Mark 9

Book of Mark: Chapter 9

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2)

When Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up a mountain to pray, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.

What is transfiguration?

Discussion Questions

The word "transfigured" is a very interesting word. The Greek word is "metamorpho" and it means to transform, literally or figuratively to metamorphose, or to change... In the case of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ it means to match the outside with the reality of the inside. To change the outward so that it matches the inward reality. Jesus' divine nature was "veiled" in human form and the transfiguration was a glimpse of that glory. Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ displayed the... glory of God incarnate in the Son.

"Moses and Elijah were about to leave, when Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But Peter did not know what he was talking about."

Have you ever felt a bit like Peter? Wanting to keep something for ever, that was only meant to last a short time? Perhaps you found a butterfly and wanted to keep it in a jar for ever, or looked after a bird in a box, but didn't want to say goodbye to it?
Have you ever said something that you later regretted?
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Transfiguration and Grace

Bishop Eleanor, Assistant Bishop of Wellington, shares a short talk about a painting of the transfiguration, as apart of the Wellington Lenten series for 2019

I wonder

I wonder how Peter, John and James felt when they woke up and saw that Jesus looked different?
I wonder why Peter wanted to build a shelter for Jesus, Moses and Elijah?
I wonder why Peter, John and James were quiet after the loud voice said: "This is my chosen Son. Listen to what he says!”
I wonder what happened next?
I wonder what they spoke about between that event, and coming down the mountain the next day?

Changing Appearances

Source: This game was found on the Family Faith Ministry website
Purpose: Play this game to help students begin to think about how Jesus’ appearance changed.
Supplies: None

Can you tell when something changes? Sometimes seeing how something has changed is easy and sometimes it is hard. Today, we are going to learn how Jesus’ appearance changed on the mountain. Everyone who was with Jesus noticed the change. Before we discover what happened, let’s play a game to see how well you see changes.
Directions:

Form teams of three or four children.
Have all the teams sit on the floor facing the front of the classroom.
Have the first team stand in front of the other teams. Tell the seated teams to carefully study the appearance of the standing team. Have them pay special attention to details like clothing, hairstyle, and jewellery.
After a minute, send the first team out of the room to secretly choose one thing to change about the appearance of one player on the team. For example, they might turn a hat backwards, put their hair in ponytail, or switch jewelry with another team member.
Have the team stand in front of the other teams again.
The seated players must guess what change the team made.
Repeat steps 3-6 until all teams have had a turn.

Teacher Tip: If playing the game with younger children, either you or an assistant may help the team choose and make a change.

Tent building

Tent building is a lot of fun, and can happen outside in the garden or indoors. Here’s how to make a simple tent with blankets or sheets:
What you need:The best thing about building your own tent is that you only need objects you’re likely to have lying around the house already. You may need to pay a quick visit to the garden centre for the bamboo canes!

A roll of rough string
Scissors
3 x 8ft (2.4m) and 6 x 3ft (90cm) bamboo canes from a garden centre
Old sheets and blankets
Pens and card to make a sign for the entrance

What to do:

The easiest tent to construct is a simple two-sided prism shape like a triangular Toblerone box!
Make a sturdy frame using your canes - lay the 3 longest canes 3 ft (90cm) apart, and attach using the shorter canes and string, until your tent takes shape.
Then drape with sheets or blankets, and decorate inside and out with pillows, rugs and pictures, before moving in

Source: Persil

Who will be the greatest? (Mark 9: 30-38)

Today Jesus reminds us about what greatness looks like in God's eyes.

Welcoming children

"Then Jesus put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

These words from Mark 9 are at the heart of our children and families ministries, across the church. Its the 'go-to' passage for us, reminding us of the welcome and embrace of God for those most vulnerable in society.

Sermon questions

When Jesus welcomed a child into the middle of the gathering, did he do so as a sermon illustration for the benefit of the adults, or perhaps for another reason?
Does this act show us about the heart of God?
As Jesus put a child among the crowd, we assume that there were children nearby. Children and all ages gathering around Jesus (not off in a hall somewhere else!). Are children in the midst of your church?
How can we be welcoming of all generations?
Is there anything stopping or hindering your welcome of children into your faith community?

Quick Questions

Who is your hero?
What are you 'best' at?
Why do you think Jesus said 'If you want the place of honour, you must become a slave and serve others!'?

Scripture reflection

"I tend not to think that Jesus had some sort of crystal ball awareness of the rough journey that dwelled ahead of him. Like many who have given up their lives in the service of truth and justice (I think of Martin Luther King and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyrs; perhaps Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, too: Google is your friend!) he knew that his trajectory of justice-proclamation, pricking the skins of religious and societal hypocrisy, was soon going to turn to tears. Yet in the midst of that apprehension he turns to one of the most powerless and defenceless in the community and defines the child as a symbol of his own vulnerability and the vulnerability of his gospel. Jesus risked vulnerability, the vulnerability epitomized by a child. The Church, sadly, has in many cases failed horrendously in its duty of care to these icons of Jesus, the vulnerable children. It has failed, too, in its vocation to vulnerability, pontificating instead from assumed positions of power. The two failures are entwined. But let’s reflect on that when we strike passages about millstones and necks and deep oceans. For now let’s just remember that we are called to be vulnerable, not powerful, and to proclaim justice and compassion, not self-preservation." - Michael Godfrey, Dunedin Diocese

In this sermon, Bishop Eleanor speaks about the Mark 9 passage, and about a theology of childhood.

Staying away from sin (Mark 9:38-50)

Some of the words of Jesus are simply hard. When he speaks of cutting off hands, or millstones around necks, what do we do with that? How about the question of our approach to those outside the church who are clearly doing as Jesus would have us all do? Or the blessings connected with the simple, unheroic act of giving someone a glass of water? Bishop Steve, Gillian Townsley and an Auckland-lockdown-ring-in, Jonathan Gale, bravely tackle these and other questions in this week's discussion with Michael Godfrey on Mark 9:38-50.