Mark 9

1 – 3

Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth. Some of you standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before you die.”

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. While these followers watched, Jesus was changed. His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them.


The Lord let them see what it will be like when Jesus returns. Sometimes God lets us see His power to make us strong for hard times that are coming. He also shows us our weakness so that we will not become proud of what He has shown us. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Corinthians 12:7

4. Then two men appeared, talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah.

This shows that the Law and the Prophets are witnesses to the things that Jesus was showing to His followers. Luke tells us that they were talking together about Jesus dying on the cross. Luke 9:31

5 – 6

Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.


We sometimes say things and we do not even know why we are saying them. We need to have mercy on each other when things are said during a time of confusion.

7. Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This is My Son, and I love Him. Obey Him!”

The followers of Jesus would remember that God said these same things when Jesus was baptized. God repeats truth to us to get our attention.

8 – 10

Then Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them. As Jesus and his followers were walking back down the mountain, he commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the things you saw on the mountain.

Wait till the Son of Man rises from death. Then you may tell.”

So the followers obeyed Jesus and said nothing about what they had seen. But they kept on asking each other what Jesus meant about rising from death.

God may show you some things that He has not shown to some others. This does not mean that you should tell anyone about this. Be careful not to become proud of what God has shown you!

What makes you different than anyone else? What do you have that God has not given you? If everything you have is from God, why are you proud about it as if it was not a gift? 1 Corinthians 4:7

11 – 13

They asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah must come first. Elijah makes all things the way they should be.

But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will treat Him as if He were nothing? I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him whatever they wanted to do. The Scriptures said this would happen to him.”


The book of Malachi says that Elijah would come before the Messiah comes. Jesus said that John the Baptist came with the same Spirit that Elijah had. Malachi 4:5

And if you are willing to hear what I say, [John the Baptist] is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Matthew 11:14

14 – 16

Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They saw a great crowd around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with them. But when the crowd saw Jesus, they were surprised and ran to welcome Him. Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about with the teachers of the law?”


The followers were not able to send a demon out of a boy and the Jewish leaders were arguing with them to show that they had no power. It is a waste of time to argue with fools. Instead of trying to prove that you have power from God you should be quiet and ask God to show you what to do so that He gets the glory.
When a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool shouts or laughs, and there is no rest. Proverbs 29:9

17 – 18

A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit from the devil in him. This spirit stops him from talking. The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground.

My son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they could not.”


The father only wanted help from Jesus and did not want help from the followers of Jesus. He did not understand that God can use men so he did not trust God about this. They said that this was a spirit that was keeping the boy from talking but Jesus knew that there was also a demon stopping the boy from hearing.

19 – 20

Jesus answered, “You people do not believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I go on being patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”


So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. He fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming from his mouth.

When we ask God to send a demon out of someone, the demon will make one last attack to try to put fear into us.

21. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” The father answered, “Since he was very young.

We should ask about the spiritual history of a family when we are working in spiritual warfare. It is important to know when these things began to happen. It sounds like this father was not doing anything about this problem for many years.
The father may have had something to do with the demons taking a place in this place that was given to them. The hurt from a father is one of the main things that gives his children an excuse to turn away from God and invite demonic things into their lives.

22. The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us.”

This is a spirit of suicide. When this boy was hurt by his father then the devil told him that his life was so bad that it would be better to be dead than to live like this.
The father was very lazy in his spirit. He let this go on for years because God was not important in his life. It is amazing how people will live this way for years until they cannot stand it anymore. The devil told this father, “God cannot or will not help you!”

23 – 24

Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for him who believes.” Right then the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!”


Many times it is not God who needs to do something but you need to do something to show that you trust in Him! This man has finally come to the place of seeing that he needs to throw himself on God’s mercy and ask for help from his heart. We see that God honors even the smallest bit of faith that we have!

25. Jesus saw that a crowd was running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit, saying, “You deaf and dumb spirit—I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”

Here are some things to think about:

*Find out what kind of demon is attacking this person. In this case the boy could not help by talking about what was happening to him. Also, pay attention to the idea that there is no use trying to talk to the boy because the demons were stopping his ears. We see that there are times when we must speak to the demons in the name of Jesus.

