Mark 9: Slow Learners

In this chapter, we find Jesus repeating important lessons for his first followers – important lessons regarding faith, greatness, and the seriousness of sin. They had heard him speak about all of this stuff before, but they just did not get it (gives us hope, doesn’t it?). So Jesus takes another run at helping them understand.

One verse grabbed my attention this time through this chapter. Read it below, and try to visualize the scene in your mind’s eye.

“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed

with wonder and ran to greet him.” (Mark 9:15)

Can you imagine what this scene must have looked like in real time? Can you read the emotion on their faces… can you hear the excitement in their voices… can you feel the sense of wonder that seems to be drawing them irresistibly towards Jesus?

I love the simplicity of this verse. ALL the people saw Jesus. Just seeing him (think about that!) caused feelings of tremendous awe and astonishment to well up inside of them. How else could they respond? They ran to greet him, to be with him, to be near him.

When was the last time you really looked at Jesus? When was the last time that you felt an overwhelming sense of wonder in response to who he is and what he has done for you? When was the last time you ran towards him, just to be in his company?

My prayer for you (and me) today is a simple one: may God grant us the grace to see Jesus more clearly, to love him more dearly, and to follow him more nearly.

Ken Jackson