Mark 9

Discussion of Elijah's Role Mark 9:9–13

⁹Verse 9. As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰Verse 10. They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant. ¹¹Verse 11. They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹²Verse 12. He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised? ¹³Verse 13. But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”

Healing of the Boy with an Unclean Spirit Mark 9:14–29

¹⁴Verse 14. Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them. ¹⁵Verse 15. Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him. ¹⁶Verse 16. He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?” ¹⁷Verse 17. One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; ¹⁸Verse 18. and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.” ¹⁹Verse 19. He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”

²⁰Verse 20. They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth. ²¹Verse 21. He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood. ²²Verse 22. Often it has cast 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.” ²³Verse 23. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ²⁴Verse 24. Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

²⁵Verse 25. When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” ²⁶Verse 26. After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, “He is dead.” ²⁷Verse 27. But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose. ²⁸Verse 28. When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” ²⁹Verse 29. He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.”

Foretelling His Death and Resurrection Mark 9:30–32

³⁰Verse 30. They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it. ³¹Verse 31. For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.” ³²Verse 32. But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Teaching about Greatness Mark 9:33–37

³³Verse 33. He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?” ³⁴Verse 34. But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. ³⁵Verse 35. He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” ³⁶Verse 36. He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷Verse 37. “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

Exorcism by Others Mark 9:38–41

³⁸Verse 38. John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” ³⁹Verse 39. But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰Verse 40. For whoever is not against us is on our side. ⁴¹Verse 41. For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

Warnings Against Causing Stumbling Mark 9:42–50

⁴²Verse 42. Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. ⁴³Verse 43. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴Verse 44. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁵Verse 45. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—

⁴⁶Verse 46. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁷Verse 47. If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, ⁴⁸Verse 48. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹Verse 49. For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ⁵⁰Verse 50. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”