Mark 9 and verse 1 reads.
Mar.9:1] 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.
Jesus is talking about after his resurrection, some of them around would see him again, and he would stay about 40 days with them.
Mar.9:2] 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] And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
[4] And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Elias is Elijah, and these are the two that stand by the Lord. The Sons of oil, the two Witnesses. Remember we did a study on “Transfigured”.
Mar.9:5] 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] For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
[7] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Do you have ears to hear? The Father just spoke to them and it must have been awesome.
Mar.9:8] And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
[9] 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] And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
They could not see, for the Lord had blinded them from this until He would meet up with them after the resurrection.
Mar.9:11] And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Let’s go to Malachi 4:5 and read.
Mal.4:5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
This will happen just before the second advent. When the two witnesses come before the 6th. trump. But notice that there are two fathers. Let’s go to John 8:42-44 and it reads.
John8:42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Jesus is speaking to the Kenites. Kenites are the offspring of Cain. Cain was the offspring of the Serpent in the garden. Back to Mark and verse 12 reads.
Mar.9:12] 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] 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.
He is talking about John the Baptist, but that he came in the spirit of Elijah. And they beheaded him.
Mar.9:14] And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
[15] And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
[16] And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
[17] And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
[18] 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.
Sounds like those that are cast out into utter darkness. These evil spirits are called “lunatic”, of the Night, of Satan.
Mar.9:19] 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] 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.
There was little faith whenever the scribes were around. And the evil spirit recognized him.
Mar.9:21] And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
[22] 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 unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
[24] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
He believed, but knew he had fear, and asked if Jesus could strengthen him. Something we all need to remember, because we all have had some kind of fear at some point. We can ask for strength and the Father will give us strength through prayer.
Mar.9:25] 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] 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 took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
When Jesus heals it is complete.
Mar.9:28] And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
[29] And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
They did not have the faith to pray, and perhaps fear of the evil spirit. Again, let’s go to Luke 10:19 and read.
Luk.10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Jesus gives us power over these evil spirits. Have faith, prayer, and no fear of them. But you need to always remember Luke 11:24-26. Let us read.
Luk.11:24] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
[25] And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
[26] Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Always fill the person with the Word, Jesus Christ. This is the fasting Jesus was talking about. To clean a person of an evil spirit is good, but to leave him without filling him with Jesus leaves him in a bad state. Back to Mark and verse 30 reads.
Mar.9:30] And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
[31] 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] But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Jesus told them, but I don’t think he opened their ears.
Mar.9:33] 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] But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
[35] 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.
They were embarrassed as they should be. Jesus knew what they were arguing about, that’s why he said he who is servant is servant of all.
Mar.9:36] 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] 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.
[38] 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.
Did you catch what John was upset about? John was mad that he did not follow them. I got news for you, we follow Jesus, not any man.
Mar.9:39] 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] For he that is not against us is on our part.
[41] 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] 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.
Now we are going to learn a little about being members of the body of Christ.
Mar.9:43] 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:
Talking about the many membered body of the church. The foot that takes the gospel around, or the hand that works in the church. Many women do this and receive a great reward. But Jesus continues.
Mar.9:44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[45] 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 their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[47] 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 their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Those that create mischief in the church, they have their reward also. But cut them out of the church so the word of God can be taught truthfully.
Mar.9:49] For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
[50] 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.
It is good to be salty, always teach the truth boldly. Let no man create chaos in the Lords’ house, shut it down. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word. We ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible