Mark 9 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence

           Three times in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) it is recorded that Jesus had warned his disciples that he was intentionally going to Jerusalem where he would be delivered into the hands of men, suffer, be killed and on the third day rise again, but each time the disciples did not fully grasp his intention. 

           But Mark, particularly, lays out these recurring passages back to back in chapters 8,9, and 10 and then immediately reveals to us what was on the mind of the disciples.  In ch.8 after Jesus predicted his sufferings, Peter tried to rebuke him suggesting that these things never would or could happen given his perception of the roll of the Christ.  Jesus then corrects his understanding to help him and the rest of the disciples to see that the Son of Man is also the Suffering Servant who had come to lay down his life for them.  By contrast, the disciples wanted him to be the conquering hero who would lead the revolt against the Roman and Idumean usurpers.

           In our chapter this morning, again, Jesus warns them of his suffering, death and resurrection, but this time the disciples did not respond to him.  Mark says simply that “they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”  They then picked up their ordinary conversation amongst themselves in vv.33ff arguing with one another about who was the greatest disciple.  Obviously, their idea of following Christ was not denying themselves and taking up their cross.  It was still about elevating themselves and taking up their throne.

           In fact, on the third occasion in which Jesus tells his disciples of his impending sufferings, death and resurrection, Mark records that James and John approach him asking for the honor of sitting at his left and right hand in his glory.  It’s amazing just how much Jesus had to forbear with these blockheads, for they clearly didn’t get it.  It wasn’t that hard to understand; Jesus was speaking plainly to them in each instance.  But they just couldn’t wrap their minds around the theology of the cross.  They were fully entrenched in their theology of glory.

           Certainly, these twelve men are not unique in that regard.  Each of us still struggles with these concepts.  We still don’t fully embrace what Jesus says here: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  The way up is down according to the theology of the cross, and that just seems crazy and absurd to the natural man. 

           If we really want to follow Jesus, we ought to regularly ask that the Lord would enlighten the eyes of our hearts to help us to understand and embrace Jesus as the way, and stop trying to make our own way forward, for we just don’t have a clue.  We immediately want to change the conversation to something about glory.