You Must Be One Who Serves All People (Mark 9:30-37)

 

You Must Be One Who Serves All People (Mark 9:30-37)

Who is the greatest? The greatest in this world and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are different. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven has no self, relies wholly on God, and reigns with the Lord. They are not a slave to discontent and complaining, but enjoy gratitude, peace, and rest.

In Mark 9:30-37, Jesus taught who the greatest person is. The disciples had a strong desire to become great, but they did not yet know how to become the greatest. Jesus personally demonstrated the secret of becoming the greatest in the kingdom of heaven through His death on the cross and His resurrection. That secret is that He bore the sins of the whole world and obeyed God the Father even unto death. At this time, God raised the Son to life again, seated Him at the highest throne in heaven, and made Him King of kings and Lord of lords.

He Speaks Of His Death And Resurrection For The Second Time (Matthew 17:22-23; Luke 9:43b-45)

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it (Mark 9:30-32).

Jesus did not want anyone to know. This was to teach the disciples first. The disciples did not yet know the suffering Christ. They expected Jesus to be an earthly Messiah who would build a liberated kingdom of Israel.

However, Jesus came to this earth as the suffering Christ. He came to be the Passover Lamb who would lead those under the power of sin and death to eternal life by liberating them from that darkness and those chains (John 1:29). Jesus gave His own body a sacrificial offering to atone for the sins of humanity, enabling those who believe in Him to gain eternal life. The suffering Christ is the true Messiah prophesied by the Law and the Prophets.

Therefore, Jesus repeatedly taught the disciples about the suffering He would receive and His resurrection. This was the second time. Jesus spoke specifically that He would be condemned by the Jewish religious leaders and be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles to be killed. However, He also said that He would rise again three days after His death. The time was not long left.

However, the disciples did not understand what Jesus said and were afraid to ask. When Jesus first spoke of His death and resurrection, Peter and the disciples argued that such a thing would never happen (Mark 8:31-32). But this time, not only did they not understand, they were even afraid to ask what it meant. This is proof that they were having difficulty accepting Jesus’ death.

We are no exception. Why do we experience difficulty? No one wants self-denial—that is, to die. Observe yourself to see how you react when you are criticized without cause. Christ had no reason to suffer, but He endured the suffering of shedding His blood and dying to redeem this world. It is not an easy path to understand this truth through life and obey it.

Self-denial is dying with Christ. This is laying down one’s self-assertion and demands completely. Death is laying down all discontent and desires as well. That is truly a difficult thing. Self-denial is truly difficult because it means that the self disappears. For the self to disappear is for one’s existence to completely collapse.

However, this is not the end. It is the starting line of new life. It is the first step of living by the power of the resurrection. It is the beginning of the ability and authority to truly govern life, to love one’s enemies, and to forgive. It is the only way to rest and be at peace while suffering randomly, amidst the pressures and challenges of reality.

Who Is The Greatest (Matthew 18:1-5; Luke 9:46-48)

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34).

However, the disciples did not yet know the gospel truth of the cross and resurrection. Instead, they argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom Jesus would establish. Their keenest interest was who would become the prime minister and who would be the second-in-command in Jesus’ kingdom. There was no better hope than the dream that a permanent free kingdom would be established, liberated from Roman oppression.

Everyone wants to be great. They seek recognition, praise, and glory. Of course, this does not mean so-called success like wealth or power that can be obtained in this world. The presence or absence of wealth or power does not determine who is great. The great person is big-hearted, generous, composed, and above all, fears God.

The Desire To Be Great Originally Came From God

God created man in His own image and likeness. This means that man was created as a temple for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in (1 Corinthians 3:16). From the beginning, God made man a holy being of glory and honor in whom His Spirit dwells. From the beginning, He blessed man to be united with Him and to rule over all things together with Him (Genesis 1:26-28).

What is the promise God gave to Abraham? It is that He would make him into a great nation and make his name great (Genesis 12:1-2). However, Israel is not a great nation on earth, but merely a small minority (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). And Abraham only fathered a few sons, including Isaac. The promise God gave to Abraham is not fulfilled in this world (Hebrews 11:39). It means He made him the father of faith. Therefore, through Abraham, He reveals the way for anyone to be justified by faith (Genesis 15:6). He shows the path of faith that restores man to the original purpose and intent for which He created him.

