Chapter 9

Mark chapter 8 provided a turning point, a fulcrum on which the gospel account turns. Jesus reveals through the testimony of Peter that he is the Messiah, however, then defines his Messiahship upon the cross which “he must” undergo to be raised by God on the third. Another part of this revelation is the about the cost of discipleship. Jesus’ disciples, if they are truly his discipels will also have to take up their crosses in order to follow.

Chapter 9 begins with a Markan insight that not all will die before they see the kingdom of God come. This predisposition in Mark is the result of their feeling that the return of Jesus was an imminent thing. They could not conceive of the fact that 2000 years could pass without Jesus’ return. Yet, here we are several millennia later still waiting.

The Transfiguration

Just as Jesus revealed the nature of his Messiahship and their discipleship as it is bound up with the cross; so now Jesus reveals the other half of that messianic necessity, namely that God would raise him up after three days. For a moment in time Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus returned to his divine glory. They see Jesus transformed into the glowing image of his divinity and they are frightened.

On the mountain appear Moses and Elijah, representatives of the Law (Torah) and the Prophets. These two categories provide two of the three structures of the Hebrew Bible. The third is called the writings. The Bible is broken down as:

Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Prophets: 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahem, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Writings: Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Daniel, Jonah

The Torah and Prophets constitute the two important elements of Jewish life. The writings constitute much of the devotional literature. The presence of these two standing with Jesus represents Jesus standing in the presence of the Scriptural Tradition of Israel. Jesus stands in the tradition of the scriptures, an accusation to the contrary that we have heard from the scribes and the Pharisees constantly as Jesus seemingly breaks the traditions of Torah. Once again a voice is heard from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

The scene ends as quickly as it came about. From their terror the disciples look up and Jesus is standing alone looking as he always did. On their way down the Jesus urges them to say nothing to anyone until “The Son of Man” is raised from the dead.

The significance of this event is that it completes the revelation of the messiah, and discipleship. Though the cross is necessary in course of the messianic work, it is not the end of the road. The cross gives way to resurrection. The vision of Jesus transfigured offered the disciples a glimpse into the deeper reality of Jesus. They would see him crucified, but had they recalled his promise, they had also the vision of Jesus to hold them through. This vision is for us as well. As we go through our trials and temptations, we so knowing the end of the story already. Jesus gave them a view of the end of the book. We too have seen through the gospel account that the cross is the not the final word.

Belief versus Faith

The account continues with Mark telling us that the disciples were engages in “argument,” that is debate with the scribes and Pharisees about the necessity of the coming of Elijah before the messiah. Such debate is an ordinary practice in Judaism, represented by the Mishnah, Targum, and Talmud. These writings represent the arguments and debates of the rabbis through the centuries concerning the meaning of the Torah. It was difficult for the establishment to see Jesus as messiah on many levels including his stance of some the key legal arguments that he engaged. Now his claim could only be truly established if Elijah had come. Jesus argues that Elijah has come (because the Messiah has come) in the person of John the Baptist. It was John who paved the way with a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The Possessed Boy

This narrative fits into the fabric of the section in a debate about the difference between belief and faith. The man presents his son with symptoms that look to our eyes like epilepsy. He had taken the boy to the disciples who were unable to cast out this demon. They were equally astounded because they had been given the “authority” over the powers of the evil one. Yet, they could do nothing. The question that lies at the base of this narrative is “why not this time?” Jesus answer was that this kind of healing requires “prayer.” What lies at the foundation is the old difference between “theory” and “practice.” The disciples had the authority yet they lacked a certain depth of understanding that the authority came with a dependence upon God. As is the case often, the frailty of humanity grasps only the part that “feels good” and often misses the deeper significance of the connection to God. Prayer (asking God for something) is an act of faith that goes beyond a simple belief that healing exists. It would not be unimaginable that the disciples, caught up in the excitement of the moment thought that “they” were healing. Jesus stands as the reminder that disciples are the vehicles of God’s healing. While the art of “argument” was important there also comes a time which understanding gives way to the clear act of faith that says “I can do nothing.” God must act. His boy’s father struck the right note. Jesus asked, “Do you believe?” The man replied, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Faith moves beyond the “intellectual ascent” of things to that existential moment (who do you say that I am) when the believer reaches out to God as the source of life.

This narrative creates a contrast between the religious arguments of the Pharisees with the disciples and the deeply dependant faith that understands that God’s action is the powerful difference between healing and not. This faith was embodied in the Jesus.

The Second Prophesy of the Cross

From this discussion of faith Jesus brought them again to the meaning and definition of his Messiahship, the cross. It is at the cross that all faith must bear witness. In the helplessness of the cross, only God’s action delivers the result – resurrection.

The way of the cross was far from the disciples’ minds however. On the road they were arguing about the issue of greatness. Who is the greatest? The message of the cross answers this question for all. The greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who gives up everything, every security, and every certainty but that of God. The greatest is the one who becomes the servant of all. Jesus demonstrated this by placing a child on his knee. This child is the example of greatness in the kingdom of God. Childhood is not the image because of its innocence. Childhood becomes the example because at the core of childhood is the knowledge of complete dependence. Children have a sense that they need; that they cannot supply anything for themselves. The lesson is same one taught over the boy with epilepsy. Only dependence upon God can be considered great.

Those who are For Us are Not Against Us

The disciples did grasp the concept of greatness that Jesus taught. They brought to him the concern that they found someone out of their circle who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name and they stopped him “because they didn’t know him.” He wasn’t “one of them”. Jesus taught them once again, if they are doing mighty deeds in my name, they are one of us. Discipleship does not form a clique. Disciples are not the “in crown,” in fact; true disciples will find themselves on the outside of many circles. They will often be the unpopular crowd because of who they represent.

There is a great responsibility that accompanies the call to discipleship. It is the responsibility to live and act as Jesus would have us live and act because we act in his name. Jesus warns of allowing that to be a stumbling block for any of the little ones who make up the kingdom of God. We have all heard the accusation from those outside that they want nothing to do with the church because “they are a bunch of hypocrites.” When the world sees us who carry the name of Jesus out into the world acting contrary to the way that Jesus would have us act, we can become stumbling blocks to them. Jesus’ criticism is harsh. He says it would be better for us that a great mill stone be tied around our neck and we be thrown in the sea. What we do in Jesus’ name must represent him. Anything else misrepresents.

Salted

Jesus reminds his disciples that we will all be “salted with fire.” Not even Jesus was able to escape that fate. Trouble will come. Persecution will come. Trials will come. This side of the grave and resurrection they are inevitable.

Mark also gives a lesson on the value of salt. It gives flavor and is useless if it does not do that. “Have salt in yourself and live in peace.” One of the values of the disciples is that they flavor the world and flavor life with the taste of God.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009