Studying The Book of Mark: Daily Breakdown: Day 5

Etetor Roland Eshiet, Sr.

Day 5: Saturday, December 28, 2024

The Book of Mark Chapters 9 and 10 NIV

The Transfiguration occurs. Our Lord and Savior, JESUS the CHRIST takes three disciples – Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There, alone with JESUS, these three witness the “Transfiguration.” Appearing before them were Elijah and Moses. Peter offers to build three shelters (altars): one for JESUS, one for Moses and another for Elijah (9 v.5). The disciples are frightened. Thereafter, a cloud appears covering them, with a voice thundering, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to HIM (9 v.7)!”

With that our Lord continues HIS ministry of preaching and healing. JESUS heals a boy possessed by an impure spirit. The father proclaims that in JESUS absence the other disciples could not drive out the spirit. The disciples want to know why they couldn’t heal the boy. To this, JESUS replies, “This kind can come out only by prayer (9 v.29).”

JESUS predicts HIS death a second time. He says to HIS disciples, “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 (9 v. 31).” The disciples have no understanding of what HE says or what HE means.

For most of Chapter nine, JESUS teaches oftentimes using parables. He talks about servitude (v.35), HIS love of children (v.36), those who are for HIM (v.39) etc.

Everywhere JESUS goes, a crowd follows HIM. And HE performs HIS assignment – teaching and healing.

In this chapter of Mark (10), JESUS teaches on the issue of divorce. When asked by some Pharisees if it is lawful for a man to divorce HIS wife, HE replies in verse 10 v.6-9, “6 But at the beginning of creation GOD ‘made them male and female.’ 7 For this reason a man will leave HIS father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh. So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what GOD has joined together, let no one separate.”

I find it instructive that in JESUS’ counsel on the controversial matter of divorce, there are no ifs, ands, or buts.

As they often wont to do, away from the crowd, the disciples ask JESUS a question to further clarify what HE had taught on earlier – divorce. To this question, JESUS answers, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery (10 v.11-12).” Once again, no ifs, ands, or buts.

JESUS expresses HIS special love of children and encourages people of faith to come to HIM as a child would (10. v13-16). A man of great wealth inquires of the Lord, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” To this, JESUS answers, “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, Then, come, follow me (v.21). When the man walks away crestfallen, JESUS says to HIS disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of GOD (v.23)!” The disciples wonder aloud, “Who then can be saved (v.26)?” JESUS looks at them and says, “With man this is impossible, but not with GOD; all things are possible with GOD (v.27).”

In v.29-31, our Lord says, “29 Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – *along with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last and the last first.”

JESUS predicts HIS death a third time (v.32-34). And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, make a peculiar request. They want JESUS to have them sit on the right and left in HIS glory. I find it even more interesting that JESUS replies that “these places belong to those for whom they have been prepared (v.40).”

Mark 10 ends with Blind Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) receiving his sight (v.46-52).

---

*Mark 10 v.29 is especially instructive for it draws us to a point that many teachers-preachers, pastors, evangelists etc., today may present as moot. Yes, JESUS says, if you follow HIM you will receive the Blessings (you richly deserve) and you will make it into Heaven but it will also come with persecution. The bit about persecution is often left out of the sunny picture.

For a review of Studying the Book of Mark: A Daily Breakdown: Day one to four (1-4):

---

Kindly watch this page for daily updates as we progress. Comments and suggestions are welcome. 🙏

Enjoy each day as we count down to the New Year.

Etetor Roland Eshiet, Sr.

---