God created man to be a little lower than the angels for a time, but in Christ, man rules over all things with Him (Hebrews 2:7-8). To accomplish this, Jesus accepted the sacrifice of death on the cross (Hebrews 2:9). Therefore, whoever is in Christ Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life.

God chose Israel to be His own possession, to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). A king rules, and a priest performs the role of going before God to offer sacrifices. He called and blessed them to rule together before God.

Truly Great People Rule Their Lives

Therefore, a great person rules their life in the Lord. They are free from fear and anxiety and enjoy peace. Being free from the shackles of feelings of loss and complaining, they offer thanksgiving and praise. Liberated from being slaves to hatred and desire for revenge, they love and forgive. Not bound by worldly things such as material wealth or success, they look toward the hope of heaven.

What truly troubles people? Physical, economic, political, and social environments seem to be the factors. But that is not so. It is an unquenchable thirst and desire. No matter how much one possesses or achieves, the human heart cannot be filled. It is different from animals that lie down and sleep when full. From the beginning, man was created as a being that cannot be filled by material things alone.

The one who can fill a person is God the Father, who pours out the water of eternal life from heaven within Christ Jesus. God wants and blesses us to come to the Lord, drink the living water, and have eternal life, regardless of where we are, when it is, or what our circumstances are. God did not spare His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true bread of man, and gave Him up for us.

"But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).

We obtain true life by eating and drinking the Word of God, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith in the merit of the torn flesh and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all sin and unrighteousness. And we boldly come before the throne of grace in heaven to drink the living water—drink, and drink again. By faith, we eat our true food daily and sit with the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of the heavenly throne, ruling over all things.

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:53-57).

The One Who Serves All Is First

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” (Mark 9:35-37).

Jesus taught the secret of truly becoming first. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ set the example Himself. Though Jesus was originally in the very nature of God, He laid aside His equality, took the form of a man, and came to this earth. Although Jesus could still have judged this world as God, He instead took the sins of this world upon Himself and died on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

God raised the Lord Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross and burial, with the power of resurrection on the third day. And He exalted Him to the highest throne in heaven, making every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow to His authority, government, and power (Philippians 2:9-11).

Therefore, the way to be first is to be the last of all and the servant of all. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). What disturbs the human heart is the thirst to be served, recognized, and praised. Following the example of Jesus, if you deny yourself and follow the way of the Lord’s cross, you will gain peace and rest through the power of resurrection.

Jesus said that welcoming one little child is welcoming Him, and welcoming Him is welcoming God who is in heaven. A little child is weak and is in absolute need of protection. The Law commanded us not to forget or neglect to care for the orphan and the widow (Exodus 22:22-23; Deuteronomy 14:28-29). We are all like little children before God. That is why God feeds, cares for, and protects us.

The kind word of forgiveness, the love, and the forgiveness we show to someone today is a living sacrifice offered to the Lord Jesus Christ and God.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Amen!

May 31, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Everything Is Possible For One Who Believes (Mark 9:14-29)

 

Everything Is Possible For One Who Believes (Mark 9:14-29)

What is faith? It is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not something that can be obtained through education; it is a gift from heaven. Faith is the power to overcome darkness, sorrow, and fate. Through faith, we hope for the kingdom of heaven, which is in glory, honor, and power, though unseen to the eye. Therefore, the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17).

In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus healed a boy possessed by an evil spirit. The disciples at the foot of the mountain were in a difficult situation because they could not drive out the evil spirit. Jesus taught them, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Faith is relying on God entirely from beginning to end. Therefore, we must always pray (Luke 18:1).

The Disciples Were Arguing With The Teachers Of The Law

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” (Mark 9:14-18)

There was a significant difference between the top of the mountain and the bottom. On the mountain, the disciples witnessed the scene where Jesus, having been transfigured in honor and glory, was conversing with Moses and Elijah. The cloud of God’s glory surrounded them, and they heard the voice saying, "Listen to him." There was no chaos there, only radiance, power, and order reigned.

