THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Lesson 6
THE CHRIST WILL SUFFER, BUT THE KINGDOM IS COMING!
(Mark 8:27 - 9:50)
I. Jesus is the CHRIST!

(Mark 8:27-9:1)

A. At the time of the GREAT CONFESSION, Jesus was PRAYING

(Luke 9:18)

B. He was with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, about 40 kilometers from Bethsaida
(Read also Matthew 16:13-19; Luke 9:18-21)
C. Some said that Jesus was John the Baptist. Note that both Jesus and John preached
the SAME MESSAGE of REPENTANCE and the coming KINGDOM
(Matthew 3:1, 2; Mark 1:14, 15)
D. Some said that Jesus was ELIJAH. Elijah was TO COME!
1. John was NOT literally Elijah

(Malachi 4:5)

(Note what John said in John 1:21)

2. John the Baptist was the Elijah of Promise

(Matthew 17:9-13)

3. He came in the spirit and power of Elijah

(Luke 1:17)

E. Simon Peter gave the GREAT CONFESSION that Jesus is THE CHRIST, the
MESSIAH, the DIVINE SON OF GOD
(Read also Matthew 16:17, 18). It is
upon this GREAT TRUTH that the church would be built.
F. But, THE CHRIST MUST SUFFER!

(Mark 8:31-33).

Read Luke 24:46-49.

1. Please note that Jesus BEGAN to speak of His suffering. This word is
significant (Mark 8:31)
2. Before this time, there are only indirect references to His suffering
a. He is the Lamb of God (who would be sacrificed for the sins of the
world)
(John 1:29)
b. The bridegroom would be taken away
(Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:20)
c. When the enemies destroyed the temple of HIS BODY, He would be
RAISED
(John 2:19-21)
3. The disciples seemed to understand, at least partially Jesus DEATH, for they
OBJECTED to it (Mark 8:32). However, they could NOT understand His
RESURRECTION (Please read Mark 9:9, 10)
4. NOTE the THEME of SUFFERING in the remainder of the book of Mark
(Mark 9:9; 9:31; 10:32-34; 10:45; 14:31; 14:41-42, etc.).
5. Jesus REBUKED Peter for objecting to the DEATH of Jesus
(Mark 8:32, 33)
a. Just as Satan did in the TEMPTATION, Peter wanted Jesus to seek to

rule WITHOUT THE CROSS!

b. So, Peter was a stumbling block

(Read Matthew 16:23)

G. The DISCIPLES who follow, MUST DENY THEMSELVES

(Mark 8:34-38)

1. Deny Self and Take the Cross! Do your DUTY to your KING even in
the face of DEATH for Him! (Mark 8:34). Abandon self in commitment
to the Master.
2.

Losing Self might bring physical pain and death, but this would be GREAT
ETERNAL GAIN! To deny Christ might gain PHYSICAL LIFE, but bring
ETERNAL LOSS!
(Mark 8:35-38)

3. The disciple must NOT be ashamed of the Lord. If he is, the Lord will be
ASHAMED of HIM.
(Matthew 10:32, 33)
4. The disciple of Jesus MUST BE BOLD in his life
4:29-31)
H. The KINGDOM of the MESSIAH AS COMING!

(Read Acts 4:12, 13;

(Mark 9:1)

1. It would come with POWER during the life of some who stood near
2. Notice that the KINGDOM was established with POWER on the day of
Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles (Acts 1:8;
2:1-4)
3. We remember that Jesus had said that the TIME WAS FULFILLED and the
KINGDOM WAS NEAR!
(Mark 1:14, 15)

II. The TRANSFIGURATION and the COMING OF ELIJAH

A. The TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus
Luke 9:28-36)

(Mark 9:2-13)

(Mark 9:2-9; Matthew 17:1-8;

1. This was probably on Mount Hermon, and took place six days later. Mount
Hermon is about the same height, 9,000 feet, as Mount Apo.
2. Peter, James, and John were with Him. See these three disciples with Jesus at
other times (Mark 5:37; 14:33)
3. The word transfigured is metamorphosis which means changed in form
A related word is found in Philippians 2:5, the word form.
4. Moses and Elijah appeared

(Mark 9:4)

a. They spoke to Jesus about His DEPARTURE

(Luke 9:31)
b. Peter wanted to make three booths in memory of the three, Moses,
Elijah and Jesus (Mark 9:5, 6)
c. He said this, for he knew not what to answer. Luke states that Peter
did NOT KNOW WHAT HE SAID
(Luke 9:33)
d. The voice of the FATHER gave an affirmation concerning the Son. This
is one of the THREE TIMES that the Father spoke during Jesus

ministry (Read Mark 1:11 and John 12:28).

