Gold for the heart

Mark 9

God’s kingdom is coming with power

1 And he said to them, I tell you the truth, Some of those standing here will not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. 2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John, and led them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his clothing became shining, exceedingly white as snow; like no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah and Moses appeared to them: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 6 For he did not know what to say; they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

In many places we see ‘pictures’ of Jesus.
Some of them are handsome and charming but most of them are unattractive.
Jesus took on the form of a man for 33 years only. The rest of the time He has been glorious God (John 1:3).
Psalm 45 tells us that He is more beautiful than all the sons of men.
Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 1 and 4 describe His glory.

Matthew 24:30-31 …and they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

8 And suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no man any more except Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them to tell no man what things they had seen until the Son of man was raised from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him saying, Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? 12 And he answered and told them, Elijah truly comes first, and restores all things; how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be treated with utter contempt. 13 But I say to you, That Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they desired, as it is written of him.

When Christ first came He offered His kingdom to the world at that time and was refused.
John the Baptist was Elijah announcing the king.
When He comes again He will take His kingdom back by force.
As Verse one of Mark 9 says, …the kingdom comes with power.

14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and the scribes questioning them. 15 And immediately all the people, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What are you discussing with them? 17 And one of the crowd answered and said, Master, I have brought to you my son, who has a dumb spirit; 18 And wherever he takes him, he tears him, he foams, gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spoke to your disciples to cast him out; but they could not.

The Lord helps our unbelief

19 He answered him and said, O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me. 20 And they brought him to him: and when he saw him, at once the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it since this came to him? And he said, Since childhood. 22 And often it has cast him into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said to him, If you can?, all things are possible to him that believes (Jesus). 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying to him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more. 26 And the spirit cried and tore him greatly and came out of him: and he was like one dead; so much so that many said, He is dead.

Much mental illness can be laid at the feet of unclean spirits.
The answer is not medication or institutionalization. The cure is Jesus casting them out and forbidding them to return.
Notice the intent of the foul spirit is to kill whereas God’s intent is to make alive.
This can be traced back to Satan in the garden of Eden who tempted the woman to eat of the tree which brought death.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he came into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldn’t we cast him out? 29 And he said to them, This kind comes out only by prayer. 30 And they left there and passed through Galilee; and he did not want any man to know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said to them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and after that he is killed, he will rise the third day. 32 But they did not understand that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Jesus staked His credibility on the prediction that He would rise from the dead.

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that you disputed among yourselves in the way? 34 But they held their peace: for in the way they had disputed among themselves, who would be the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, If any man desires to be first, the same will be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, 37 Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me: and whoever receives me, does not receive me, but him that sent me.

Mark 10:44-45 And whoever of you will be the chief, will be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he does not follow us: and we forbid him, because he does not follow us. 39 But Jesus said, Do not forbid him: for no man who does a miracle in my name can easily speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. 42 And whoever offends one of these little ones that believes in me, it is better for him that a millstone be hanged about his neck, and that he be cast into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to offend, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never will be quenched: 44 Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

Isaiah 66:24 And they will go out, and look on the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm will not die, neither will their fire be quenched; and they will be an abhorring to all flesh.

45 And if your foot causes you to offend, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life lame, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that will never be quenched: 46 Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if your eye causes you to offend, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt has lost his saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Hell is real and hot and nothing dies there.
In life, Jesus will heal all maimed in His kingdom.
The kingdom of God is like nothing we have ever known.
Revelation 21 begins to describe it.

Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

1Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work will be shown: for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will try every man’s work what sort it is.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flame kindle upon you.

Mark 10

1 And he arose from there, and came into the coasts of Judea by the far side of Jordan: and the people gathered to him again; and, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Tempting him. 3 And he answered and said to them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses allowed to write a bill of divorcement, and to divorce her. 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and cleave/cling to his wife; 8 And the two will be one flesh: so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, do not let man put apart.

By citing creation to answer their question, Jesus told them that divorce is not the problem, but marrying one not designed by God for them. See Genesis 2:21-25.

1Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

10 And in the house his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 11 And he said to them, Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman puts away her husband, and is married to another, she commits adultery.

The mate God designed fits, satisfies, lasts, and glorifies God by showing His great power.
God’s rules protect that which brings fulfillment in marriage.
His rules are not to preventing us from having fun.
How much damage is done by marrying and divorcing at random?
However, if the right mate becomes the focus of life rather than our Maker then that mate becomes an idol and trouble will come in that area of life to correct us.

He blesses children and loves us

13 And they brought young children to him, that he would touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was very displeased and said to them, Allow the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Truly I say to you, Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he will not enter in there. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. 17 And when he had gone out into the way, one came running and kneeled to him and asked him, Good Master, what can I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? There are none good except one: that is God. 19 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. 20 And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus seeing him loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing: go your way, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Taking up our cross means to give Him and His wishes first place in every day and in every situation.
As we begin a morning, do not start with the newspaper or TV or some radio show, or start our day with Him by listening to Him in His word.
He is far superior to anything else we can spend our time and energy on.

With God all things are possible

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and said to his disciples, How hard it is for those with riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, Children, how hard is it for those that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking on them said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

If God left it up to us we’d never be saved.
Acts 15 admits how none of the Old Testament saints were able to keep the law.

1 Peter 2:24-25 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, would live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

He rewards hundredfold and gives eternal life

28 Then Peter began to say to him, Look, we have left all, and have followed you. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, 30 but he will receive a hundred-fold now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last; and the last first. 32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took the twelve again, and began to tell them what things would happen to him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes; and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they will mock him, and scourge him, and spit on him, and kill him: and the third day he will rise again.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

1John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying, Master, we want you to do for us whatever we desire. 36 And he said to them, What do you want me to do for you? 37 They said to him, Grant us that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory.

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and on the throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from his loins upward, and from his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

The Lord came to purchase us from evil

38 But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you ask: can you drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said to him, We can. And Jesus said to them, You will indeed drink of the cup that I drink; and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it will be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But it will not be that way among you: but whoever will be great among you, will be your minister: 44 And whoever of you will be the chief, will be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1Peter 1:18 you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain/empty life received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

He makes the blind see

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many warned him to be quiet: but he cried out a great deal more, Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said to him, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

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SUMMARY: Mark 9-10

God’s kingdom is coming with power
The Lord helps our unbelief
He blesses children and loves us
With God all things are possible
He rewards hundredfold and gives eternal life
The Lord came to purchase us from evil
He makes the blind see