Series Summary:

How do we balance “Immediately” with waiting on the Lord? After centuries of waiting for a Messiah and Jesus waiting 30 years in obscure living, Mark portrays Jesus coming on the scene with urgency as a servant. Mark uses the word immediately over 40 times! He traveled with Paul, Barnabas, and Peter. He failed and was restored. Now, he is writing about Jesus through the apostle Peter’s first hand account. Mark asks us to consider who Jesus really is. Will we surrender and follow with a sense of urgency as we wait for the return of Jesus Christ the son of Man and son of God?

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Starter

Tell about a time you listened to the truth of the word you read and studied and you obeyed. (It may not have led to earthly success.)

Pray

Study Questions

RECAP/READ: Mark 8:31-9:1

  1. The disciples, like the Israelites of that day, were looking for a warrior Messiah who would make them and their nation great. They had not embraced or understood the suffering Messiah as prophesied in the old testament. (see: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53) After telling the disciples of his death, resurrection, and what they should expect for themselves, how might the disciples have most likely interpreted Mark 9:1?

READ: Mark 9

  1. Why do you think Jesus chose only Peter, James, and John to witness the Transfiguration?
    1. How and why is selecting like this a problem for us in our modern church culture?
    2. What does it expose about our hearts?
  2. How does the transfiguration of Jesus prophetically fulfill Jesus’ words in Mark 9:1?
  3. Peter suggests building three shelters (booths).
    1. When we face overwhelming or spiritually intense moments, why are we more prone to speak or act prematurely instead of staying silent, praying, or simply worshiping like we see the angels and creatures in heaven doing in scripture?
    2. What might that say about our or the disciples understanding of grace and works?
  4. God says, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!" What does truly "listening" to Jesus look like in a world filled with competing voices?
  5. What is the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing during the Transfiguration?
  6. The disciples ask, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus quotes the old testament and specifically Malachi 4:5-6. To find out his answer to their question….

READ: Matthew 11:7-14, Luke 1:13-17

How do these verses combined with Jesus answer in Mark 9:12-13 answer their question about Elijah coming first?

  1. A fact is to be confirmed by 2-3 witnesses the scriptures say.
    1. Who were all the witnesses at the transfiguration?
    2. How does the Transfiguration of Jesus deepen our understanding of His divine identity?
  2. The Jewish scribes picked and chose which prophecies to pay attention to and which to ignore depending on which they liked or benefitted them the best. How do we often see and do the same thing today and why?

READ: Revelation 11:3-6

  1. While Elijah and Moses appeared to affirm the first coming, it is also a foreshadowing of Jesus second coming. How might we tell the identities of the 2 final witnesses of Revelation 11:3-6 before Jesus comes again to judge the earth?