Mark 9:1–13

When Jesus says "Follow Me," He is calling us as His disciples to forsake the American dream and embrace the Kingdom dream–living lives of radical discipleship that transcend adversity and transform a "Why me?" perspective on suffering and pain.

During Jesus ministry, He amazed the crowds who were drawn to Him – causing the blind to see and the deaf to ear. "Everything He does is wonderful," they said. In this text, we see how Jesus excelled in caring for individuals in need, for the masses, and for His disciples.

In this fascinating interaction between Jesus and the Gentile woman, Pastor Rob uncovers a story of remarkable faith—the kind of faith and dependence on Jesus that brings freedom and transformation in hearts and lives.

In these verses Jesus addresses the traditions of the Pharisees and teachers. Pastor Hanibal explains that traditions can be beautiful and dangerous. He suggests three ways to avoid making them dangerous: 1.) Confront with the truth 2.) Acknowledge our reality 3.) Believe the Good News.

Jesus and His disciples are worn out and depleted. He is grieving the death of John and the disciples have just returned from their two-by-two missions trips. Along with the twelve, we learn two powerful lessons: 1.) We can't live the Christ life unless Christ is living it in us. 2.) The law of God and the will of God is meant to kill any notion in us of self reliance.

We learn two significant truths about Jesus' rescue plan for the world as we read about the sending of the twelve and the death of John the Baptist: 1.) Jesus' strategy, His call, is disciple making, people reaching people. 2.) There is a cost to the call.

After demonstrating His power in Galilee, Jesus returns to His hometown and is rejected as the Messiah. Pastor Lon encourages us to keep praying for family and friends who might reject faith and to remember that although people might reject Jesus, He doesn't reject people.

In the three stories told in these verses we see Jesus delivering people from demons, healing from sickness, and raising from the dead. Pastor Rob explains that all three stories describe how faith overcomes fear and that no one is beyond the power or love of Jesus.

Everyone has a problem with fear. Pastor Lon examines how Jesus addressed the fear of His disciples during a storm and that although fear always will be present in life, we can embrace the truth that faith is the antidote to fear.