Don't Lose Focus

But let’s back up a second. “They went on from there.” Where is there? Well, they were at the base of the mountain, the Mount of Transfiguration, and this is likely still in the area of Bethsaida - where Jesus had gone to get away from the Pharisees back in chapter 8.

So they’re in Bethsaida, and now they’re going through the region of Galilee, and Jesus is still keeping things private. “He did not want anyone to know”.

Jesus is trying to keep a low profile - which He has had a hard time doing, because the people are like sheep without a shepherd, and His compassion moves Him to help them, to heal them, and to teach them at every opportune time.

But now, we see Jesus is moving with urgency, and He is starting to keep His head down a little, because they are starting their route - whether the disciples realize it or not, the reader can piece together - they are starting their journey in Mark’s account towards Jerusalem.

Little by little, Jesus is heading towards the cross, and He is gaining momentum as He advances toward it at this point in the story.

I pointed out a while back, Jesus is trying to be more private. Last week, we saw He healed the demon possessed boy before the crowd could muster around Him. (Mark 9:25)

Before that, but after Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration at the top of the mountain, “He charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” (Mark 9:9)

Peter had confessed Jesus as the Christ, Mark 8:30 “And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.”

This all started around the time Jesus healed the blind man, Mark 8:26 “And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.””

If you remember, this is because if the people start talking too much about Him, they will not receive the full story - that there’s more to Jesus than just being a healer.

There’s more to Jesus than the signs and wonders, and there’s more to Jesus than what He offers people just in this life - but the truth of who He is will shape eternity for all who hear the complete message.

And that’s what the next verse describes: that complete message.

Mark 9:31 ESV

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

This is the second time in Mark’s Gospel Jesus has clearly said this. The first time was a little over a week before.

Mark 9:32 ESV

But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

II. Fear of Admitting

Mark 9:33 ESV

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

Mark 9:34 ESV

But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

III. Fear of Being Last

Mark 9:35 ESV

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Mark 9:36 ESV

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

Mark 9:37 ESV

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”