CHAPTER 9

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.

This verse actually belongs with the statements Jesus made at the end of Chapter 8. And the meaning of this verse is revealed in the following verses.

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.

It was after they genuinely comprehended Him as Messiah that Jesus revealed Himself in holy form before them (See Matthew 16:15-18, and Mark 8:27-38).

He was "transfigured." The Greek word is metamorphoo, from which we get our word "metamorphosis," and means to change from the inside out. More beautiful than any butterfly, Jesus emitted holy beauty from the cocoon of flesh. This is the manner in which we shall see Him when He returns. And this is the manner in which we shall BE when He returns!

With Christ, that holy beauty has always been. With the believer, it is a gradual change and will be complete when we "see" Him. (See 2Corinthians 3:18 and 2Corinthians 5:17).

Moses and Elijah appeared, and were talking with Jesus. How did the disciples know Moses and Elijah? When we see Jesus as He is, we recognize all of His people!

There is a special representation here, also. Moses represents saints who have died and will be resurrected at Jesus' 2nd Advent. Elijah represents those who will be living at Jesus' 2nd Advent and translated at His appearing. And the disciples represent the church who is living on earth to do God's will at the present time.

Peter was overjoyed! He had experienced a "peek" at heaven! He wanted to build three small "tabernacles" (a sort of brush harbor?), and just stay there and worship.

But God's voice came through the clouds and stated the purpose for the disciples. They were to HEAR Jesus! That meant they were to be attentive to Jesus' statements and follow His direction.

The disciples had already realized they were in the presence of great holiness. But now God's voice brought tremendous fear upon them. It was not only the sound of God's voice, but the statement God made that brought this fear.

If there had been even a shadow of a doubt in their minds about Jesus, it was completely erased! They KNEW He was God in flesh appearing to men! They KNEW He was the chosen Messiah holding the power of the world in His hands!

Jesus came and touched them telling them to "Arise, and be not afraid." And when they looked, they saw ONLY Jesus. Moses and Elijah had departed. Jesus is the One on Whom they are to focus all their attention. (See Hebrews 1:1-4)

Mark says that the disciples studied over Jesus' statement not to speak of what they had seen and were "questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean." To them, at this time, Jesus was God in flesh. He had great power, evidenced in healing the blind and the lame, and raising the dead to life. How could He die? And, even though Jesus told them of it later, they couldn't comprehend it until AFTER He had been crucified, died, placed in a tomb, and risen.

God's purpose in Christ coming into the world was for Him to die for man's sins. He would make atonement for man's sinfulness, and the offer of forgiveness and reconciliation would be through Jesus Christ alone!

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.

Peter, James and John were totally convinced now that Jesus was the Messiah Who's coming had long been prophesied. However, things were not happening according to their understanding of the Scriptures. The scribes had always taught that Elijah should come first and turn the hearts of men to repentance, properly restoring them to the receipt of the Messiah.

Jesus said this teaching was true. And that Elijah had indeed come ALREADY. He was referring to the fact that John the Baptist had come in the power and essence of Elijah.

But take note in verse 12 that Jesus also said the Scriptures told of Messiah suffering many things and being counted as NOTHING! Jesus was, even at this point, preparing the disciples for the awful treatment and death He would receive.

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.

When Jesus, Peter, James and John returned to the other disciples, there was a great crowd around them. They had obviously trying to cast a demon out of a young boy and were not successful. Probably the scribes were belittling them, and using the occasion to demean Jesus.

The Greek word from which "question" (verse 16) is translated is suzeteo. It not only means question, but also infers debating, arguing. Note that the scribes would not answer Jesus!

But the father of the child spoke up telling Jesus the dispute was because he had brought his son, and the disciples couldn't cast out the demon.

One must take particular note of verse 19 and compare with verse 23. The Greek word from which "faithless" is translated is apistos. It means unbelieving, or slow to believe. Jesus obviously used it in reference to the scribes who did not believe He was the Messiah. Jesus also properly applied it to the disciples because they were slow to believe that Jesus had given them power to cast out such a demon.

Earlier, Jesus had commanded that the disciples go out two-by-two (See Matthew 10:5-8, and Mark 6:7-11). One of the things they were to do was "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8). Yet, they, because of their slowness to believe, were unable to cast out the demon in this young boy.

Another reason for Jesus using the word "faithless" was because of the scribes (and perhaps others) that refused to believe. They had seen Jesus perform things that only GOD could do, but still did not believe.

Even the father of the child expressed doubt. The man believed, but he had been faced with so much opposition he now had doubt. He said, "IF thou canst do anything..." Jesus spoke as a Father trying to assure a child. Jesus replied, "IF thou canst believe..."

I remember standing on the front porch of our house in the country when I was about 5 years old. Dad was on the ground, and said, "Jump, son. I'll catch you." I said, "But, Dad..."
He assured me by saying, "Just JUMP, I WILL catch you." I did, and he did.

It is a leap of faith to surrender to Jesus that which seems impossible!
But He assures us by saying, "IF thou canst BELIEVE!"

When Jesus commanded the impure spirit out, the boy was torn with a great tremor and appeared DEAD! But Jesus lets us know that "things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Heb 11:3) All those standing around thought the boy was dead. But Jesus "took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose!"

Jesus can call things which are not into being!
Jesus can also change things which are into NOT being!
With this perspective, read Matthew 19:26, and Matthew 21:22, and James 1:6.

