In today’s episode of Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind, we explore Mark chapters 9 and 10. We witness the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, hear His difficult teachings on divorce and wealth, and follow Him as He heals blind Bartimaeus on the road to Jericho. We also tackle a common question regarding Jesus’ statement about the coming of God’s kingdom. Is it possible He was mistaken? We dive into the context to find out. Finally, we remember two pivotal figures in church history, Guido de Bray and Charles Spurgeon, who proved that some truths are worth more than life itself.

Understanding the deity of Jesus is foundational to the Christian faith. When we encounter passages that seem difficult, like Jesus’ promise in Mark 9:1, looking at the immediate context provides clarity. These chapters show us that Jesus is not just a man, but God in the flesh, all-knowing and perfectly reliable in His word. This realization transformed the disciples and continues to strengthen our faith today.

In Mark 9:1, Jesus tells His followers that some standing there would not die before seeing God’s kingdom come with power. Since those disciples died long ago, some wonder if Jesus was wrong. However, we must look at what happened just six days later. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured. His clothes became whiter than any bleach could make them, and the voice of God the Father spoke from a cloud. These three disciples saw a glimpse of the kingdom in its true power. They saw Jesus in His heavenly glory and heard the voice of God. Peter later wrote that they were eyewitnesses of His majesty. Jesus was not wrong. He was revealing His deity to His inner circle.

Mark 9:1
“Jesus continued, ‘I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom arrive in power.'”

Read Mark 9:1 on BibleGateway

On January 31, 1561, Guido de Bray helped publish the Belgic Confession. He even tossed a copy over the castle wall to King Philip II of Spain to defend the Reformed faith. He eventually died for his faith, but his confession remains a primary doctrinal standard today. Also on this date in 1892, Charles Haddon Spurgeon passed away at the age of 57. Known as the Prince of Preachers, his legacy of thousands of sermons continues to reach millions every year.

If you find value in this daily reading, please consider returning that value through time, talent, or treasure. You can tell a friend, post on social media, or make a donation at lifespringmedia.com/support. Special thanks to today’s Associate Producers: Michael Hainer, Jamie Laudberg, and Lester Graber. Your support keeps the Lifespring! family going.

Until tomorrow, may the glory of the Lord shine clearly in your life and may he bless you richly. Thank you so much for being here. My name is Steve Webb. Bye.