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Pursuing Jesus In The Gospel of Mark
Lessons For Followers
Mark 9:14-50

Introduction: Learning Life Lessons

Because I grew up on a farm I had the opportunity to learn some important lessons about life—primarily from my dad and grandpa. Some of the lessons were:

Ø Look before you step or you may not like what you step in or on

Ø Some jobs have to be done everyday—no matter what other things you do

Ø Always make sure you know where the bull is

Ø Some things—like weather—are simply beyond our control

Ø If you’re going to talk back, don’t do it early in the meal

Ø Always respect machinery with moving parts

Ø Never assume the person swinging the axe can see you

Ø If you’re going to throw a stone at your brother make sure he’s not standing in front of a window

Ø You can always count on your family

These lessons—and others like them—were learned without ever stepping into a classroom. They were life lessons learned by living life.

Many of the best lessons learned by the first followers of Jesus were taught in the classroom called life. Following the glorious moment on the mountain when Jesus was seen in all His heavenly glory by Peter, James and John, the tone of Mark’s gospel takes on an urgency that is rushing toward Jerusalem and the dramatic events that culminate in the Resurrection.

If you had the ability to choose a time when you could be one of the people involved in the accounts of Jesus’ life, what would you choose? Maybe it would be

Ø The first Christmas when God announced Jesus’ birth

Ø One of the miracles—maybe when Jesus called Lazarus back to life

Ø The Transfiguration

Ø One of the Resurrection appearances when you realized Jesus was alive

It probably wouldn’t be the Crucifixion.

Here’s one from our passage for today that I want to suggest.

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were because he was teaching his disciples.

Mark 9:30-31 NIV

Being taught by Jesus would be incredible. The exciting reality is that we are able to learn lessons Jesus taught to His disciples because we have the Bible. Let’s try to place ourselves among the disciples this morning as we walk with and learn from Jesus.

Jesus Teaches About Prayer (vv. 14-29)

Peter, James and John have had the ultimate in spiritual, mountain top experiences. It doesn’t take long to be hit by reality.

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.

Mark 9:14-16 NIV

The truth squad is still watching every move but it’s a father in the crowd who answers.

A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."

Mark 9:17-18 NIV

Jesus uses this event as an opportunity to teach lessons about faith and prayer.

"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

Mark 9:19 NIV

Let’s listen in the different voices Jesus hears as He teaches.

Jesus Hears The Voices Of The Scribes In Derision

With Jesus on the mountain the scribes are winning the debate with the remaining disciples. When Jesus asks them, “What are you discussing?” they don’t even answer. Their smug voice of silence is a direct dig at the disciples and Jesus. It is only the man who desperately is seeking help for his son who breaks the silence.

Jesus Hears His Own Voice In Despair

Jesus moves from the glory of God to dealing with opportunistic opponents and incompetent disciples. Jesus has previously delegated authority over demons to His disciples and the disciples have succeeded. This time they fail. When they fail, Jesus fails. This is why He cries, “O unbelieving generation.” Having come down the mountain Jesus finds glum disciples, gloating scribes and a giddy crowd. There are plenty of reasons for despair.

Jesus Hears The Voice Of A Father In Desperation

Jesus refuses to engage in the debate. He moves to meet the desperation of the need. Imagine what it must have been like for that father as he tried to make sure his son would be protected. The father explains the spirit has tried to throw the boy into fire or water to kill him.

Jesus’ command to bring the boy to Him brings an immediate response from the evil spirit.

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:20 NIV

We hear the depth of the father’s desperation.

But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.

Mark 9:22 NIV

The conversation that follows is one I have returned to many times in my life. I often need to hear Jesus words.

“‘If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Mark 9:23 NIV

Even more so, I need to hear this father and make his heart of faith my own.

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24 NIV

God knows we will battle with doubt. We need to admit it so He can defeat it.

Jesus Hears The Voice Of The Demon In Defeat

As the crowd runs to see what is happening, Jesus commands the demon to come out and leave this boy alone. Jesus’ command is the voice of victory. Jesus’ victory is Satan’s defeat.

