Bible Reading Plan

Mark 9

Chapter 9

¹ Then He said to them, "I assure you:^(a) There are some standing here who will not taste death^(b) until they see the kingdom of God come in power." ^(c)

The Transfiguration

² After^(d) six days^(e) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(f) and led them up on a high mountain^(g) by themselves to be alone. He was transformed^[a](h) in front of them, ³ and His clothes⁽ⁱ⁾ became dazzling—extremely white^(j) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(k) them. ⁴ Elijah^(l) appeared to them with Moses,^(m) and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi,⁽ⁿ⁾ it's good^(o) for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:^(p) one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"— ⁶ because he did not know what he should say,^(q) since they were terrified.^(r)

⁷ A cloud^(s) appeared, overshadowing^(t) them, and a voice^(u) came from the cloud:^(v)

⁸ Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

⁹ As^(z) they were coming down from the mountain,^(aa) He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(ab) until the Son of Man^(ac) had risen^(ad) from the dead.^{(ae) 10} They kept this word^(af) to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

¹¹ Then they began to question Him, "Why do the scribes^(ag) say that Elijah must come first?"^(ah)

¹² "Elijah does come first and restores^(ai) everything," ^(aj) He replied. "How then is it written^(ak) about the Son of Man that He must suffer^(al) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(am) 13} But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written^(an) about him."

The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(ao) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(ap) with them. ¹⁵ All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed^[b] and ran to greet Him. ¹⁶ Then He asked them, "What are you arguing with them about?"

¹⁷ Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, "Teacher,^(aq) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit^(ar) that makes him unable to speak.^{(as) 18} Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."

¹⁹ He replied to them, "You unbelieving^(at) generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me." ²⁰ So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ "How long has this been happening to him?" Jesus asked his father.

"From childhood," he said. ²² "And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(au) him. But if You can do anything, have compassion^(av) on us and help us."

²³ Then Jesus said to him, "‘If You can'? ^[c][d] Everything is possible^(aw) to the one who believes." ^(ax)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, "I do believe! Help my unbelief."

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked^(ay) the unclean^(az) spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf^(ba) spirit,^[e] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!"

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing^(bb) him^[f] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, "He's dead." ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(bc) and he stood up.

²⁸ After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

²⁹ And He told them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer^(bd) [and fasting]." ^[g](be)

The Second Prediction of His Death

³⁰ Then^(bf) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.^{(bg) 31} For He was teaching^(bh) His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man^(bi) is being betrayed^[h] into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise^(bj) three days later." ^{(bk) 32} But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.^(bl)

Who is the Greatest?

³³ Then^(bm) they came to Capernaum.^(bn) When He was in the house,^(bo) He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" ^{(bp) 34} But they were silent,^(bq) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(br) 35} Sitting down, He called the Twelve^(bs) and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." ^{(bt) 36} Then He took a child,^(bu) had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ "Whoever welcomes^[i] one little child such as this in My name^(bv) welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent^(bw) Me." ^(bx)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(by) said to Him, "Teacher,^(bz) we saw someone^[j] driving out demons^(ca) in Your name,^(cb) and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us."^(cc)

³⁹ "Don't stop him," said Jesus, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(cd) in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(ce) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(cf) because of My name,^[k] since you belong to the Messiah^(cg)—I assure you:^(ch) He will never lose his reward. ^(ci)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² "But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me^(cj)—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone ^[l](ck) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.^(cl) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(cm) than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire, ^(cn) [⁴⁴ where

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes your downfall,^(cp) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(cq) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,^{(cr) 46} where

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(ct) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(cu) into hell,^{(cv) 48} where

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ^{[r](cw)[s] 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?^(cx) Have salt^(cy) among yourselves and be at peace^(cz) with one another."