Dana Roseman's Thoughts on Scripture

Mark 9:30 (NET) They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.

They left secretly

Jesus sometimes spoke to the crowds. Sometimes, to the twelve. At other times, to the three. Some things were meant for those closest to him, those most invested in the mission. This was one of these times. For that reason, he quietly left town with the twelve. He had things to teach them that were for them only.

Difficult times ahead

The time had come for the most difficult part of his purpose to come to fruition. In a short time he would face betrayal, persecution, death and resurrection. That knowledge was only for those closest to him, those assigned to continue his mission after he was taken up.

They did not understand

No matter how often or how carefully he explained it, they did not understand. In their mind, Jesus purpose was to be a conquering king who would save them from Roman oppression, restore Israel and set all things right.

They did not understand his immediate mission was to be the Lamb of God and atone for our sins. Before Israel could be restored, atonement had to happen. Restoration of the people of God is for the future when he returns.

They did not understand and were afraid to ask.

Mark 9:28 (NET) Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 29 He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

“This kind can come out only by prayer.” The word kind here indicates not all unclean spirits are the same.

Ephesians 6 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Here, four kinds of spirits are identified: rulers, powers, world rulers and spiritual forces. No significant information beyond a simple list is given. It is enough for us to see that a different strategy is needed for warfare against different kinds of spirits.

Prayer is an offensive weapon

The particular kind in our Mark passage requires prayer to defeat them.

In Matthew, when he taught his followers to pray, Jesus gave this model:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matt 6:9-13 NET)

An effective prayer begins with honoring the name of God.

This is followed by asking for his kingdom to come. We are people of the kingdom. Our job is to ask for it to come and then place ourselves where God can use us and the talents he gives us to spread the influence of his kingdom. Your gifts, talents, opportunities and location are all a part of God’s plan for building his kingdom. If you are not satisfied with your gifts, talents, opportunities or location, view them part of God’s assignment.

May your will be done is the next part of the model prayer. We are to seek to know his will and work to bring it about. In earth and in heaven. To know his will, you must spend time listening. To receive instructions, you must spent time listening.

Listen like a soldier preparing for battle. He will listen carefully, not wanting to miss any detail of his assignment. He knows his life and the lives of his fellow soldiers depends on how well he listens to and carries out each detail of his assignment.

We are to ask for daily provisions to carry out the battle plans we have received.

Lay aside all anger, resentment and the bitterness. Those emotions drain you of the energy you need to carry out your assignment. Then, ask God to forgive you.

Be aware of what tempts you. Ask God to lead you around or away from those things. Temptations are a distraction. They will cause you to lose focus and weaken in the battle.

Finally, ask God to deliver you from the evil one. The enemy wants to distract you. He wants to weaken you. He wants to discourage you. He wants to destroy you.

Listen! Then, do!

Mark 9:25 (NET) Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.

Gathering crowd

Instead of waiting for the crowd to gather as a showman would, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit before the crowd had a chance to gather fully. Jesus was never a showman. He gained a lot of attention because of his tremendous wisdom, power and authority. But, he never sought attention.

The unclean spirit

The spirit is described as unclean. Whatever the uncleanness was, the symptoms in the boy were the inability to speak or hear. The demoniac in Mark 5 also had an unclean spirit. His symptoms were hanging around dead bodies in tombs, cutting himself, disturbing the peace and super strength. There are many kinds of uncleanness and many kinds of unclean spirits.

Jesus often spoke to this kind of spirit to get rid of it. They always obeyed him. The disciples tried and failed. In the next post, we will look at the cause of their failure.

Mark 9:14 (NET) When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.” 19 He answered them, “You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me.” 20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

You unbelieving generation

Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the spirit. He said, “This kind can only come out by prayer.” When he referred to the crowd as an unbelieving generation, he meant they were faithless as opposed to faithful. They were a faithless generation because they did not regularly and fervently seek God in prayer.

Pray is more about listening than talking

In Matthew 6, when Jesus gave instructions for prayer, concluding with the Lord’s prayer, he said, “ . . . whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.” God wants us to do more than speak to him when we pray. He wants us to listen. Carefully. Sometimes, the best prayers are the ones with the fewest words.

God is heard best in quiet

When we are quiet we hear God better. In times of quiet, God is able to break though the clutter in our thoughts and give us instructions. A quiet mind requires the consistent discipline of seeking God in a place of quiet. Use the Scriptures to direct your thoughts, instruct your mind and quiet your spirit. Then listen for the still small voice that can best be heard in quiet.

This was a faithless generation because they kept busy with the minutia of the Pharisee’s laws, but forgot to listen to the voice of God.

If you want more faith, listen. Carefully.

Mark 9:11 (NET) Then they asked him, “Why do the experts in the law (scribes) say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”

This same story is in Matthew 17:10-13. Matthew adds, “Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.” From that we know John the Baptist was Elijah, but was not recognized by the scribes.

Elijah at the Transfiguration

We saw in the previous passage Elijah, along with Moses, was at the transfiguration with Jesus. We also know from this passage along with the explanation in Matthew that John the Baptist was Elijah.

This is a mystery. How can John be Elijah and still be John? In what way is John Elijah? Does he possess the spirit of Elijah while remaining John.

In the spirit and power of Elijah

Luke 1:17 says, “And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

Luke explains it. John was not some sort of reincarnation of Elijah. Each man has his own mission and identity. They possessed the same spirit and power.

Mark 9:5 (NET) So Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.

Open mouth, press accelerator

That was Peter’s philosophy. If in doubt, say anything. If the situation is awkward, make it more awkward by saying something inappropriate. He was never one to keep his mouth shut.

It makes me wonder, how many times did Jesus or the other disciples do an eye roll when Peter said something? In every group, there’s that one person who has to say something. He can’t stand silence. Peter was the one.

God’s presence in the cloud

Throughout Scripture, God’s presence is in a cloud. A cloud appeared to the children of Israel before entering the Promised Land. In the wilderness, a cloud led them. A cloud was often over the tabernacle in the wilderness. When Solomon dedicated the temple, a cloud filled it.

Here, a cloud was over them after the transfiguration and God spoke from it.

Some mysteries are never understood, only discerned

Jesus instructed his three followers not to tell anyone about the transfiguration until after his resurrection. They were puzzled. The did not understand what rising from the dead meant. They did not understand many of the mysteries Jesus told them until after he rose. Some, they didn’t understand until after they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many mysteries of Scripture are understood only by those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Some mysteries are never understood, only discerned.

Mark 9:2 (NET) Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Jesus had just explained in verse 1, “There are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” It is within the context of that statement that we see the transfiguration.

Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. He inaugurated a new way of living. Because of that fulfillment, the Kingdom of God, the New Covenant, is superior to the Law and the Prophets. The New Covenant has the ability to produce righteousness in those who believe. The Law and the Prophets had the ability to point to righteousness, but only produced condemnation.

Paul explained it like this: “But if the ministry that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be? For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory! For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it. For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!” (2 Cor 3:7-11 NET)

Jesus transfiguration illustrated the difference in glory between the Old Covenant, represented by the Law and the Prophets – Moses and Elijah, and the New Covenant brought in by Jesus. Jesus clothes were radiant. Moses and Elijah appeared, but there is no indication they were radiant. Perhaps they were radiant, but, in comparison to Jesus, they were not.

The meaning of the transfiguration is to illustrate the difference in glory between the Old Covenant and the New.

Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of God

Mark 9:1 (NET) And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

In Luke 16:16, we read, “The Law and the Prophets were in force until John; since then the good news of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed.” 

While it is true that the fullness of the Kingdom will not be set in place until Jesus returns, it began at Jesus’ baptism. His baptism marks the moment of transition from living by Law to living by the Kingdom of God.

Until his baptism, it was the responsibility of each person to look to the Law and follow it. All failed to some degree. Except Jesus. He fulfilled the Law. Completely. Then, he set in place a new way to live. Kingdom living.

Kingdom living is setting your sights on Jesus

In Kingdom living, we no longer set our sights on the Law. We set our sights on Jesus. We follow him. As we follow him, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we fulfill the requirements of the Law.