*Find out what lies this person has believed. This father was not sure if God can help.

*Find out what kind of things have been given to demons in this person’s life. Who has hurt them? What have they let into their life that is demonic? Ask God to show them what happened and what He was doing about it at the time it happened.

*Find out what kind of agreement they have made with demons. They may have thought, “I will be this type of person from now on.” Some people will keep playing the part of a demon possessed person and think that they cannot be themselves even after the demons have left. Help them to break this agreement.

*Find out what are the strong places that the demons are protecting.

*Get rid of things used to treat the pain which are trying to take the place of real healing.

*Do not give all of your attention to demons or healing but on repairing relationships with God and others. Proverbs 16:7

*Show this person how to be in the Word (maybe a study project) so that the demons do not come back. Matthew 12:44

26 – 27

The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead. And many people said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.

All the things that demons do are so they can try to put fear into us with screaming and other tricks. When someone is set free from a demon their body is very weak. They will need some rest and some good food to rebuild their body.

28 – 29

Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with Him there. They said, “Why could we not send that evil spirit out?” Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be sent out by prayer [and fasting].”


This is why it is important to stay fresh in Bible reading and prayer. There is no special gift of sending out demons by experts. If there were such a gift then men would be proud of it. When we make ourselves weak by fasting and prayer and full of God’s Words then we know that it is Him who is working and not us.

You would be very foolish to go against demons by yourself. You will need the covering of many Christians praying with you about this.

30 – 32

Then Jesus and His followers left that place and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where He was because He wanted to teach His followers alone. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be given to men who will kill Him. After three days, He will rise from death.” But the followers did not understand what Jesus meant. And they were afraid to ask.


Our job is to pass on what God has given us. If Jesus spent all of His time healing people then He would never have time to get His followers ready for the days to come. Instead of only thinking about your ministry, you should be spending time teaching someone who will continue after you are gone.

33 – 35

Jesus and His followers went to Capernaum and went into a house there. Then Jesus said to them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.


Jesus sat down and called the 12 apostles to him. He said, “If anyone wants to be the most important, then he must be last of all and servant of all.”

There are people who see themselves as big leaders in the church. Let them do something to help people in some small things and then we will believe that they are leaders.

36 – 37

Then Jesus took a small child and had him stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said, “If anyone accepts children like these in my name, then he is also accepting Me. And if he accepts Me, then he is also accepting the One who sent Me.”


Children will believe whatever we tell them. We need to be careful how we treat children. We need to believe whatever God tells us, and be quiet and trusting as little children.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a little child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2

38 – 40

Then John said, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to send demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group.”

Jesus said, “Do not stop him. Anyone who uses my name to do powerful things will not say evil things about me. He who is not against us is with us.

There are churches that do not believe exactly the way that we believe. If they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died and rose again for us, then they are our brothers.

 41. I tell you the truth. If anyone helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ, then he will truly get his reward.


He who waters others will be watered also. Proverbs 11:25

42. “If one of these little children believes in Me, and someone causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for him. It would be better for him to have a large stone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea.

It is a very serious thing to bring sin into the life of a little child. Be very careful how you act and how you talk to a child. Do not plant your anger or other weak areas into a child.

Fathers, do not lead your children your children into anger. Ephesians 6:4

43 – 48

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two hands and go to hell. In that place the fire never goes out.

In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.

If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.

If your eye causes you to sin, take it out. It is better for you to have only one eye but have life forever. That is much better than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.

You can confess your sin instead of cutting your hand off. Cut the sin off by not using this part of your body! Turn your eye away from seeing things that will destroy you. Take your hand away from touching things that will pull you away from Jesus! Do not use your feet to go to places that make you weak!

49 – 50

Every person will be salted with fire. “Salt is good. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you cannot make it salty again. So, be full of goodness. And have peace with each other.”


Salt stops things from becoming rotten. Jesus said that we are like salt to the people on the earth. In places where there are no Christians there are many evil things out of control.
All of us have some salt and some fire in our lives to keep us clean. We do not like the fire but there are some things that we will never let go of unless God burns them out of our lives! Jesus is saying, “If you stay close to Me you will not be fighting with each other.”