What Jesus Did

[After the Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John suddenly] looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

—Mark 9:8 NLT

Key Thought


If God's message to Jesus' followers in the previous verse (Mark 9:7) about listening to Jesus as their primary source of God's revelation was ignored, then the disappearance of Moses and Elijah made God's point clear. The Father wanted Jesus to be honored, revered, followed and obeyed. Jesus is the one...

 

[During the Transfiguration,] a cloud overshadowed [Jesus, Moses, Elijah, and the three apostles], and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him."

—Mark 9:7 NLT

Key Thought


God makes himself very clear to the amazed followers of Jesus. As important as Elijah and Moses had been to the Jewish people, among them stood one who is far superior — Jesus Christ, God's Son, and their Lord. They should listen to Jesus. Jesus is the supreme teacher...

 

[At the Transfiguration,] Peter exclaimed, "Rabbi, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He said this because he didn't really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

—Mark 9:5-6 NLT

Key Thought


Peter's words, though well intentioned, are ludicrous. Some moments need to be held in silent awe. Words shouldn't desecrate the moment. Rather than trying to be the wise one, the...

 

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

—Mark 9:2-4 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus appeared here with two groups of "friends." Group one was made up of Jesus' inner circle of three of his followers — Peter, James...

 

Jesus went on to say, "I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!"

—Mark 9:1 NLT

Key Thought


The Kingdom and the power of heaven belong to the Son. Those who belong to Jesus can experience his power and belong to his Kingdom! The question is not, "Can God can make this possible?" He already has in Jesus. The crucial question is, "Have I decided to honor God's Kingdom and live for his Son...

 

[Jesus continued teaching the crowd,] "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

—Mark 8:38 NLT

Key Thought


We live in times when believers are ridiculed, as others before us also have. In some places, Christians are openly persecuted — their property is confiscated, and they suffer violent attacks. In such times as these...

 

[Jesus continued teaching the crowd,] "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

—Mark 8:36-37 NLT

Key Thought


So much of life gets lost in the pursuit of things we incorrectly think are important. We trade our time for that which does not matter. We trade our energy for gains never realized. We trade our hopes for what winds up as wrecked dreams. Our very lives, our souls, find their true worth...

 

[Jesus said to the crowd,] "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it."

—Mark 8:35 NLT

Key Thought


So often what we most passionately pursue because of our earthly perspective is what we cannot achieve, purchase, or find. Life is found in Jesus. Life is found in obeying Jesus. Life is found in living for Jesus. Anything else is lost in death, so let's passionately...

 

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, [Jesus] said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me."

—Mark 8:34 NLT

Key Thought


For Jesus' faithful followers, the cross is not a piece of jewelry or even a symbol; it is a lifestyle. It is the willingness to follow Jesus in every way — including the way of the cross. For us to do that, we must surrender our selfishness and lay down our lives for the needs of...

 

Then Jesus began to tell [the disciples] that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. "Get away from me, Satan!" he said. "You are...