The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9
You can listen to Mark 9 with us below. You can also read the passage in the New Living Translation here.
“Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.””
Thank you for joining us in listening to Mark 9! You can also find a written copy of Mark 9 in the NLT here.
Below are some questions that made us think. Feel free to journal your answers to one or all of them!
Discussion Questions
1. Peter, James, and John went up a mountain with Jesus. They saw Moses and Elijah (who had died) there. Jesus' appearance suddenly changed. God spoke to them in a loud voice and said, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!"
-Tell about a time Jesus showed you who He was more clearly.
-How do we listen to Jesus now?
-When is it hard to listen to Jesus?
-What growth or encouragement has listening to Jesus brought in your life?
2. A crowd gathered around a boy possessed by an evil spirit whom the disciples had tried to heal. Jesus called the crowd an "unbelieving generation" and addressed the boy's father's lack of belief. The father said, "I believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
-What do you think of your generation’s belief in Jesus or lack of belief in Jesus?
-What do you desire to see God do in your generation?
-Tell about a time God helped you overcome your unbelief.
-How do you need God's help today?
3. Jesus was able to cast out the evil spirit. When the disciples asked why He could and they couldn't, He said that kind of spirit could only be cast out by prayer.
-When are you tempted to try to fix things or help people without God's help?
-How might God be inviting you to pray for those who need healing?
4. Jesus told the disciples that He would be betrayed, killed, and rise from the dead three days later.
-What difference does it make that Jesus knew what would happen to Him?
5. The disciples argued over who would be the greatest. Jesus said that whoever wants to be first must be last and a servant to everyone.
-What do you think of Jesus' words?
-What do you think it looks like to be the "last" and a "servant of all?" Does anyone you know fit this description? Describe that person.
-How might God be inviting you to serve others?
6. In this passage, Jesus says that whoever welcomes a child welcomes Him and that if anyone causes a child to stumble, it would be better for him to drown.
-How does your culture view kids? How do you think that is similar or different from the way God views children?
-How were you treated as a child? How do you think God saw you as a child?
