Mark 9:14-29 - Works Without Faith

Have you ever felt exasperated?Have you ever had something explained to you multiple times and you just don’t get it?Throughout our study of Mark, we have seen Jesus performing miracles: numerous healings, driving out demons, calming storms, walking on water in the midst of a storm, feeding thousands of people on two different occasions and the disciples were there for all of it.The paradigm shift that the disciples were witnessing was totally different from what they were expecting. They thought a military warrior would come and overthrow the Roman government and place the Israelites in earthly power.But when Jesus came the first time, he didn’t come with a sword. Jesus told them again and again that He must die. He showed them again and again that He came to serve, not to have servants or take a mighty throne (yet).And again and again we read that the life-altering, no eternity-altering, impact of Christ’s coming still hadn’t clicked with them.Last week Jared taught on the Transfiguration.Remember that in the previous chapter, when Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Christ.”He proclaimed with his mouth the deity of the man he was following. Then in the next paragraph, Jesus plainly and clearly told the disciples of His coming death and resurrection. He wasn’t being mysterious or guarded in His speech here. Mark 8:32 plainly says that he spoke plainly. And yet Peter rebuked Him.Then on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples again missed the mark. When Peter and James and John were on the mountain and saw Elijah and Moses, they were terrified and speechless. Finally Peter speaks up saying it is good they are there and wanted to build three tents, effectively placing Elijah and Moses on level ground with Jesus, whom he had already proclaimed as the Christ.Then Jesus again explains to the three of them the prophecies that must be fulfilled and had already been fulfilled - again plainly revealing to them that he in fact is the Christ. And they head back down the mountain.Which brings us to this morning’s text: Mark 9:14-29.