Mark 9:9-13
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Reflection
It is necessary for the disciples to remain silent about what they have just seen on the mountain (see Mark 9:2–8) because they still have misunderstandings about the identity of Jesus. While Peter has confessed Jesus as the Messiah (the “Christ”; 8:29), he does not yet realize that Jesus must suffer to pay the penalty for our sins (8:32–33; 10:45; Isa. 53:1–12).
If we, as disciples of Christ, want to influence others around us, we must continue growing in our faith so that we understand and resemble our Savior. God’s desire to use us in the work of his kingdom should make us eager to pursue this growth each day.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
10: I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Reflection
In the face of arrogant false apostles (2 Cor. 10:12), Paul responds in a way that shows that he has been shaped by the gospel. The meekness and gentleness of Christ (cf. Matt. 11:29) has influenced Paul’s own attitude (2 Cor. 10:1) as he faces these troublemakers. Rather than using the proud and boastful tactics of this world (the “flesh”), Paul battles these false leaders with weapons that have “divine power” to break down their arrogant defense (v. 4). His strategy is to oppose their false and conceited perspectives with gospel truth (v. 5).
Self-reliant human performance has no spiritual significance and does not please God. The power of God’s gospel confronts our proud reliance on human accomplishment and teaches us to rely on the accomplishment of Jesus in our place. If we depend on the merits of Christ alone, we will not feel the need to brag in order to prove ourselves to others. There is no true power in self-praise. The power of God is unleashed in our lives as we embrace the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” (v. 1) and simply declare our dependence on him (see 12:9–10). If we are going to boast, let it be only in the work of our Savior for us and through us (cf. Gal. 6:14).
Psalm 86:10
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
Those who know the reality of their sin and brokenness see the beauty of the gospel. Those who are self-reliant and proud will fail to appreciate the gift of God’s grace. Ask God for a heart and mind in yourself and your church that values the work of Christ far above the work of any mere human.