However, the bottom of the mountain was quite different. The disciples were arguing with the teachers of the law, and they were in a very difficult situation. The reason was that the disciples were unable to drive out a spirit that was tormenting a boy. The disciples at the foot of the mountain, drawing on their past experience of missionary journeys, believed that they would be able to drive out the spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 6:13).

However, the situation became increasingly difficult. Except for the three disciples, the eight disciples who remained at the foot of the mountain could not drive the spirit out at all, and they were at a complete loss. To make matters worse, the Sadducees appeared and questioned the disciples as to why they could not heal him. The disciples were in a dilemma.

What is the problem? In verse 29, Jesus said that this kind can come out only by prayer. Prayer is entrusting God for our needs. We can ask with faith in God and His promises. Not asking with faith is a double-minded heart. This means that if there is no answer to prayer, they have their own thoughts.

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do" (James 1:6-8).

Jesus sent the disciples out on a missionary journey and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits (Mark 6:7). They went from village to village and drove out many spirits with the power Jesus had given them. However, this time, they did not rely on Jesus' power, did not pray with faith, and relied on their own experience.

In Christ, There is No Condemnation

We have received forgiveness of sins and have been born again through His blood in Christ. This means that we are now able to cast out demons by the power of God and Christ. What does this mean? Because we are in Christ, we are no longer under the power of sin and death. Although Satan the devil tries to deceive us with lies, we can effectively drive him away by relying on the merit of Christ's blood. We cannot do it by our own strength, but we do it by the power of Christ.

However, even believers get cancer, fail, stumble, and commit sins. At such times, the devil unfailingly laughs at what our situation and state are, pressuring us by saying we are unqualified, and trying to increase our sense of condemnation. This is a typical lie of Satan. Because those who believe in God are in Christ, there is no longer any condemnation (Romans 8:1).

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

In Love, God Disciplines and Refines Us

Also, when you face difficult and trying problems, the devil plants doubts about God’s love. He shoots arrows of doubt, asking, "If God is love, how could this happen?" However, God is the same yesterday and today and forever, unchanging in His love (Hebrews 13:8).

What is the evidence of God’s love? The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people (Romans 1:18). God’s wrath stems from His holy love. If there were no consequences for committing evil, it would be a world of chaos and lawlessness. However, the wrath of God is surely revealed against all wickedness and evil. God does not abandon people to head toward destruction, but He leads them to turn from evil, repent, and find salvation. This is God’s holy love.

"O Faithless Generation, How Long Shall I Put Up With You?"

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. (Mark 9:19-22a)

Jesus groaned at the sight of a faithless generation. God lamented when He saw the faithless world in the time of Noah (Genesis 6:6). The door to salvation through faith is always open. However, there is a time limit, which is from the time a person is born until they die. The reason Jesus groaned was because of the stubborn and hardened hearts of the people who, though they see, do not perceive, and though they hear, do not understand.

God is righteous and just, and He has granted the same opportunity to everyone. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, the Son whom God has sent, shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). However, if one denies, rejects, and refuses to welcome Jesus Christ, the Son whom God has sent, until the end, they will face eternal destruction.

God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, God sent prophets and made earnest appeals (Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 2:4; James 4:8). Furthermore, God left behind the word of truth. He gave us the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. Blessed is the one who reads, understands, and obeys the word of God and bears fruit (Revelation 1:3).

The word of God's truth is the key that reveals the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Although perfect justice has not yet been achieved on this earth, God will ultimately establish all justice (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). This is the secret of the kingdom of heaven. He will repay those who believe in God and endure suffering with the crown of life and rest, but he will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

Bring Him To Me

But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:22b-29)

When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion and terrified him. From the time the boy was small, the spirit had ruthlessly thrown him into fire and water to kill him. The spirit’s purpose is to kill cruelly. As the father of lies, it is a master at causing harm through lies, threats, and violence. Satan ruthlessly attacked Job without any cause, taking away all his children and possessions in a single day, and as if that were not enough, he inflicted him with painful sores all over his body, plunging him into unbearable suffering (Job 1:13–2:10).