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.

As if to add an editorial to the former incident, God gives us even further perspective upon faith. Faith is given to us as a "mustard seed." But that mustard seed is all we need to GROW a healthy bush that bears fruit!

In order to GROW that bush, the believer should:
pray diligently, study diligently, attend diligently, serve diligently & minister diligently.

In the afternoon, the old Tennessee farmer was sitting on the porch resting. He had been doing that every day for about a week now. His wife reminded him that the garden needed hoeing. He said, "Yup! I aim to do that fust thing tomorry."

One of reasons why God works so little in most Christian's lives is because our aim is too LOW!

Aim without concentration is simply happenstance.

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.

Here is yet another editorial on the instance of the young demon-possessed boy. Jesus had used the word "faithless," meaning slow to believe. The disciples were slow to believe that Jesus would die!

Though He had told them, they couldn't comprehend it. Their minds were fixated upon Him being Lord of the world. EVen though the Scriptures spoke of Messiah suffering, they blocked that part out!

What the disciples didn't understand was that in order to be LORD, Jesus must be SAVIOR!
For Him to offer forgiveness, He must first pay the price.

What many people today don't understand is that in order to be elevated, we must first become abased. We must surrender to Jesus as LORD before He can be our SAVIOR!

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.

To enforce this comprehension, as soon as they came to a place where there was a small child, Jesus provided an example.

They had been arguing about who would be the greatest among them in heaven. Dont' laugh!
Most Christians think in terms of how marvelous they will be in heaven! They think of singing with glorious voices; praising God with glowing oratory; walking with Jesus in the streets of gold; sitting with Him in the throne.

Those things might all come true. But first things first!

In order to get the little child to come to Him, the child first had to TRUST Him!
AND, the child had to be willing to DO as Jesus instructed!

We must first be CONVERTED, by surrender to Jesus as LORD!
Then we must become as a little child, and be obedient to Christ's will!

Without the first, there is no salvation!
Without the second, there is little elevation!

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.

Some of the disciples had seen a man "casting out devils" in the Name of Jesus. But since this man did not follow Jesus and become one of His disciples, John and company "forbad" him! Now, ain't that just the way with Christians! Seems that too many are sectarianists. And they feel "if it ain't done MY way, it ain't CHRIST'S way!" How dare we define Jesus?!?

Jesus gave John a very important principle: If a person is works a miracle in Jesus' Name, that person will not speak lightly of Jesus!
Therefore, that person is (at least to some extent) working FOR Jesus!

Oh! How we need to realize that others may not live their Christianity the way WE do! And that doesn't mean they aren't SINCERE!
Squire Parsons wrote a song about that, "It's Not What's Over The Door." The first words of the song go like this:
"Some people think that today, if heaven you would see,
You must belong to their one churcy, or be lost eternally..."
And the chorus goes like this:
"It's not what's over the door of the church that you attend,
That makes you a child of God or heavenly citizen,
As the eyes of the Lord look this world o'er,
There's just one thing He's lookin' for,
Can't you see that it's what's in your heart,
And not what's over the door!"

First, if a person works a miracle in Jesus' Name, that person will not soon turn to a wrong mannerism.
Second, if a person is working FOR Christ, he/she is not AGAINST Christ.

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.

Now here's another principle which is very important. Doing harm to a child certainly cannot be claimed "in Jesus' Name!!!"

No matter what else GOOD a person may do, if that good harms a child, it is NO LONGER good!

Let me illustrate. There was once a group of people from a church demonstrating on the streets of the town. These people had good in mind. They were demonstrating against abortion. And most of the folk in the town, and parish, were against abortion too - even if all of them weren't Christians.

There were two problems with the manner in which they demonstrated.
First, they made derogatory comments toward others, and initiated and inflamed passions of anger.
Second, and most importantly, they were carrying signs on which were printed pictures of dismembered babies.
And, they carried those signs in front of school buses full of children!

That doesn't mean they weren't Christians. And it doesn't mean they weren't sincere about their efforts for Christ.
However, in this case, they were sincerely WRONG in the depiction of a Christian attitude toward the world.

Let us remember to always to be "speaking the truth in LOVE!" And let us remember to "grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ!" (Ephesians 4:15) You see, our goal is to be LIKE CHRIST! NOT to be like what WE think is best, but to always be learning through Bible study, and applying what God SAYS to our lives!

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.

Three things that are important to remember, as we read and study this passage of Scripture:
First, hell is NEVER-ENDING! It is FOREVER!
Second, don't put stumbling blocks in your own path!
Third, Never cease striving to be effective as an ambassador for Christ!

Cutting off a hand or foot, and plucking out an eye are hyberboles, or exaggerated examples. Jesus used them to point out that ANY self-imposed stumbling block, or hindrance, to being His disciple needs to be dealt with immediately and severely!

Another reason Jesus used these examples is to point out the fact that a genuine Christian will be seeking to rid himself of immoral behavior.
One cannot have "salt" in himself, if he is not having "love" towards his neighbor! NOT having love toward one's neighbor is a self-imposed immoral behavior!

Prejudice, of ANY kind, has no place in God's people!
DEAL with it! CUT it out!

If ya don't, there is reason to believe that you have never genuinely been saved; and that you are in danger of "hell fire!"

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.