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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 9:23 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:23 is a powerful statement by Jesus in response to a father seeking help for his demon-possessed son.

The context of the statement highlights the importance of faith in experiencing the miraculous.

Literally, Jesus conveys that belief is the key to unlocking the realm of divine possibility.

It underlines that faith is not just a passive state of agreement but an active force that can influence reality.

The deeper meaning suggests that human limitations can be transcended when one has unwavering faith in God.

Jesus is not promoting a "name it and claim it" philosophy, but rather is encouraging a sincere, heartfelt belief that God can and will intervene in the situations that are entrusted to Him through prayer and trust.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the synoptic gospels in the New Testament that provides an account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

This particular verse is part of a narrative where Jesus encounters a father whose son is suffering from a spirit that renders him mute.

The disciples had unsuccessfully attempted to cast out the spirit prior to Jesus' arrival.

Jesus' response comes after the father of the boy expresses his doubt by saying, "If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." The historical context highlights the struggle between belief and unbelief among those who witnessed Jesus' miracles firsthand.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse touches on the doctrine of faith and its place in Christian life.

Different Christian denominations interpret this verse with varying emphases.

For evangelicals, the verse is often seen as a mandate for strong personal faith as the means of experiencing God's power.

In contrast, more liturgical or sacramental traditions might emphasize the communal and ecclesiological dimensions of faith, understanding this passage in the broader context of the Church's prayer and faith life.

Liberation theology might interpret this verse as an inspiration for faith that leads to action against societal injustices, believing that transformation is possible through divine intervention.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 9:23 encourages individuals to approach life's challenges with an attitude of faith, understanding that with God, the seemingly impossible can become possible.

This doesn't guarantee that every specific outcome we desire will happen, but rather that in the broader scope of God's will, faith opens up possibilities beyond human limitations.

The emphasis on belief can also be applied to encourage perseverance through difficult times, trusting that God is present and at work, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:20: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Matthew 21:21: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."
Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Luke 1:37: "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the word translated as "believe" is "πιστεύει" (pisteuei), which comes from the root "πίστις" (pistis), meaning faith or belief.

"All things" translates to "πάντα" (panta), signifying the totality of possibilities.

"Possible" is from the word "δυνατά" (dynata), deriving from "δυνατός" (dynatos), which means able or powerful. This language underscores the capability and potency affiliated with faith.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, belief and faith are recurring themes.

For example, in Greek mythology, belief in the gods often played a role in their intervention in human affairs.

In the stories of heroes and demigods, faith or confidence sometimes determined their success or failure.

In Eastern religious systems such as Hinduism and Buddhism, faith is also essential, although expressed differently, with a focus on inner enlightenment and progression through right action and understanding.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific point of view, this verse is not speaking to empirical quantifiable reality; rather, it addresses the psychological and sociological aspects of belief.

Research in psychology suggests that belief and attitude can significantly impact an individual's perception and experience of life.

While science and faith often operate in different domains, the notion of belief impacting reality aligns with the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy in psychology.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights that the efficacy of faith lies in its object (Jesus), not in itself.

John Gill comments on the discourse between Jesus and the father of the possessed boy, emphasizing the compassion and readiness of Christ to help those who exercise faith.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary notes that the father's mix of belief and unbelief is common to humanity and that Jesus' response is an invitation to trust Him completely.

These commentaries echo the central message of the verse, that the presence and depth of faith determine the openness to God's power in an individual's life.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:23 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 9:23 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?