The spirit was originally created as an angel of light, but it did not keep its own domain and rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12). The devil did not submit to God, but rather sought to become higher than God (Isaiah 14:13-14). Therefore, God cursed the devil for not obeying. Now, until the time of judgment, his days are numbered (Revelation 12:12). That is why Satan struggles desperately to cause even more harm.

However, Satan can do nothing on his own without God’s permission (Job 1:12, 2:6). Then, why did God allow Satan to strike Job? It is for God’s discipline and refinement (Hebrews 12:5-6). God refined Job to teach him what he did not know. That truth is that God is already restraining the evil that has taken root within man (2 Thessalonians 2:6).

For The Believer, There Is Nothing That Cannot Be Done

What God looks for is whether one comes forth with the gift of faith that has been sent down from heaven. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). God opens the heavens to those who live by faith and pours out blessings upon blessings. He gives the blessing of knowing and understanding the truth, the blessing of discerning and resisting the lies of Satan, and the blessing of following the way of Jesus' cross.

Above all, God blesses us not to desire earthly things in this world, but to hold onto the hope of the glorious kingdom of heaven. He blesses us to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, and patience. He gives the blessing of forgiving, loving, and comforting others. He removes the complaining and resentment lurking within our hearts and fills them instead with thanksgiving and peace.

Furthermore, He makes us realize our lack of faith and pours out the blessing of faith upon us. By faith, we do not doubt God’s love; by faith, we hold fast to His promises and are filled with the hope of the kingdom of heaven.

19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone (Romans 4:19-23).

Amen!

May 24, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13)

 

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13)

What is glory? It is to be honorable, radiant, and brilliant. However, the glory of this world is different from the glory of heaven. Worldly glory is fleeting and empty. We desire recognition, praise, and acclaim, but these are only momentary and do not quench our thirst. In contrast, heavenly glory is eternal and unchanging. God always dwells in glory, honor, majesty, and power; He has called us into His glory and blessed us.

In Mark 9:1-13, Jesus was suddenly transfigured before three of His disciples. In an instant, He took on His original form as God. He appeared in a radiance of glory, completely different from the everyday appearance the disciples were used to. We reside in the kingdom of heaven since redeemed by the blood of Christ, dwelling and reigning together with this very Lord of glory, Jesus Christ.

Seeing the Kingdom of God Coming with Power

1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with its power.” 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:1-4)

No one has seen the Kingdom of God fully; the Lord’s kingdom is invisible. However, some have seen it partially. Moses saw the pattern of the heavenly sanctuary on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5). Moses asked God to show him His glory (Exodus 33:18). At that time, God did not show Moses His face (because he would have died), but placed him in a cleft in the rock and covered him with His hand until He had passed by, allowing him to see His back (Exodus 33:20-23).

The prophet Elijah fled to Mount Horeb to escape Jezebel’s threat after the battle at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 19:1-8). There, God appeared to him and spoke in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). The Lord God was not in the powerful wind that shattered the rocks, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire. Prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, as well as John, saw the glory of God and became like dead men (Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 10:8-9; Revelation 1:17).

Peter, James, and John saw the Kingdom of God coming with power. On the high mountain, Jesus was transfigured into His original form as the glorious Creator God. At that moment, Elijah and Moses talked with Him. Jesus, who came to this earth in the flesh, is the Creator who originally dwells in the glory, power, and majesty by which He created the heavens and the earth through His word.

Moses died on Mount Nebo at the age of 120 (Deuteronomy 34:5). Chariots and horses of fire separated Elijah from Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind without seeing death (2 Kings 2:11). These two men represent the Law and the Prophets. The Law and the Prophets prophesied that the suffering Christ would come.

Since Jesus is without sin, He had no reason to die on a cross. Jesus, transfigured as the essence of glory on the high mountain, proves this fact. Jesus could have entered His original glory at any time without going through the cross, but He chose not to. Jesus returned to God the Father through the cross of suffering.

The Kingdom of God – Eternal Home for Believers

The Kingdom of God refers to the realm where God reigns. It is not a specific geographical location in the universe. The Kingdom of God includes everything—the visible universe and all invisible realms like power and authority. In fact, since there is no realm that God does not rule, we are living in the Kingdom of Heaven.

