Session 7: The Mountain

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Mark 8:27–9:29
• Scripture Memory - The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25–26
• Catechism - Q: What practice enables us to embrace the mystery of the Christian life in knowledge of faith? A: Silence.

Introduction

In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.

Now what ought we to learn before everything else, but to be silent, that we may be able to speak? lest my voice should condemn me, before that of another acquit me … How many have I seen to fall into sin by speaking, but scarcely one by keeping silent; and so it is more difficult to know how to keep silent than how to speak. I know that most persons speak because they do not know how to keep silent. It is seldom that any one is silent even when speaking profits him nothing. He is wise, then, who knows how to keep silent.

The life of faith is lived in a balance of speech and silence. Much of God’s beauty, truth, mystery, and goodness is encountered through sound. While nature reveals general truths about God through its sonic expressions, God has also specifically revealed himself through his word. The knowledge of God is most clearly revealed in God’s written, spoken, and living Scripture. Divine revelation, expressed in the Bible and through Jesus Christ, allows us to know God truly. Therefore, the life of faith is based upon confession of that revealed truth and subservience to divine mystery. Christian disciples embrace Christ with simultaneous certainty and awe. The silent meditations of our hearts give expression in spoken testimony with our mouths. To practice intentional silence is to deepen our faith in and fortify our witness of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, silence is not in abundant supply in our culture. Noise can be found everywhere. Some of it is wholesome, beautiful, and helps to stir wonder in the pursuit of God. Other noise is unhealthy and menacing, polluting the world in which we live and keeping us from tuning in to divine mystery. It seems that the more technological we become, the more noise becomes inundating and suffocating. The world is filled with an incessant soundscape of noise, seeping into hearts and shaping life principles and beliefs. Without breaks from the noise, we can unwittingly imbibe the values of the surrounding culture. News broadcasts, the music industry, popular entertainment, and the voices of peers can easily overshadow God’s voice in our lives. Before we know it, biblical truth has been relegated to the background, causing us to follow the marching orders of every other competing voice. Even worse, in the flurry of cacophonic noise, we begin to contribute to the clamor. Sinful habits and evil fester in unceasing noise. The enemy seeks to increase the volume of discordant sounds, and he aims to multiply ungodly voices to derail disciples from the walk of faith. We need not yield to his schemes. The Bible and Jesus’ own life offer us a spiritual gift to help navigate a world filled with distraction and chatter. This spiritual practice of silence is addressed in Mark’s biblical account of Christ’s life.

Jesus commends and commands silence in Mark 8:27–9:29. In this biblical narrative, Jesus discussed essential theological truths with his disciples at Caesarea Philippi. A short time afterward, Jesus revealed his glory to three of his disciples on a mountaintop. This transfiguration previewed Jesus’ future glory and called his disciples to a life of obedience. The disciples discussed the nature of Jesus’ resurrection as they traveled back down the mountain. During this time, they heeded Jesus’ instruction to remain silent about their mountaintop experience. When they arrived at the bottom of the mountain, they encountered the rest of the disciples embroiled in a controversy. They had failed to exorcise a boy who had been tormented by an unclean spirit. This spirit had afflicted the boy from childhood with seizures, deafness, and muteness. After rebuking people for their doubt, Jesus authoritatively drove out the demon. Jesus used this exorcism to teach about the importance of faith and the practice of intercessory prayer.

This biblical text connects the practice of silence to the life of faith. In this narrative, Jesus commends certain kinds of silence and cautions against others. He also rebukes misguided speech and encourages godly forms of speech. Jesus did not demand full silence from his disciples. Jesus invited his disciples into seasons of silence so that they would learn how to speak at the right times and in the right ways. For Jesus, intentional silence was a preparation for God-honoring speech. Godly speech was an expression of sincere and mature faith, often cultivated by a balanced life of silence and speech. As we explore this text, may God’s inspired word help you embrace the faith with greater devotion and esteem Jesus with greater reverence as you seek to apply the spiritual practice of silence in your own life.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God is inviting us into a life of mystery and wonder of his presence through the spiritual practice of silence and secrecy.

