Mark Reading Plan – W9D1
Week 9 | Day 1 | Mark 9:1-12
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Ask God to open your heart to His word today.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
Reflection & Questions
Ever put your foot in your mouth? Maybe you didn’t know what to say, so all you said was awkward. Maybe you just blurted it out before you knew what you were saying.
In today’s reading, Peter most definitely speaks before he thinks. Facing the most amazing situation – Jesus shining like the sun, talking with two Old Testament prophets – we can’t blame him for not knowing what to say.
But the Father isn’t really interested in what Peter has to say. He says, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” What’s most important here is not what Peter has to say, but what Jesus has to say. Ultimately, what’s important is not what we have to say to God, it’s us having ears to hear what He has to say to us. The disciples will experience many rejecting Jesus, and even they will have their doubts, but the Father is clear: Jesus is the One to listen to. It’s no different for us. Who are we listening to? Media? Friends? The tape that runs in our head? Or Jesus? He alone is the Son of God and we should give Him all ears. We do this most of all through reading His word.
- Who are you listening to? How do you know?
- How can you tune out all the noise around you to hear from God?
Pray
Talk to God about the difficulties you have with listening (perhaps busyness or walls you have put up to His voice) and ask Him to speak to you.
Worship Song
Use this song as a prayer to God today:
Bible Reading
And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
Reflection and Questions
Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? Ok not ACTUALLY, but have you ever said something that you instantly knew you shouldn’t have said? Maybe you didn’t know what to say, so all you said was awkward. Or maybe, you just blurted it out before you knew what you were saying.
In today’s reading Peter most definitely speaks before he thinks. Watching the most amazing situation – Jesus shining like the sun, talking with two Old Testament prophets – we can’t blame him for not knowing what to say. I mean seriously, what would YOU say?
But God said something that was so amazing, that it didn’t even matter what Peter said. He says “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”. The cool part about this, is that even though Peter said something a bit silly about what he saw, God cares more about us listening to Him than He does about the mistakes that we might say. The disciples will run into lots of people rejecting Jesus, and even they will have their doubts about who Jesus is. But God is clear: Jesus is the One to listen to. Who are we listening to? Media? Friends? Negative thoughts? Or Jesus? He alone is the Son of God and we should give Him all of our listening. Do you know the best way to do that now? By reading the Bible, like you’re doing right now!.
- Do you ever listen to people or things that you shouldn’t listen to? How can you remember to listen to Jesus more than those things?
Prayer
Pray and thank God for giving us the Bible to help us hear from Him and listen to Him every day!
Bible Reading
And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
Devo Focus
(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) vs. 6
Devo
Have you ever said something and then immediately regretted it?! Talk about awkward!
In today’s reading Peter most definitely speaks before he thinks. Facing the most amazing situation – Jesus shining like the sun, talking with two Old Testament prophets – we can’t blame him for not knowing what to say.
But the Father isn’t interested in what Peter has to say. He says, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”. It’s not about what you have to say to God, it’s about having ears to hear what He has to say to you. The disciples will experience many rejecting Jesus, and even they will have their doubts, but the Father is clear: Jesus is the One to listen to. It’s no different for us. Who are we listening to? Media? Friends? The tape that runs in our head? Or Jesus? He alone is the Son of God and we should give Him all ears. We do this most of all through reading His word.
- Who are you listening to? How do you know?
- How can you tune out all the noise around you to hear from God?
Prayer
Talk to God about the difficulties you have with listening (perhaps busyness or walls you have put up to His voice) and ask Him to speak to you.
