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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 9:31 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:31 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible where Jesus is foretelling His suffering, death, and resurrection.

He speaks plainly to His disciples, preparing them for the events that will unfold regarding His fate.

The "Son of man" is a reference to Jesus Himself, which is a title derived from the Old Testament, particularly from the book of Daniel, indicating a messianic figure.

Jesus predicts He will be "delivered into the hands of men," suggesting a betrayal that will lead to His demise.

The use of the phrase "they shall kill him" denotes a definite and violent end.

However, the most crucial part of His prophecy is His resurrection, as He states that "he shall rise the third day," offering a glimpse of hope and victory over death.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written around 65-70 AD, possibly the earliest of the four Gospels.

The historical context of this passage is significant because it is situated in the period when Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem where these events would eventually take place.

During this era, Jerusalem was under Roman rule, and the Jewish religious leaders were often at odds with Jesus's teachings, which challenged their authority and traditional views.

Jesus's prediction of His death and resurrection is set against the backdrop of this tension.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse carries fundamental Christian doctrines such as the anticipation of Jesus's atoning sacrifice and the power of His resurrection.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize various aspects: traditional conservative theologians might focus on the fulfillment of prophecy and divine predestination, while more liberal theologians could highlight the human agency and political factors leading to Jesus's execution.

Liberation theology might see Jesus's prediction as an assurance to those who suffer that there is hope and new life beyond their current struggles.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can be a source of comfort and strength, reminding individuals that even in the face of adversity and trials, there is hope for a better future.

For Christians, it encourages faith in Jesus's words and promises, building resilience and offering an eternal perspective amidst temporal challenges.

It can also inspire believers to be transparent and honest in communication, just as Jesus was with His disciples.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:21 - "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."
Luke 9:22 - "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."
Acts 10:40 - "Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Mark 9:31 provide a deeper understanding:

"Son of man" (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου): This title connotes a Messianic figure with divine authority and a human connection.
"Delivered" (παραδίδοται): This passive form implies that Jesus would be handed over by another, pointing towards Judas's betrayal.
"Rise" (ἀναστήσεται): Literally means to stand up again; metaphorically, it refers to resurrection from the dead.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea of a dying and rising deity is a motif present in various ancient myths and religions. For example, the story of Osiris in Egyptian mythology or the Sumerian tale of Inanna includes themes of death and resurrection.

However, in the Christian context, Jesus's resurrection is unique because it signifies a historical and once-for-all event with eternal implications for believers.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the concept of resurrection defies the natural principles of life and death, as it stands outside empirical evidence and relies on faith.

Today's scientific community does not provide mechanisms by which a physical resurrection can occur, as it transcends natural explanations and enters the realm of the supernatural.

Commentaries

Commentaries by biblical scholars on Mark 9:31 offer a range of views.

Some emphasize the foreshadowing of the passion narratives found later in the Gospels.

Others point to the educational purpose behind Jesus's prediction, as He prepares His disciples for the traumatic events to come and bolsters their faith in the resurrection.

Still, others might discuss the literary structure of Mark's Gospel and how this prediction fits into the Messianic Secret theme, where Jesus's identity and mission are gradually revealed.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:31 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 9:31 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?