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

Mark 9: 26-27 NIV

Satan has power but His power can’t compete with the power of God!

Jesus Hears The Voices Of The Disciples In Dilemma

I think Jesus would want us included in the private debriefing that takes place.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

Mark 9:28 NIV

You have to admire the disciples for their willingness to find out why they had failed. Jesus strikes to the heart of the matter.

He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Mark 9:29 NIV

Jesus points them to their need to be prepared. Jesus tells them they failed because they neglected the regular practice of prayer. Here is the lesson for disciples.

We can be called, gifted, prepared and commissioned as disciples of Jesus but, if we don’t remain in constant contact with the source of our power through prayer, we will fail in crisis.

So, failure was not about what happened in the moment; it was about what hadn’t happened before. They had become spiritually lazy and negligent.

Jesus Teaches About Preparation (vv. 30-32)

Jesus reinforces the need to pray by preparing them for the great crisis they will soon face. Jesus has given hints about what is going to happen by talking about resurrection. He now tells them plainly what is going to happen.

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."

Mark 9:30-31 NIV

It’s important to be ready. Jesus again teaches them the truth about what is going to happen but He adds to it. He tells them He will be betrayed.

Hard lessons often have to be repeated numerous times before they are understood. The disciples don’t understand yet—and they are afraid to ask.

But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

Mark 9:32 NIV

Why wouldn’t they ask? The best reason I found is that they were afraid of what the answer would be. They know enough to be afraid, but if they ask what Jesus means about betrayal, they may each find shadows of Judas lurking in them. If they ask about killing, it means their dreams may be dashed. If they ask about resurrection, it means taking on something you can’t understand.

We learn an important lesson here: while truth is always truth, our understanding of it is progressive. It should be our constant goal to grow so we may know Him better (Ephesians 1:17). In the Annual Report I share an area where I am seeking growth this year. I’m asking God to help me go deeper in my understanding of what it means to lean on His understanding instead of my own so I can make the desires of His heart the desires of my own. Like the disciples, I’m fearful of asking exactly what it means. There are answers I may not like. At the same time, I see from this lesson Jesus taught His disciples that He will keep moving me toward Him as long as I am willing.

Jesus Teaches About Pride (vv. 33-37)

Lesson time doesn’t get any easier as Jesus takes on the subject of pride next. The disciples prove themselves to be very human as they argue about who Jesus would consider His #1 Disciple.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Mark 9:33-34 NIV

Every spiritual flaw the disciples have is being exposed. We have seen their prayerlessness and their fear. Now, it’s their pride. If we’re honest, we need to admit we would want to at least be on Jesus’ short list. Do you think any of the nine disciples left at the bottom of the mountain wondered why they weren’t invited with Jesus to go with Him to the top? Were they jealous that Peter, James and John were? You know they were. We would have been, too.

When Jesus’ question forces them to look at the no-so-pretty reflection in the spiritual mirror, their shame keeps them silent. In that silence Jesus teaches the lesson about greatness: Counting yourself as least is what makes you great.

He uses a child as an illustration of humility and submission. A child knows he is a child and acts like a child. When a group of small children sing, what is the moment every parent fears and the rest of the audience enjoys? It’s the child who figures out that his shirt or her dress can be pulled up over the face. It’s just a child being a child and it brings laughter and delight.

This is not an act of self-deprecation. Greatness in the kingdom of God means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, being yourself and giving yourself to others. The world says you are great if others are serving you and your needs. God says you are great if you are serving others and meeting their needs. The words child and servant are the same word in Aramaic. Jesus connects the two ideas. If we have the heart of a child we will naturally serve God and others.

Jesus Teaches About Prejudice (vv. 38-50)

The final lesson to be taught involves the difficult topic of prejudice. John asks the only question attributed to him in the Gospels. His question is defensive as he tries to deflect Jesus’ attention away from them.

