Bible ReadingMark 9:1-29 “And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’ And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’ And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?’ And he said to them, ‘Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.’ And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ And someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.’ And he answered them, ‘O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.’ And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘“If you can”! All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ And he said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.’”
[27:18]2 Peter 1:16-18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”
[38:36]John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
[52:23]Zechariah 4:6 “Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.’”
[52:04]Observation questions- In Mark 9, what details show that Peter, James, and John were seeing more than just another miracle Jesus performed? [30:40]
- When Peter suggests building three shelters, what does the passage say about why he spoke that way? [34:00]
- After the voice from the cloud says, “Listen to him,” what do the disciples do as they come down the mountain? [37:02]
- In the scene with the boy and his father, what words show both the father’s trust in Jesus and his struggle at the same time? [48:56]
Interpretation questions- Jesus is revealed in glory on the mountain, and then the story moves quickly to confusion, suffering, and spiritual conflict below. What does that pairing show about the kind of Messiah Jesus is? [44:37]
- The Father says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Why is that command especially important when Jesus is speaking about suffering, death, and resurrection? [36:20]
- The father says, “I believe; help my unbelief.” What does that say about the nature of real faith? Does real faith always sound strong and polished? [48:48]
- The disciples had already been given authority, yet Jesus says this kind comes out only by prayer. What does that suggest about the danger of trying to serve Jesus while drifting into self-reliance? [51:23]
Application questions- Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of who Jesus truly is. What has helped make Jesus more real to you in your own life, and where do you need a clearer view of him right now? [22:06]
- “Listen to him” is simple, but not always easy. What is one hard thing Jesus has been saying into your life lately that you know you need to obey instead of just admire? [35:17]
- The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus meant by rising from the dead. Where do you find yourself resisting or struggling with something Jesus has made plain, maybe because you do not want it to be true for your life? [53:34]
- The father brought both belief and unbelief to Jesus. What would it look like for you to pray that same prayer honestly this week, and where do you most need help with unbelief right now? [48:56]
- Jesus has both compassion and power. When life feels desperate, is it harder for you to trust that Jesus cares, or harder to trust that Jesus can act? Why? [47:15]
- The disciples’ failure seems tied to dependence on themselves instead of dependence on Jesus. In what part of your life are you most tempted to rely on past experience, ability, or status instead of prayer? [51:39]
- “Apart from me you can do nothing” is not just a verse to quote but a way to live. What is one practical change that could help you stay connected to Jesus in prayer this week? [52:23]
