Mark 9:9-13 “Only After Seeing the Cross and Resurrection”

Mark 9:9-13 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective
• CityAlight ~ Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
• Lead Me To The Cross – Hillsong Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• The true glory of Jesus (Mark 9:1-13) – Bible Story for Kids
• Seek Ye First | 🔆 Sing-along Kids Worship Video with Kids Choir – Song for Kids
• I Have Decided | Cave Quest VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Step by Step w/ lyrics – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

As they were coming down from the mountain after prayer, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead” (v. 9). However, the three disciples did not understand what “rising from the dead” meant (v. 10) because Jewish messianic beliefs at the time did not include a doctrine of resurrection.

Jesus commanded them not to reveal what they had seen on the mountain because what he intended to do as the Messiah was different from what the crowds expected of him. If people learned about it, they would likely try to make Jesus their king and demand that he fulfill their desires. However, Jesus had a plan that was entirely different from what they hoped for. Moreover, only after experiencing the resurrection would they be able to truly understand the meaning of what had happened on the mountain.

The disciples, recalling that they had seen Elijah on the mountain, asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” (v. 11). The Jews believed, based on Malachi 4:5—“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes”—that Elijah would come before the Messiah. What the disciples were really asking Jesus was, “If you are truly the Messiah, shouldn’t Elijah have come first?

Jesus affirmed that, as the teachers of the law had said, Elijah must come first (v. 12) and then declared that Elijah had already come (v. 13). This was because John the Baptist had fulfilled the role of Elijah, who was to come before the Messiah. However, there was a prophecy even more important than the one about Elijah’s coming—the prophecy that the Messiah would suffer greatly and be rejected (v. 12).

Meditation:

Some believers think that the Kingdom of God exists somewhere out in the universe or in a dimension beyond human reach. They endure life on this earth with gritted teeth, believing that their goal is simply to persevere until death, at which point they will finally enter God’s Kingdom. For them, “the Kingdom of God is absent” in their present lives.

Others make it their ultimate goal to establish a Christian nation on earth by their own strength. This temptation becomes even stronger when the church gains a certain level of power—whether through wealth, political influence, or numbers. They believe that by suppressing or eliminating non-believers and those of other religions, they can create God’s Kingdom on earth, where everyone is a Christian. However, history has repeatedly shown how much sin and destruction this mindset has caused. Yet, some still stir up such dreams and lead others astray.

The Kingdom of God that Jesus taught us is neither far away nor something we can establish on earth by our own strength. Instead, the earthly nations exist within God’s Kingdom. We live in the Kingdom of God while standing in the nations of this world. The only reason we fail to recognize it is that we are limited to perceiving only the physical dimension.

The Kingdom of God cannot be built by our own strength. Any attempt to do so is as foolish as Peter’s suggestion to set up three shelters to keep Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the mountain. The Kingdom of God is realized only when we surrender ourselves to His will, humble ourselves, become smaller, and embrace sacrifice.

This is why Jesus instructed the three disciples, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead” (v. 9). His death and resurrection reveal how the Kingdom of God comes. Only after witnessing the cross and resurrection could the disciples truly understand the significance of what they had seen on the mountain. And only then could they, like Jesus, experience the Kingdom of God and live for it.

Prayer:

Lord, like the disciples, we still do not fully understand the way of the cross. Like them, we long to be exalted, to become stronger, believing—mistakenly—that this is how we bring glory to God. Yet, we fail to see that the more we seek human strength, status, and wealth, the more our sinful nature grows. Oh, Lord, have mercy on us. Help us to understand the way of the cross. Give us the strength to walk that path faithfully. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: The Kingdom of God is not far away, nor is it something we can build by our own power. Jesus showed us that the Kingdom of God comes through humility, sacrifice, and following his way of the cross. Only by trusting in God and walking in His path can we truly experience His Kingdom in our daily lives.

• For Preschool-Lower Elementary
  • What do you think the Kingdom of God looks like? Can you draw a picture of it?
  • The disciples didn’t understand what “rising from the dead” meant. What is something about God that you don’t understand yet?
• For Upper Elementary-Middle School
  • Some people try to use power and strength to make the world the way they want it. How is Jesus’ way different?
  • If the Kingdom of God is already here, how can we start seeing it in our daily lives?
• For High School
  • The disciples had expectations of what the Messiah should be like, and they were confused when Jesus didn’t fit those expectations. Have you ever had expectations of God that didn’t match what actually happened? How did you respond?
  • How can following the way of the cross change the way we live in our area, where success and achievement are often prioritized?