Mark 9 - Glory out of Suffering

 

Mark 9 – Glory out of Suffering

 

What happened on the Mount of Transfiguration was confirmation of the testimony Peter gave. But it was also a revelation of the glory of the Cross (Gal. 6:14). First the suffering, then the glory. Satan offers you glory without suffering (Matt. 4:8-10) but it ends up suffering without glory. Transfigured means to “change into another form”. It’s also used to describe the believer’s transformation into the image of Christ (Rom 12:2; 2 or. 3:18).

 

Their failure to deliver the boy grieved the Lord, gave support to the enemy, and robbed God of glory. The nine disciples who were left behind had neglected their spiritual disciplines and lost their power. When you find yourself defeated, turn to Him for victory and discover where you went wrong. Complacency is the enemy of spiritual power, and prayer is the discipline that reminds believers of their dependency.

 

Mark’s gospel emphasizes the importance of service. Do not aim for human greatness; aim to be more like Jesus Christ. Do not measure yourself by other servants; measure yourself by Him. Jesus declared that anyone working in His name, and who God works through, should be considered a partner, not a threat. Jesus expects unity (I Cor. 1:10-17).

 

If you pamper sin in your life, you will lose your “salty” character and not be able to affect others for Christ. Deal drastically with sin as a surgeon does with a cancerous tumor. You gain by losing. Jesus implores us to eliminate the impurity of selfishness and exhibit the purity of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others.

 

 

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Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.      J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.