However, the invisible is more significant than the visible. This includes the principalities and powers of Satan, who holds the power of the air. The gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear forces that govern the universe are also invisible. Within the vast universe that operates in such an orderly fashion, the glory and power of the God who created the heavens and the earth are clearly and undeniably revealed (Romans 1:19).

The Kingdom of God is described as a sea of glass (Revelation 4:6, 15:2). There is not the slightest shaking or agitation. There is no surprise or pretension; it exists within the glory and power of the Holy God. While the surface of the sea may be rough and tossing, the deep sea is not agitated at all. The Kingdom of Heaven is like this.

Jesus, who was suddenly transfigured on the high mountain, is always the same. He is full of glory, honor, power, authority, and majesty. Jesus is always holy. He is filled with a perfection that does not deviate in the slightest. While on this earth, Jesus demonstrated that holiness and perfection. In any situation, under any accusation, or during any questioning, He always remained in control. Jesus said to Pilate:

10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:10-11)

Example: Chosen in Christ Before the Creation of the World

How does God accomplish our salvation? He knew all things before the ages—even before He created the world. Before the creation of the world, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in His sight in love (Eph 1:4; Isa 49:1; Jer 1:5; Gal 1:15). This grace consists of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms given to us in Christ. Through Christ's sacrifice, this grace was bestowed according to the purpose God intended before the ages (Eph 1:7).

God’s plan of redemption was not established after Adam’s fall. God already knew and predestined the sacrifice of Christ before the beginning of time (Rev 5:6, 13:8; 1 Pet 1:19-20). Therefore, there is no other name by which we must be saved except the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). For this reason, the Lord was pleased to strike His only begotten Son:

"Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand" (Isa 53:10).

The Disciples Were Terrified

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus (Mark 9:5-8).

Peter and the disciples watched this scene with fear and trembling. In the presence of the glory and power of God, they did not know what to say. When the God of glory descended on Mount Sinai, Moses and the people likewise trembled with fear (Heb 12:21). God dwells in honor, glory, and majesty; He is never to be mocked (Gal 6:7-8).

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise" (Ps 111:10).

At that moment, a cloud came and covered the disciples. The cloud symbolizes the presence of the Lord. During the wilderness journey, this cloud stayed above the Tabernacle (Num 9:22; Ex 40:36-37). When the cloud remained over the Tabernacle, the people stayed; when it moved, they followed (Num 9:17). The Lord God Himself guided and protected the path of His people.

Then, a voice came from the cloud saying, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" This was clearly a command to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ must die and rise again. The fact that the Heavenly Father spoke directly to the disciples highlights how vital it is to accept the "Suffering Christ."

Since Jesus was without sin, He could have ascended to heavenly glory without ever enduring the cross. However, if He had, there would be no salvation for those under sin. No one except Jesus Christ can take the place of another’s sin. Only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the power to redeem those fallen under sin.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col 2:13-15).

Tell No One What You Have Seen

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him” (Mark 9:9-13).

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone until He had risen again. This is in the same context as when He healed a blind man and told him not to go into the village. It was because the disciples did not yet have complete knowledge regarding the Suffering Christ. Just as Peter suggested building three shelters because he didn't know what to say, they still lacked full understanding of Jesus Christ—specifically regarding His suffering and resurrection.

The prophet Malachi had prophesied long ago that Elijah must come first (Mal 4:5). Jesus explained that while Elijah comes first to restore all things, he had already come and was treated poorly, just as written. This refers to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.

When Zechariah entered the temple to burn incense, an angel appeared and told him his wife Elizabeth would bear a son named John (Luke 1:13). The angel said he would go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).

The prophet Elijah stood alone against the king and people of Israel who had fallen into the sin of idolatry, manifesting the power and glory of the Lord God (1 Kings 18:38). John the Baptist, with that same zeal, preached a message of repentance to a thirsty people and baptized them in the Jordan River for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4-5).

At the same time, Jesus told them to take note of what was written about the Son of Man: that He must suffer much and be rejected. To teach this Gospel truth, Jesus was transfigured before the three disciples, and God the Father spoke directly from heaven, commanding: "Listen to Him."

Amen!

May 17, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.