March 4 Readings

Try the Three Years in the Bible: Year 1 Law and History; Year 2 Poetry and Prophecy and Year 3 New Testament. You can start with any of the three years and finsh the Bible at a slower pace in three years

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format

Readings for Year 1 of the Three Years Bible: Genesis thru Esther
Readings for Year 1 of the Three Years Bible: Job thru Malachi
Readings for Year 1 of the Three Years Bible: Matthew thru Revelation


Today's Reading From Mark 9.1-29

The New Testament in One Year Reading Plan

Mark 9.1-29, Commentaries, verse by verse
In this passage, Peter, James and John went with Jesus up a high mountain, there he was transfigured before them. What was the purpose of the Transfiguration? It was to let the disciples there see the glory of Christ. Moses and Elijah appeared before them. Peter said that it was good for them to be there, they wanted to put up three shelters there, on for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Why Moses and Elijah? Some commentaries indicated that Moses was the representative of the Old Covenant and Elijah was the appointed restorer of things (Mal 4.5-6). A voice from heaven said this is my Son, whom I love, Listen to him! The cloud is symbolic of the Presence of God to protect and to guide, which we saw many times in Exodus.
What were they talking about? it is hard to say! Jesus told his disciples not ot mention this event until he rose from the dead. The disciples had no understanding what rising from the dead meant. What would you have done if you were Peter, James and John. It was a heavenly experience for them! But beware of heavenly experience because when you come down the mountain (say from a retreat or conference), you have to face reality where they had to deal with the boy who was demon-possessed and on the same chapter, they were arguing among themselves, who was the greatest. I have learnt the hard way in my Christian life not to depend on religious experiences, you cannot depend on emotions to see how close you are to God but you have to depend on the reliability of the Bible and the historicity of Jesus' death and resurrection.

When they came down the mountain, they met the other disiples who tried to drive out an evil spirit out of the boy but could not. Jesus "Everything is possible for him who believes" .Jesus asked the father if he believed. He said to Jesus hoonestly "I believe help my unbelief." Even with the most minute faith, God honored the man prayer and the demon was cast out. What about you do you find at times that you have doubt in your life? You think that God cannot answer prayer. If we come to him just as this father did confessing his unbelief and asked God to answer us with whatever minute, wavering faith we have he will answer our prayer!

More Links in Mark
Dan Hill on Mark
Ray Stedman on Mark
Jeff Miller on Mark
Chadwick on Mark
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Mark by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermon's on Mark

More Links on Commentaries for the Old Testament
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes (for both OT and NT) is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.