Passage Overview

Endless noise is certain to injure spiritual vitality. Oppressive silence grieves the heart of God. The life of faith is lived in the mature balance of silence and speech. The contemplative and reflective nature of purposeful silence (and secrecy) helps us build our faith in Christ. This established faith helps us to employ our speech as a redemptive advocate of those who have been oppressively silenced. To intentionally practice Christlike silence is to tune our minds to God’s will, to evaluate our convictions by God’s word, to submit our lives to God’s Son, and to embrace the mysteries of the faith with a humble and receptive spirit. To speak on behalf of others is an act of faith by which we speak out against evil and prayerfully intercede for those in desperate need. The conversation at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop, the disciples’ private discussion about the resurrection, and the exorcism of the spirit-possessed boy help us consider the role of silence in our walk of faith. Use the following exposition of the biblical text to explain the scriptural passage and to explore the practice of silence, secrecy, and mystery in the Christian faith.

Passage Outline

A Journey of Silence and Speech

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

Solitude, silence, and the strait keeping of the heart, are the foundations and grounds of a spiritual life.

Introduction

Life is a blend of silence and sound, listening and speech, quiet and conversation. Many of the sounds in this created world are beautiful resonances of God’s grace and creative genius. God has made a world of melody, voice, and tones. From friendly conversations to musical scores to nature soundscapes, beautiful sound is one of the great joys of human experience. Unfortunately, in a fallen world, sound can be invasive and disruptive. Constant sound can injure us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Unhealthy expression of sound, or noise, can manifest itself in commotion, clamor, and controversy. While beautiful sound can draw us into the presence of God, unbridled noise can disrupt our communion with God and God’s people. Sometimes we voluntarily increase the volume and racket in our lives to avoid spiritual reality, numb past pain, and dull our hearts to God’s convicting rebuke. Soundlessness inhibits our ability to see the full beauty of God, but incessant noise also hampers our attentiveness to spiritual realities. The spiritual practice of silence is a key practice that helps God’s people navigate our noise-cluttered world, to recover a single-minded attention to God’s voice. The Bible helpfully addresses this important spiritual practice through the life and ministry of Jesus.

In Mark 8:27–9:29, we encounter a string of narratives that help us understand the importance of silence in the Christian life. Jesus’ conversation with his disciples at Caesarea Philippi clarifies Jesus’ identity, vocation, and the nature of Christian discipleship. A short time later, Jesus revealed his glory to three of his disciples on top of a high mountain. This transfiguration emphasizes the importance of willing submission to Christ and the manner by which believers embrace the mysteries of the faith. On the descent from the mountain, Jesus warned his three disciples not to tell anyone about the transfiguration. In an act of spiritual silence, they collectively discussed the importance of Jesus’ resurrection, a landmark event when they would be permitted to break their silence about their mountaintop experience. The narrative concludes with an exorcism in which Jesus teaches about the importance of faith, prayer, and speaking out on behalf of those who are tormented by oppressive silence.

On the surface, this narrative reveals important truths about Jesus, the gospel, and the Christian life. At a closer look, it also highlights the role of silence in faith formation. A masterful narrative of literary quality and theological depth, the biblical narrative oscillates between its themes of speech and silence, confession and rebuke, knowledge and mystery, concealment and revelation, and patient waiting and intercessory advocacy. The themes of silence, secrecy, and speech are found elsewhere in Jesus’ ministry (cf. 1:34, 44–45; 3:11–12; 4:33–34; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26) and are worthy of our consideration as we seek to grow in the faith. Practiced in a Christlike manner, a life appropriately balanced with silence and speech can result in abiding joy, spiritual growth, and missional impact. Let us turn to this biblical narrative for our encouragement and instruction.

