Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 1 Study # 1
December 6, 2022
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: With this paragraph, Mark launches into his second most-critical thesis regarding Jesus.
Introduction: We have spent four years in this study of Mark, and, in our last study, we concluded the first major section of Mark's effort to give us a legitimate picture of Jesus against the backdrop of the power of the temptation to long for "status" in the eyes of men, rather than God.
Tonight we are going to launch out into the content of Mark's last major section of his effort. Whether it will take another four years remains to be seen.
- I. The Larger Context.
- A. In respect to Mark's entire work: Chapter 9 begins a "second half" for Mark's effort.
- 1. The first half is deliberately committed to the presentation of Jesus of Nazareth as "The Coming Mighty One", Who was clearly identified by John the Witness as Yahweh by claiming to be the "voice crying in the wilderness, Make straight the road of Yahweh".
- 2. The second half is just as deliberately committed to the correction of the false conception of the Jews that "The Kingdom of Yahweh" was going to be established with them (the Jews) as the dominating rulers of men rather than the primary servants of men.
- 3. The subsection that we just finished in our last study of Jesus' declaration of what is required of those who "would come after Him" is the final element in the "hinge" between the two major sections of Mark.
- a. The contents of the hinge (8:27-38) are organized into three parts.
- 1) First there is a paragraph which identifies Jesus as "the Christ" within the context of human opinion of His identity (8:27-30).
- 2) Second, there is a paragraph which introduces the fact that "the Christ" is destined to suffer. This new thesis is then coupled with the fact of a "satanic" rejection by Peter of the suitability of this destiny to the character of "the Christ" (8:31-33).
- 3) Finally, there is a third paragraph in which the Christ calls upon those who would be His disciples to accept the premise that Christ-ness (and, thus, discipleship to Him) means being willing to suffer a complete earthly loss if necessary (8:34-38).
- b. The purpose of this "hinge" is to connect the double thesis: Jesus is Yahweh, the King of the Kingdom; and The Kingdom will be established upon the foundation of "Love" as shown by the total selflessness of Divine Servanthood.
- 1) Jesus is Yahweh Elohim.
- 2) Yahweh Elohim is essentially a Servant to the needs of His people.
- B. In respect to the initial issue of the second half.
- 1. 9:1-13 -- Jesus identified as the Kingdom's King.
- 2. 9:14-29 -- Identity reinforced by power.
- 3. 9:30-37 -- the Kingdom's requirement of servanthood.
- 4. 9:38-50 -- the Kingdom's practice of reward.
- 5. 10:1-12 -- the attitude which blocks participation.
- ******* 6. 10:13-16 -- the attitude which totally dominates this issue of participation.
- 7. 10:17-27 -- the attitude which blocks participation.
- 8. 10:28-31 -- the Kingdom's practice of reward.
- 9. 10:32-45 -- the Kingdom's requirement of servanthood.
- 10. 10:46-52 -- Identity reinforced by power.
- 11. 11:1-11 -- Jesus identified as the Kingdom's King.
- II. The Text (9:1) Itself.
- A. It is absolutely focused upon "seeing The Kingdom of God having come with power".
- 1. The grammatical picture is that of an event that has already taken place in history with a continuing impact ("having come" is a Perfect Tense Participle).
- 2. This "event" is something to be witnessed by "some" who "have taken" (also a Perfect Tense Participle) their stand "here" (this likely has a double meaning in which the physical fact also infers the relational fact; i.e., some have "bought into" (taken a stand) Jesus' standards for "coming after Him" and they have actually placed their feet in this geographical place).
- B. This "power" of "The Kingdom of God" is illustrated in the "brightness/whiteness" of Jesus' transfigured appearance when this announcement is fulfilled (i.e., 9:2 and following).