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

Mark 8:38 NIV

Think about his question. What was the problem Jesus encountered when He came down the mountain? The disciples weren’t able to deliver a young boy from demonic power. What was this man doing? He was doing what the disciples hadn’t been able to do—driving out demons in the name of Jesus. What did they do? They told him to stop doing what Jesus wanted done. Why did they tell him that? They told him to stop because he wasn’t one of them.

God’s work is being done and the disciples go on record as being against it. Jesus corrects them by pointing out that performing miracles in His name is a good thing. This man isn’t wrong—he is for Jesus. He is just different.

Pride and prejudice are destructive when they are combined. It’s heartbreaking when other Christians take spite-filled shots at ministries that honor Christ as people are saved and grow in Christ. People have attacked Billy Graham. People attack pastors of larger churches. The assumption is they must be compromising God’s truth to be that successful in reaching people because they aren’t compromising God’s truth—they think—and they’re sure not seeing people accept Christ.

Here’s the final lesson to be learned today: God uses different people and different churches to reach different portions of the world for which He sent His one and only Son. So, rather than being so concerned about who may be right and wrong, rejoice and be glad if they are serving in the name of Jesus.

Doing this allows us to desire rightness where it really matters—with God. Jesus makes some very serious statements involving our own sinful tendencies and causing others to sin. Let me summarize the final verses of Mark 9 for you.

God is against sin and He doesn’t want you to sin or cause anyone else to sin.

Look first at the fact God doesn’t want us to cause those who are vulnerable to sin.

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Mark 9:42 NIV

An often repeated lie is that what I’m doing isn’t hurting anyone else. Wake up! If anyone can see what you’re doing, it’s hurting someone else. You are giving them an excuse to sin. Jesus offers a safeguard. Would you want your own children or grandchildren to see what you are doing? If the answer to the question is no, your answer to the action in question should also be no.

Look now at the fact God doesn’t want you to sin—even if no one sees what you’re doing. Jesus uses hyperbole to make His point. He’s not saying we should cut off a hand or foot or gouge out an eye if it leads us to sin. He’s simply saying it would be better to do that than to very casually excuse our actions only to find ourselves in hell some day. While some people are shocked by what Jesus says, He lovingly says it so we won’t be shocked some day.

Warren Wiersbe tells the story of an Army chaplain who told his soldiers that he didn’t believe in hell. The soldiers suggested there wasn’t really any need to attend the services where he preached. If there is no hell, why should they worry about death? If there is a hell, why should they allow him to lead them astray? Either way, they didn’t need him.

You and I need Jesus. He wants us to leave behind prayerlessness, fear, pride and prejudice to serve Him and others. Part of that requires treating sin seriously. If I treat my sin casually, I hurt you. If you treat your sin casually, you hurt me. Rather than pointing accusing fingers at others who may not do something exactly like we do it, God wants us to look at ourselves to see if we are pleasing Him. Then we will

Have salt in ourselves and be at peace with each other.

Mark 9:50 NIV

Conclusion: Listen To Jesus

The thought of a fire on an airplane is really pretty unsettling. That's exactly what happened on an Air Canada flight a few years ago. The fire started in the lavatory and smoke quickly spread throughout the plane. The pilot couldn’t see and he didn't know how he was going to land. But suddenly this calm, measured voice came into the cockpit, "Just do what I say. I'll bring you in." It was the air traffic controller. And that calm voice literally talked the pilot in for a miraculously safe landing!

We have listened to the voice of Jesus teaching His disciples. Which lesson do you need to take to heart?

Ø I need to pursue Jesus through consistent and faithful prayer.

Ø I need to pursue Jesus by fearlessly seeking His truth about me.

Ø I need to pursue Jesus by selflessly serving others.

Ø I need to pursue Jesus by inviting God to do His work through others and in me.

Through the Word of God we are able to join the disciples as they learned from Jesus as they walked with Him. It’s an incredible privilege that carries with it the responsibility to put the lessons into practice.