Who Do You Say I Am: Understanding the Essentials of the Christian Life

Biblical Narrative (Mark 8:27–9:1)

After performing a miraculous feeding and healing, Jesus traveled with his disciples “to the villages around Caesarea Philippi” (8:27). During their journey, Jesus asked his followers, “Who do people say I am?” (8:27). At this time in Jesus’ ministry, he was quite popular. Large crowds regularly gathered to hear his teaching and receive his healing (cf. 6:30–56; 8:1–10). Jesus performed these miracles to care for the needy but also to reveal his identity. The disciples answered Jesus’ question by recounting the litany of things people were saying about Jesus: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets” (8:28). Many people designated Jesus and his ministry as prophetic. Subsequently, Jesus pointedly asked his disciples the same question: “Who do you say I am?” (8:29). Ever eager to speak, Peter replied with a confident confession that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ (8:29). This was certainly an accurate statement. However, Jesus did not want news of him to spread in a way that would prematurely bring about his crucifixion. Therefore, Jesus “warned [his disciples] not to tell anyone about Him” (8:30). This vow of temporary secrecy would be lifted after Jesus rose again from the dead.

After Peter’s confession, Jesus taught his disciples about his work as “the Son of Man” (8:31). This instruction came in the form of a prophetic announcement. Jesus predicted his upcoming suffering, rejection, crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus explained this unfolding sequence of events: “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again” (8:31). Succinct and substantive, this prophecy was clear enough for Peter to understand the essence of what Jesus was saying. In fact, Jesus “spoke this message quite frankly” (8:32). Nevertheless, Peter did not fully grasp the essence of Jesus’ message. Many Jews at that time expected the Messiah to be a mighty deliverer, not a crucified leader. Jesus’ prediction of suffering, rejection, and death did not fit with the version of the Messiah that the disciples had anticipated. In some way, Peter had issues with Jesus’ words. Due to his misunderstanding, Peter “took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke Him” (8:32). At this time, Jesus turned and saw his disciples and “rebuked Peter” (8:33). Jesus reprimanded his lead disciple with the biting words: “Get behind Me, Satan!” (8:33). Jesus explained that Peter’s sinister misunderstanding came about because he was not setting his mind on “the things of God, but the things of men” (8:33).

Then, Jesus called together the crowd with his disciples and explained the nature of Christian discipleship. He explained that following him required a wholehearted commitment, but it also promised immeasurable blessing. A person could hypothetically “gain the whole world” and tragically “forfeit his soul” (8:36). No earthly possession was worth the loss of one’s soul (8:37). If anyone wanted to follow Jesus, he had to “deny himself and take up his cross” (8:34). Those interested in self-preservation would end up losing their lives; those willing to live sacrificially for Jesus’ sake would experience salvation (8:35). Those ashamed of Jesus would not be received into God’s kingdom (8:38). Disciples whose lives were marked by allegiance to Christ would find a welcoming reception into God’s kingdom. Jesus told the gathering that some people would “not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power” (9:1). In the next scene in the narrative, a small group of disciples previewed Christ’s kingdom power and divine glory on a special mountaintop revelation.

Biblical Principles

Silence and Waiting on the Lord’s Timing. This passage teaches us about the identity and vocation of Christ. The common understanding of Jesus as a prophetic figure considered him an elevated spiritual figure but did not acknowledge his full identity (8:27–28). On the other hand, Peter’s confession was a confident and decisive claim of Jesus’ messianic identity (8:29). Jesus was the Messiah: the promised deliverer of sinful humanity. Surprisingly, Jesus told his disciples to remain silent about this confession (8:30). Jesus did not require silence because Peter confessed something untrue about Jesus. Rather, Jesus commanded his disciples to silence precisely because Peter’s statement was true. Jesus was not calling for silence in order to protect himself or his disciples. Later, Jesus clearly explained the sacrificial cost involved in being a follower of Christ (8:34–38). The call for silence was also not a mild suggestion. It came in the form of a stern and firm warning (8:30). A simple answer to this unexpected command is found in the fact that Jesus did not want to prematurely cause his crucifixion. There was more work that Jesus needed to accomplish prior to his sacrificial death and resurrection. The temporary silence about Jesus’ identity was an exhibition of the Christian virtue of patience: a willingness to wait for God’s plan to unfold in his perfect timing. When believers resort to silence as a spiritual practice, we are practicing the godly habit of waiting on the Lord.

