In the transfiguration, the Father is pleased; in this incident, the earthly father is tortured. In the transfiguration, there’s a perfect Son; here, there’s a perverted son. In the transfiguration, you have fallen men in holy wonder; in this story, you have a fallen son in unholy horror. It is a dramatic scene, one of the most dramatic in all the New Testament. It involves demon possession, a boy filled with a demon, an unclean spirit. This is always a reality. It is a reality today.
Demons are in the world, doing the work of Satan – they always have been, since the fall. They are not as readily manifest to us because they choose to operate covertly, as we have told you. They like to stay invisible. They like to disguise themselves as angels of light, appearing to be very religious and very moral in a sophisticated culture like ours. They don’t want to surface and be known to be doing what they are doing, but they’re doing it. ~ John MacArthur
Read / Listen / Video
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18
New Testament
Mark 9:1-29
Summary:
The Transfiguration
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” ~ Mark 9:7
Listen to John MacArthur on today’s scripture below:
Mark by John MacArthur
There was evidence that Jesus was God by what He did, but there was no visible evidence in looking at Him. Nobody could see any difference in Him on the outside. And yet, Hebrews 1 says, “He is the brightness of the Father’s glory.” He is God manifest. Second Corinthians talks about the glory of God shining in the face of Christ, all of God’s attributes contained in Him because He is fully God. He is called the Lord of glory.
Mark 9:8. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Unhappy, indeed, would they have been if they had looked about and seen none but Moses, for poor comfort could Moses bring. Or if, looking around, they had seen none but Elias, for the stern prophet of fire would have been but a poor consolation to them in their life struggles. But Moses may go, and Elijah may go. Lawgiver and prophet may vanish so long as Jesus Christ remains, it is enough. Jesus only is enough for all our wants, —for all our desires.
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