Day 293  Reading Schedule: Mark 9-10

Mark 9: The Transfiguration Incident and the Importance of Prayer

[Summary]

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the Mount of Transfiguration, and was transfigured in a glorious form, and talked with Moses and Elijah. The disciples were terrified because of the brightness of the light (verses 1-8). Jesus told the disciples to keep secret what they had seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, and revealed that Elijah, who had been prophesied in the Old Testament, had already come (verses 9-13). When they came down from the mountain, they found a mute demon-possessed man, whom Jesus' other disciples could not heal. Jesus lamented the unbelieving generation and healed the mute demon-possessed man. He told the disciples that this kind of person could not be driven out by anything other than prayer (verses 14-29). On the way to Galilee, he taught about the suffering and resurrection of the Son of Man once again (vv. 30-32). When he was in Capernaum, he rebuked the disciples for discussing on the road who would be the greatest, and taught that those who want to be first must first serve others (vv. 33-37). In response to John’s question, Jesus gave various instructions (vv. 38-50).

Mark 10: Teaching the Right Faith

[Summary]

When Jesus was asked about divorce, Jesus established the fundamental principle that what God has joined together cannot be separated by man (vv. 1-12). When people brought children to Jesus, the disciples found it annoying and tried to stop them, but Jesus loved the children, laid his hands on them, and blessed them (vv. 13-16). As Jesus went out on the road, a man ran up to him and asked about eternal life. When Jesus knew that the man had great wealth, he said to him, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and follow me.” But the man went away sorrowful (vv. 17-22). Later, when he was with his disciples, he told them that it would be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (vv. 23-31). On the way to Jerusalem, he again prophesied the suffering and resurrection of the Son of Man (vv. 32-34). When James and John, the sons of Zebedee, asked for high positions in the Messianic kingdom, Jesus rebuked them for their ignorance and emphasized their life of service and the Son of Man’s ransom (vv. 35-45). When they arrived at Jericho, he healed blind Bartimaeus (vv. 46-52).