The Transfiguration
Study note
Six days after Peter's confession, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where he is transfigured before them, his clothes becoming dazzlingly white. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets, confirming Jesus as their fulfillment. The Father's voice from the cloud, 'This is my beloved Son: hear him,' echoes the baptism but adds the command to listen, correcting Peter's confused suggestion to build three equal shelters. The discussion about Elijah coming first connects John the Baptist to the prophesied forerunner, while Jesus redirects attention to his coming suffering.
1 Then he said, "I am telling you the truth. Some of you standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before you die." 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.
2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up a tall mountain where they were completely alone. Right before their eyes, his whole appearance changed. 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 His clothes began to glow. They were a dazzling, brilliant white -- whiter than anything on earth could ever be. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 Then Elias and Moses appeared. They started talking with Jesus. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter blurted out, "Master, this is amazing! Let us set up three shelters here -- one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias." 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 He was babbling because they were all so terrified that he did not know what else to say. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
7 Then a cloud rolled in and wrapped around them. A voice boomed from inside the cloud: "This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to what he says!" 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 All at once they looked around, and Moses and Elias were gone. Only Jesus was standing there with them. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
9 They were coming down the mountain. Jesus told them, "Do not tell anyone what you saw. Wait until the Son of man has risen from the dead." 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 They kept what happened to themselves. But they kept asking each other what "rising from the dead" could mean. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
11 They asked him, "The scribes teach that Elias has to show up first before these things happen. Why do they say that?" And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
12 Jesus answered, "Elias does come first and sets everything right. But then why do the scriptures also say that the Son of man will suffer greatly and be treated like he is worthless?" 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 "Let me tell you something: Elias has already come. And people did whatever they wanted to him, exactly as the scriptures predicted." 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.
Healing the Demon-Possessed Boy
Study note
Descending from the mountaintop, Jesus finds his remaining disciples embroiled in controversy because they could not cast out a violent spirit from a boy. The father's heartbreaking plea, 'I believe; help my unbelief,' is one of the most honest prayers in Scripture, acknowledging both genuine faith and its inadequacy. Jesus rebukes the spirit and heals the boy, then privately explains to his disciples that 'this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting,' teaching that some spiritual battles require deeper dependence on God than they had cultivated.
14 When they got back to the other disciples, they saw a big crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them. And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15 The moment the crowd spotted Jesus, everyone was stunned with excitement. They rushed over to greet him. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16 Jesus asked the scribes, "What is this argument about?" And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 A man in the crowd spoke up: "Teacher, I brought my son to see you. He has a spirit inside him that has taken away his ability to speak." And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 "Every time the spirit attacks him, it slams him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and his body goes stiff. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not do it." 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 Jesus responded, "You people have so little faith! How much longer do I have to stay here with you? How much longer do I have to be patient? Bring the boy to me." 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 They brought the boy over. The instant the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into violent convulsions. He fell on the ground and started rolling around with foam coming out of his mouth. 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 Jesus asked the father, "How long has he been dealing with this?" The father said, "Ever since he was very small." And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 "The spirit has thrown him into fire and into water many times, trying to kill him. If there is anything at all you can do, please take pity on us and help!" 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 to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to the one who believes." Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 The boy's father immediately cried out through his tears, "I do believe, Lord! But help me where my belief falls short!" And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering around them. He spoke directly to the evil spirit: "You spirit that makes this boy deaf and mute, I am commanding you -- come out of him right now and never go back into him!" 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 The spirit let out a scream, threw the boy into terrible convulsions one last time, and left. The boy lay so still on the ground that many people said, "He is dead." 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 reached down, gripped his hand, and pulled him to his feet. The boy stood up on his own. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28 Later, Jesus went inside a house with just his disciples. They asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive that spirit out?" And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29 Jesus told them, "That kind of spirit can only be removed through prayer and fasting." And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The Second Passion Prediction
Study note
Passing quietly through Galilee, Jesus teaches his disciples a second time that the Son of Man will be delivered into human hands, killed, and rise after three days. Mark notes that they did not understand and were afraid to ask, revealing the growing gap between Jesus' mission and his followers' expectations. Their silence suggests a willful avoidance of a truth too painful to confront.
30 They left that area and traveled through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was, And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
31 because he was focused on teaching his disciples. He told them, "The Son of man is going to be handed over to people who will kill him. But three days after they kill him, he will come back to life." 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 The disciples had no idea what he was talking about, but they were too scared to ask him to explain. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
True Greatness and Servant Leadership
Study note
Arriving in Capernaum, Jesus exposes the disciples' shameful argument about which of them is the greatest. His response overturns all human hierarchies: 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.' By placing a child in their midst and identifying himself with the vulnerable, Jesus teaches that greatness in God's kingdom is measured by willingness to serve those who have nothing to offer in return.
33 They arrived in Capernaum. Once they were settled in the house, Jesus asked them, "What were you all talking about on the road?" 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 Nobody answered. The truth was, they had been arguing about which one of them was the most important. But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35 Jesus sat down and called all twelve of them close. He said, "Whoever wants to hold the top spot must take the bottom spot and serve everyone else." 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 He brought a small child over and stood the child right in the middle of them all. Then he wrapped his arms around the child and said, 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 "When you welcome a little child like this because of me, you are welcoming me. And when you welcome me, you are not welcoming me -- you are welcoming the Father who sent me." 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.
Openness and Warnings Against Causing Sin
Study note
When John reports trying to stop someone casting out demons in Jesus' name because he was not part of their group, Jesus rebukes this exclusivism: whoever is not against us is for us. He then delivers some of his most severe warnings about causing 'little ones' to stumble, using graphic hyperbole about cutting off hands and feet and plucking out eyes to stress the absolute seriousness of sin. The repeated reference to unquenchable fire underscores eternal consequences. The closing metaphor of salt challenges disciples to maintain their distinctive character and live at peace with one another.
38 John spoke up and said, "Teacher, we saw a man driving out demons and using your name to do it. We told him to stop because he is not part of our group." 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 Jesus replied, "Do not try to stop him. Nobody who does a miracle in my name is going to turn around and say something bad about me." 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 "If someone is not working against us, that person is on our side." For he that is not against us is on our part.
41 "Anyone who gives you even a cup of water because you belong to Christ -- that person will definitely receive their reward. I guarantee it." 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.
42 "Someone might cause a little child who trusts me to sin. That person would be better off with a great stone tied to their neck. They should be thrown into the sea." 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.
43 "If your hand keeps leading you into sin, cut it off. It is far better to enter eternal life with one hand than to keep both hands and end up in hell, in the fire that never burns out," 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 the worms never stop feeding and the fire never goes out." Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 "If your foot keeps leading you into sin, cut it off. It is far better to enter eternal life limping than to keep both feet and be tossed into hell, into the fire that never burns out," 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 the worms never stop feeding and the fire never goes out." Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 "If your eye keeps leading you into sin, tear it out. It is far better to enter God's kingdom with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell," 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 the worms never stop feeding and the fire never goes out." Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 "Fire will test everyone. Salt is added to every offering in the same way." For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 "Salt is a good thing. But if salt goes flat and loses its flavor, how are you going to make it salty again? Keep that saltiness alive in yourselves, and live at peace with each other." 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.