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Mark 9

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

What does Mark 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:21 centers around a conversation between Jesus and a father who seeks healing for his son.

The context of the discussion is a boy with a spirit that renders him mute and often causes him to convulse.

Jesus inquires about the duration of the boy's affliction.

The father responds that the boy has been suffering "since childhood." This verse reveals Jesus’ compassionate approach, as He seeks to understand the sufferer's situation fully.

Moreover, it demonstrates the desperate plight of the father who has been dealing with his son's distressing condition for many years.

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Historical Context

The incident described in Mark 9:21 takes place in a 1st-century Judaic context where illness was often attributed to demonic possession or spiritual forces.

Exorcisms were not uncommon, and the ability to perform them was seen as a sign of spiritual authority.

Jesus, through His ministry, regularly encounters and heals individuals possessed by unclean spirits, demonstrating His power over such forces.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse is significant in several ways:

Demonstration of Jesus' divinity: Jesus' inquiry might seem ordinary, but it also sets the stage for a miraculous healing that will attest to His divine authority.
Humanity and empathy: This verse also highlights Jesus' empathy for human suffering.

Jesus does not distance Himself from people's pain but engages with it.

Faith: This passage will later include discussion on the power of faith.

The father's admission is not just a statement of duration but also a prelude to being asked whether he believes in Jesus’ power to heal.

Practical Applications

The interaction between Jesus and the father can teach modern readers about empathy, the importance of understanding someone's background, and the suffering they have experienced.

It also serves as an encouragement to bring persistent troubles, including those of long duration, to Jesus (or, metaphorically, to sources of hope and healing).

Cross-References

Mark 9:17-29: The extended account of the healing of the boy with the unclean spirit.
Matthew 17:14-21: A parallel account of this healing.
Luke 9:37-43: Another synoptic account of the same event.

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek of this verse is "ἐκ παιδιόθεν" (ek paidiothen), which translates directly to "from childhood." The Greek word "παιδιόθεν" is composed of "παῖς" (paîs, child) and the suffix "-θεν" (then, from).

This term provides a sense of duration and indicates a condition that has persisted from a very early period in the child’s life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, illnesses, especially those affecting the mind or behavior, were frequently attributed to supernatural causes.

In the Judaic culture of Jesus' time, as well as in neighboring cultures, spirits or gods were thought to be responsible for such conditions.

This understanding is reflected in the Bible's accounts of demonic possession and is paralleled in various other ancient religions and myths.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the symptoms described in the Bible as being caused by demons might be understood as epilepsy, a neurological disorder, or another similar condition.

Today's medical understanding does not support the existence of demonic possession as a cause for such conditions.

The convulsions and muteness experienced by the boy would be subject to medical diagnosis and treatment.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer insights into this verse:

John Calvin: He emphasizes the long-term suffering of the boy and the father's enduring anguish seeking healing.
William Lane: Lane notes the significance of Jesus' questioning as a means of drawing out the father's faith and setting a stage for a teaching moment on belief and unbelief.
**R.T.

France**: He writes of Jesus' role as a healer and how this passage contrasts with the disciples' earlier inability to heal the boy, pointing to a lesson about faith and the power available through Jesus.

Each of these commentaries suggests that Mark 9:21 is not merely descriptive but carries deeper meaning for understanding faith, Jesus' ministry, and the human condition.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?