5. In addition to the MAJESTY of Jesus, we also see His AUTHORITY here. Men
must HEAR HIM!
a. He has AUTHORITY
(Read Mark 2:10 and Matthew 28:18-20)
b. He is the GREAT PROPHET like Moses who must be heard in all that
He says (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts 3:22, 23; Hebrews 1:1-3)
6. Luke states that the TRANSFIGURATION took place during a period of
PRAYER
(Luke 9:29)
7. Many years later, when Peter was old, he wrote about the MAJESTY of the Lord
on the Mount of Transfiguration (II Peter 1:16-18)
B. The TRUE ELIJAH had ALREADY COME

(Mark 9:9-13; Matthew 17:9-13)

1. Jesus told them NOT to speak of this until AFTER His resurrection, but they did
NOT understand!
2. The disciples asked about the coming of Elijah. Jesus stated that he had come,
and men had done what they desired to him. Matthew states that the disciples
then understand that Jesus was speaking of JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Matthew 17:13)

III. ANOTHER MIRACLE and the emphasis on JESUS SUFFERING

A. Healing of the DEMONIAC BOY

(Mark 9:14-32)

(Mark 9:14-29)

1. The people were AMAZED, seemingly at the very presence of Jesus

(Mark 9:15)
2. The disciples could NOT heal the boy

(Mark 9:17, 18)

3. This evil spirit is called a dumb spirit, an unclean spirit, just a spirit and
a demon (Mark 9:17; 9:25; Luke 9:39; Matthew 17:18)
4. This evil spirit produced a deaf mute condition as well as epilepsy
(Matthew 17:15; Mark 9:25)
5. Jesus called the disciples a faithless generation

(Mark 9:19)

6. Jesus healed the boy and the crowd was AMAZED

(Read Luke 9:43)

7. Why could the disciples NOT heal the boy? Jesus pointed out that this kind of
demon demanded a faith nourished by EARNEST PRAYER (Mark 9:28, 29)
B. Jesus DEATH and RESURRECTION foretold again
1. Jesus returned with the disciples to Galilee

(Mark 9:30-32)
(Mark 9:30)

2. He wanted to TEACH the disciples about His death and resurrection, and
move in secret (Mark 9:31)

3. The word TAUGHT and SAID are in a tense in Greek suggesting that he
CONTINUED to teach and talk (Mark 9:31). But, they did NOT
yet understand!
(Mark 9:32)

IV. The CHILD-LIKE SPIRIT and RESPONSIBILITIES

(Mark 9:33-50)

A. On the way to Capernaum, the disciples were discussing who would be the
GREATEST
(Mark 9:33-35)
1. Jesus taught them that the GREATEST is the one who ministers. Read
I Timothy 4:6. In Matthew, Jesus intensified this principle by also using
the word for serve as a SLAVE (Matthew 20:27; II Corinthians 4:5)
2. Therefore, there is a great difference between the greatness which MAN seeks
and the greatness that GOD seeks in man. (Read also Mark 10:35-45)
B. Receive those LITTLE ONES

(Mark 9:36-37)

1. They must become like little children

(Matthew 18:3)

2. When they received these, they would receive the one who sent Jesus. This
word sent is the word from which apostle comes (Read Hebrews 3:1)
C. The Unknown MIRACLE WORKER

(Mark 9:38-40)

1. The disciples did NOT want this man to do this, even though there is no
indication of false teaching or unfaithfulness to Jesus in what they did.
2. Even the 70 disciples cast out evil spirits
(Luke 10:1-17)
D. Responsibilities of the CHILD-LIKE spirit

(Mark 9:41-50)

1. The one who gives COLD WATER to the little ones, will be rewarded
(Read also Matthew 10:42). Contrast this with I Corinthians 13:3.
2. Do NOT cause these little ones to stumble! This means to trap
(Mark 9:42). Read also Mark 6:3; 14:27, 29.
3. Those who cause this stumbling would receive a worse punishment than death
4. Read the same principle about punishment sorer than death
(Hebrews 10:26-31)
5. Do whatever is necessary to enter into eternal life (Mark 9:43-48)
6. Disciples will be salted with fire. Is this fiery trials? (I Peter 1:7)
7. Disciples must have a salt like quality
(Mark 9:50; Matthew 5:13)