Mark 9:1 HCSB
1 Then He said to them, " I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power."
Chapter and verse breaks are not part of the text, but merely tools for our own reference, and sometimes they come in odd places. Verse 1 is actually the last sentence of the conversation that ends chapter 8.
verse 8:38 and verse 9:1 are referencing different things. what is translated as generation in 8:38 is the Greek word genea. When we use the word generation in modern English, we usually mean a span of thirty to forty years. Genea could also refer to nation or a genealogical family line as well, which is probably the meaning used in the verse. It is clear in the context of the verse he is speaking of the end times, when he would return again, after his Ascension. This is why he adds in his statement in verse 9:1. The beginning of the coming the Kingdom of God on earth is his death and Resurrection.the phrase Kingdom of God shows up several times in the Gospels, usually in reference to the work of belief and the Holy Spirit in believers after Jesus Ascension. The Kingdom of God is Jesus earthly kingdom, indwelled in those who believe in him.
Mark 9: 2-13 HCSB
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, 3 and His clothes became dazzling-extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"- 6 because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified. 7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is My beloved Son; listen to Him! 8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this word to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. 11 Then they began to question Him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 "Elijah does come first and restores everything," He replied. "How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."
Jesus pulls his "top three" students aside here for something very special. He allows them to see a glimpse of his true nature and purpose. The presence of Elijah and Moses has a big theological and symbolical importance. The Jewish people were guided by two main factors, Prophecy and the Mosaic Law. This event symbolises the authority of these being passed to Jesus. Peter also shows his penchant for rash behavior and tendency to put his foot in his mouth. The Elijah Jesus is referring to is in verse 13 is not the one who was just on the mountain, but John the Baptist.
Mark 9: 14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them. 15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him. 16 Then He asked them, "What are you arguing with them about?" 17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, "Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't." 19 He replied to them, "You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me." 20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 "How long has this been happening to him?" Jesus asked his father. "From childhood," he said. 22 "And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Then Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' Everything is possible to the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, "I do believe! Help my unbelief." 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!" 26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. 28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 And He told them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting]."
We have another example here of Jesus using a miracle to increase a persons faith in him, encouraging them through conversation and action to believe in him before and during the miracle. This also seems to have been a particularly powerful entity, based on the disciples not being able to remove it.
Mark 9: 30-37 HCSB
30 Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later." 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me."
Jesus is now being more forthcoming with the disciples about his purpose, but they still don't understand.
I love that Jesus answers their argument even though they won't tell him what they were fighting about. Jesus also shows the importance of serving and self sacrifice. The son of God has come down and humbled himself to mans level, and will be humiliated and die, for us. self sacrificing love is the true purpose, and the core of Jesus character.
Mark 9: 38-50 HCSB
38 John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us." 39 "Don't stop him," said Jesus, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterwards speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah-I assure you: He will never lose his reward. 42 "But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell-the unquenchable fire, [ 44 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] 45 And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell- [the unquenchable fire, 46 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] 47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.
The message is spreading, and others are now preaching and prophesying in Jesus name. The power of God is not subjective, but objective, it can only come from God, not another source. True work done in Gods name comes from God not another source. The admonitions abut sin here are clearly not literal, or the disciples would have started maiming themselves at this point. Jesus is trying to convey the seriousness of this sin.
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