Curbing Theological Misconceptions. Jesus’ command for silence is followed by a stern rebuke of his lead disciple. Caesarea Philippi represented the religious, political, and economic norms of the day. Consequently, it was important that Jesus’ identity and vocation were revealed at this locale. In this story, the cultural, social, and religious values of the surrounding world collided with Jesus’ redemptive work. After Peter accurately confessed Jesus’ identity, Jesus prophesied his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection (8:31). At this time, Peter was not receptive to Jesus’ words. Some other competing values interfered with Peter accepting what Jesus said. Jesus clearly spoke the content of the prophecy to his disciples so that they understood what Jesus actually said (8:32). A conflict arose not because of Jesus’ miscommunication but because of Peter’s resistant spirit. Peter simply did not like the implications of what Jesus said, even though he clearly understood the content of what Jesus said. Overzealous and overconfident, Peter rebuked Jesus (8:32), which turned into Jesus’ sharply rebuking Peter (8:33). In fact, Jesus called Peter’s rejection of Jesus’ words satanic (8:33). Jesus’ rebuke was a means of silencing his lead disciple for an unreceptive heart and a misunderstanding of Jesus’ vocation. Whether in the form of heart conviction or divine rebuke, disciples of Christ helpfully retreat into silence to correct their misunderstandings (theological, spiritual, or otherwise) of Jesus. Times of silence afford a helpful moment to evaluate how our personal convictions might be at odds with God’s revealed word. To give ourselves to the renewal of our minds is to better prepare ourselves for the life of discipleship.

Encouraging Sacrificial Discipleship. The practice of silence can help believers embrace Jesus’ radical call to discipleship. This opening section of the biblical narrative ends with Jesus teaching his disciples what it means to follow him. To follow Christ will involve self-denial (8:34), suffering (8:34), sacrifice (8:35), and bold public witness (8:38). Christians who count the cost of discipleship know that the present suffering involved in following Christ will yield blessing of life with Christ (8:34), eternal salvation (8:35–37), entrance into God’s kingdom (8:38), and access to divine power (9:1). This teaching on the call of discipleship mirrors Jesus’ prophetic announcement of his own vocation: a road of suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection (8:31). In the practice of silence, believers can come to understand the nature of discipleship and count the cost of following Christ. While people should not delay in receiving Jesus’ offer of salvation, they should also not hastily agree to follow Christ without understanding the cost and sacrifice involved in this most important commitment. The patient silence to wait for God’s unfolding plan to come to fruition and Jesus’ silencing rebuke of Peter’s misunderstanding help believers consider what it means to sincerely and unreservedly follow Christ. To give ourselves to the practice of silence is to make ourselves Jesus’ apprentices, revolving our entire life around Jesus.

There He Was Transfigured: Encountering God and Embracing Mystery for Faith Formation

Biblical Narrative (Mark 9:2–8)

At Caesarea Philippi, the disciples learned about Jesus’ identity and vocation. At this time, Jesus called his disciples to two forms of silence and secrecy. He told his disciples to (temporarily) refrain from telling others that he was the Messiah. He also rebuked Peter for his misguided and evil misunderstanding of Jesus’ words. Six days later, Jesus went “up a high mountain” (9:2) with three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John. Jesus and his three disciples were there “by themselves” (9:2). In the privacy of this moment, Jesus revealed his glory to his disciples in a powerful and visible way as Jesus “was transfigured before them” (9:2). This transfiguration was a transformation of appearance which resulted in a clear and vivid manifestation of Jesus’ majesty. Jesus’ appearance was brilliant and powerfully luminous: “His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them” (9:3). Adding to his overwhelming glory, Jesus was miraculously in the company of two Old Testament saints. A sight etched into these disciples’ memory, Elijah and Moses “appeared before them, talking with Jesus” (9:4).

