of Caesarea Philippi are arguing about why the disciples can’t heal a boy with an “unclean spirit.” Jesus’ rebuke of the scribe prompted a response of his faith “ I believe; help my unbelief!” His rebuke is also towards the disciples, who don’t understand why they couldn’t help the man.

Why were they arguing with the scribe (father) in the first place?

Resurrection 2

Jesus then tells the disciples again of his death and resurrection but they are too afraid to to ask Him what he means by this. This is the point of the next section, where the Jesus lives out the process of what it means to “deny himself and take up his cross and come after me.” (Mark 8:34).

Arguing as Children

The disciples, after being rebuked, are now arguing about who among them was the greatest! They completely miss the point though. Jesus tells them “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” In this sense, Jesus is first! We should follow His example for how to care for others.

Why bring the child though?

Jesus is showing that just as this child is receiving Jesus, they should receive Him too. To receive Jesus, is to receive His Father.

Arguing about other believers

Yet another argument breaks out. A man, who is not one of the twelve, is casting out demons! He’s not in “the club” and they want him to stop so they tell Jesus. Casting out demons can only come from God. No other power can do this. Jesus’s response is a mild response to them.

The Cost of Discipleship

Jesus calls His disciples to this instead:

Do not cause others to sin

Stop any part of you that causes you to sin

He appeals heaven and hell to show His disciples how they are to live.

He also appeals to salt to show how to be at peace with one another:

Not ritualistic

This is practical

Salt is preserving, and we are preserved through fire (trial? Suffering? Testing?)

This is one of the most difficult passages in the NT to translate, but ultimately the “stuff” that makes you persevere, invest in that! Find your motivation in Christ.

Breakout Question

Why is it important to Jesus that His disciples live in holiness In this chapter?

What are some ways that you pursue holiness?