Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 2:14b "They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children."
Day 200 – Mark 9
“They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.”
2 Peter 2:14b
REJOINING THE TEAM OF DISCIPLES
It was time to return to ministry. The respite in the mountain hopefully proved meaningful to the three Disciples. As they descended the mountain, and drew nearer to town, they could not but notice a commotion.
“And when He came to the disciples,
He saw a great multitude around them,
and scribes disputing with them.”
MARK 9:14
1. The multitudes
To have them surround the Disciples was not unexpected. The rest of the Disciples were meant to minister to the multitudes, when Jesus and the Inner Circle ascended the mountain.
2. The scribes
Once again, they found another reason to dispute with the Disciples. The Disciples and the scribes seemed to have been at loggerheads when Jesus came onto the scene.
TO THE RESCUE
The moment the multitudes caught sight of Jesus, they made a beeline to Him.
“Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people
were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
And He asked the scribes, ‘What are you discussing with them?'”
MARK 9:15-16
Jesus knew that His Disciples were not quite ready to take on the scribes successfully. They were good and loyal, but they were not skilled enough yet to win arguments with the scribes. He came to their rescue.
Instead of asking His Disciples what the problems were, He spoke to the scribes. What was the dispute all about?
THE PERSON IN THE CENTRE OF THE CONTROVERSY
Before the scribes could formulate an answer, the person who was in the centre of the controversy spoke up.
“Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.
So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out,
but they could not.”
MARK 9:17-18
What was the dispute all about? The failure of the disciples to cast out the demon?