Peter was once again (too) eager to speak. He told Jesus, “It is good for us to be here” (9:5). Then, Peter insisted on building shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This suggestion may have come from the annual festival called the Feast of Booths (or, Feast of Tabernacles) during which the Israelites celebrated to remember Israel’s wandering in the wilderness (cf. Leviticus 23:33–43). By building shelters for these three, perhaps Peter hoped to sustain Jesus’ glorious appearance and extend the visit of Moses and Elijah. Whatever his intentions, Peter “did not know what else to say” (9:6). With the disciples “terrified” (9:6), Peter preemptively offered these suggestions, which only showed his lack of spiritual understanding. After Peter said these words, a cloud surrounded the disciples. A voice spoke from the cloud with the following words: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” (9:7). In this message, God the Father not only authenticated the identity of his Son, but he also enjoined his disciples to heed Jesus’ teaching. At that moment, the mountaintop scene “suddenly” (9:8) changed. Moses and Elijah departed, and there was “no one with them except Jesus” (9:8).

Biblical Principles

Human Silence and Divine Speech. Effectively, Jesus himself was (literarily) silent in this biblical narrative. Although Elijah and Moses were “talking with Jesus” (9:4), there is no recorded speech of Jesus in the transfiguration account. Jesus was the central focus of the whole event—his revealed glory, brilliant appearance, and heavenly beauty put on display—yet the narrative records none of Jesus’ words. The narrative “silence” of Jesus is starkly contrasted with the hasty and wrongheaded speech of Peter. Asserting that it was good for the three disciples to be at the transfiguration (9:5), Peter’s speech was overconfident and lacked humility. His insistence on building three shelters (9:5) betrayed his lack of theological and spiritual understanding. The narrative records that he spoke his words out of fear and ignorance (9:6). Afraid and insecure, Peter held erroneous ideas about the meaning of the transfiguration event, which drove him to propose a mistaken course of action. Misspoken words can signal a lack of spiritual understanding and underlying fear, doubt, and insecurity. The blunder certainly casts Peter in a shadow, but it also confronts us. How many times have we spoken out of haste, overconfidence, fear, or ignorance? Could we not tame our speech and faith immaturity through patient silence? What wrongheaded beliefs do we hold out of selfish ambition or personal insecurity? Certainly, to practice silence is to curb our proclivity to speak foolishly in the name of spiritual devotion. It is also a means of waiting for God’s voice to break through in his own time.

Had Peter practiced silence in the moment, his restrained speech would have helped him seek God’s instruction rather than forcefully assert his own opinion. Importantly, God’s authoritative voice overtook Peter’s thoughtless suggestions. The voice of God the Father resounded from an enveloping cloud and spoke unalterable truth. God’s word came in the form of a confession and a command: “This is My beloved Son” and “Listen to Him” (9:7). In this statement, God affirmed the identity of Jesus and called his disciples to submission: to know Jesus truly is to defer fully to him. While Peter was preoccupied with the appearance of Elijah and Moses, he needed only to focus his attention on the presence of Jesus. After God’s voice came from the clouds, the narrative reports that the disciples “saw no one with them except Jesus” (9:8). Basic to discipleship is exclusive fidelity to Christ: to listen to Jesus as if he is the only one there. Inherent in the command “listen to Him” is the need for actual silence. Naturally, to listen well (and even hear God’s voice through his word) requires us to pause our own speech. While such listening requires attentiveness on our part, this kind of listening is not merely auditory. To “listen” is to hear God’s voice and to heed God’s word. God’s command called the disciples to willing obedience as much as acoustic focus. The practice of silence helps us restrain erring words, exercise personal discipline, confess revealed truth, and obey divine revelation.