He is above the Law. His Kingdom is the fulfillment of the Law. The Law is not done away with. It is fulfilled in Him. It is fulfilled by us as we follow Him.

He is the narrow gate mentioned in Matthew 7:13. As we enter the gate and follow on the path he treads, empowered by his Spirit, we fulfill the Law. When we step off the path, we begin to walk away from his power.

There is freedom in Kingdom living

The narrow path is the path of freedom. Bondage to all sorts of sin awaits us if we step off the path. As we walk with him on his path, we experience freedom.

Gaining freedom is sometimes gradual, sometimes sudden. But, it is sure. As we continue to walk with him, in Kingdom living, increasing freedom results. We grow stronger in him.

Don’t be discouraged by setbacks

Setbacks are a part of the process. Very few gain full freedom and great strength suddenly.

For me, it has been a lifelong process. I see gains in freedom and strength each year as I continue to follow Jesus. Sudden moments of advancement have been the exception. I welcome them when they come. But, most gains have been the regular, daily type. Little by little. A step at a time. Or, sometimes, three steps forward, two steps back. Then another step forward. Stumbling forward.

Forget what lies behind. Keep moving forward.

Was Jesus just a good man?

Mark 8:34 (NET) Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? 37 What can a person give in exchange for his life? 38 For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Can we say, “Jesus was a good man,” without saying, “Jesus is God?”

No.

We can’t say with any degree of integrity, “I agree he was a good man, but not the God of the universe.”

Why – because, he said he was God! He said, “I and the Father are One!” He said, “Before Abraham came into existence, ‘I AM!'” Those were bold claims to deity.

He also allowed his followers to refer to him as the Christ. When he asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded without being corrected, “You are the Christ.”

To say, “I am God,” and not be, disqualifies him as a good man. Either he is who he says he is, the God of the universe, or he is evil. All other options are closed.

The choice is twofold. Accept him as God or reject him as a madman and a demon. (for a more thorough treatment of this idea, check out Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis) 

If you choose to follow him, there are three requirements

1. Deny yourself
2. Take up your cross
3. Follow him

Deny yourself. Place his priorities before our own. Acknowledge him as Lord of your life. Place your life at his disposal.

Take up your cross. Lift the legitimate burdens that come as a result of choosing to follow him. Not all burdens are legitimate. Not all burdens are from him. Discern the difference and lift the one’s he gives.

Follow him. He has designed you for a purpose. He has given you interests, gifts, talents and opportunities that uniquely qualify you to fulfill a mission he has designed you to fulfill – to live a life he has designed you to live. As you follow him in the mission, in the life he has designed you to live, you will find life.

Life follows Mission

He says, if you want to live a life of meaning, lose your life in the mission he assigns. Live the life he designed you to live. In that way, you will save your life. It will be a life worth living.

If you spend your life in self-seeking and self-fulfillment, you forfeit it. If you decide, “It’s all about me,” you will ultimately give in to your addictions and unfulfilling passions.

 

Mark 8:31 (NET) Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

Suffering is an essential part of life

Gain involves suffering. Do you want to get in shape? Prepare to suffer the pain of exercise. Do you want to achieve a healthy weight? Prepare to suffer the deprivation of some tasty foods. Do you want to learn? Prepare to suffer the discipline of study. Do you want strong, healthy friendships? Prepare to suffer being wronged, forgiving, and in some cases, establishing necessary boundaries.

In Jesus case, he wanted to gain a family for eternity. That gain required forgiveness. Securing our forgiveness cost him. He paid our sentence. He died our death. He became the sacrificial lamb.

It was for God’s interests

If Satan had convinced Jesus to escape his suffering, we would be lost. That is why Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” He recognized Satan was using Peter as a tool to persuade him to abandon his mission to suffer and die in our place, for our sins.

God’s interest was to establish a people for himself. A family for eternity. Jesus suffering and death made it possible and legal. Jesus sacrifice fulfilled God’s legal requirement for our acceptance.

That is what Jesus meant when he said, on the cross, “It is finished.” Finished means completed. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, all the legal requirements for our acceptance as God’s children were completed.