Mark: The Good News Of Jesus – Chapter 9
Reading — Mark 9:1-50 NKJV
Mark 9: Act 2
“The Messiah” is the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation as prophesied in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament. The Anointed One that would come as the Savior of the World.
“In modern times, the choosing of the twelve disciples as like them becoming the official members of the Messiah Search Committee. That means you’re trying to determine whether or not Jesus is the true Messiah.” — Robert Morris
When asked the question of who does this “Messiah Search Committee” say that Jesus is?
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- “You are the Christ.” – Peter
- “You are the Christ—the Son of God” – Mark
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What did that mean to the people of that day?
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- In the mind of the Jewish tradition…
- The Jewish leaders of that day…
- In the mind of God…
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Was/Is Jesus the Messiah?
How is this to be proven?
Story 1 — The Transfiguration
Transfiguration — change of form or appearance
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. – Mark 9:2 NKJV
His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. – Mark 9:3 NKJV
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. – Mark 9:4 NKJV
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— – Mark 9:5 NKJV
because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. – Mark 9:6 NKJV
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” – Mark 9:7 NKJV
Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. – Mark 9:8 NKJV
Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. – Mark 9:9 NKJV
So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. – Mark 9:10 NKJV
Story 2 — Guys, We need to talk…
Bookend #1 – Mark 8:31 NKJV
And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. – Mark 8:31 NKJV
Our Story Present – Mark 9:30-32 NKJV
Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. – Mark 9:30 NKJV
“This has been defined as the “second major prophecy of the passion.” —William L. Lane
“Jesus’ intention that His presence in Galilee should be unrecognized reflects not only the desire to instruct the disciples without interruption but a sense of compulsion to press toward Jerusalem where His Messianic mission is to be fulfilled.” — William L. Lane
For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” – Mark 9:31 NKJV
“Jesus’ statement indicates that God’s redemptive will provides the key to understanding His Passion.” – William L. Lane
But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. – Mark 9:32 NKJV
Bookend #2 – Mark 10:32-34 NKJV
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and [e]scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” – Mark 10:32-34 NKJV
Even after repeated instructions about the divine purpose of His death and resurrection, the disciples still did NOT understand what Jesus meant.
It would take Jesus’ bodily resurrection and His appearance to the disciples for them to understand that the kingdom of God would be established by the death and resurrection in history of the Messiah, before the Day of judgment.
Was this the right story, was Jesus the Messiah? – Yes
Is He the Messiah? – Yes
Was it the right time for Jesus to put on the crown and reign on the earth? – No
It would be the cross before the crown.
When is the right time that Jesus as the Messiah will reign on earth as King? – At the Second Coming
“As prophesied by Isaiah the prophet that—
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.” – Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
In the FIRST coming, Jesus faces the cross to reconcile man back to God. To deliver them from their fallen state and the bondage of sin.
In the SECOND coming, He wears the crown and comes as a Victorious King and long awaited Messiah. To sit on the earthly throne and rule the Nation of Israel first and then the world.
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – Revelation 1:4-6 NKJV
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