Embracing the Mystery of the Faith. The practice of silence is important for the life of discipleship because of the way it helps us reverently embrace the mystery of the Christian faith. While God has clearly and sufficiently revealed himself to his people (9:7), God has not revealed himself exhaustively (9:6, 9–13). There is much in the faith that we do not yet understand. Some truths of the faith we do not fully understand at the present moment, and these realities will become progressively revealed according to God’s perfect timing. Other elements of the faith we will never fully understand because our limited human understanding cannot completely grasp God’s infinite, eternal, and inexhaustible nature. In this biblical text, the glory of heaven and the materiality of earth meet (9:3, 7). Jesus’ transfiguration took place on a “high mountain” (9:2), a place commonly regarded as spiritually significant because it represented a meeting place of heaven and earth. Part of the mystery of the faith is how a heavenly deity intervenes in earthly human existence. The mystery is also experienced in how God has been involved in human affairs throughout the course of world history. Consequently, the presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus (9:4) showed both continuity and discontinuity of the Old and New Testaments, God’s progressive and unfolding purposes of salvation throughout the ages. The presence of all three figures talking together—Moses, Elijah, and Jesus—highlights the continuity of God’s redemptive work (9:4). The divine affirmation of Jesus (9:7), along with the eventual exit of Moses and Elijah (9:8), highlights the discontinuity of the covenants—all things summed up in Christ. The mystery of the faith is no less seen than in the dual nature of Christ. In the same person, Jesus is fully God and fully man. When the incarnate Jesus was transfigured in heavenly glory, Jesus’ humanity and deity were clearly (yet mysteriously) seen at the same time. This moment was not a spectacular embellishment but a theological revelation, a peeling back of the veil of reality to see things for what they really are. To digest the mystery of the faith—the intersection of heaven and earth, God’s progressive work across the Old Testament and New Testament, and Jesus’ deity and humanity—requires a spiritual perception that silence alone can bring.

Silence helps us embrace the mysteries of our faith with humility and deference. Contrary to common perception, mystery does not mean the absence of truth. Christian mystery is based upon divine revelation, truth we confess without obtaining a complete and encyclopedic understanding. Silence summons us to embrace the faith with boldness and cautions us against overconfident insistence on personal opinion. To ponder the truth of God in silence is to confess what we know is true and to refrain from speaking beyond what we know to be true. In fact, silent meditation on God’s word can sometimes help curb a tendency toward spiritual pride that may often dangerously accompany one’s access to divine revelation. All of this, of course, is dependent upon God’s revelation in his word and in his Son. When we are silent, we refuse to insist that our opinions are inspired truth, our suggestions are divine imperatives, and our limited understanding is unerring prophecy. Too easily, we can play the part of Peter, impetuously asserting mistaken assumptions under the guise of spiritual devotion. The Christian practice of silence is not mindless or empty. It is rooted in God’s revelation to man, bound to his authoritative and inspired word. While divine revelation establishes timeless truth, it also confronts our human finitude. In this mystery, disciples live out their faith.

They Kept This Matter to Themselves: Practicing Contemplation, Conversation, and Biblical Exploration

Biblical Narrative (Mark 9:9–13)

After Jesus’ glorious transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples went down the mountain. On their descent, Jesus called his disciples to another mode of silence. Specifically, Jesus “admonished [his disciples] not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (9:9). This command to silence was similar to what Jesus said after Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi (cf. 8:30). Certainly, the Christian faith involves the public proclamation of Christ to the world. Yet, at this specific moment in history, Jesus did not want to bring about his crucifixion prematurely. It needed to take place at the right time. After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus’ disciples would no longer be silent. Wherever they went, disciples were to offer a resounding public witness to the world.

Obedient to Jesus’ command, the disciples “kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead” (9:10) only among the three of them. Although Jesus had already predicted his resurrection (cf. 8:31), the disciples did not fully understand what Jesus was saying. Their discussion must have prompted some theological questions. The disciples asked Jesus about the scribal saying concerning the importance of Elijah coming first (9:11). Jesus affirmed that Elijah did come first (9:12–13). Of course, this referred to John the Baptist coming prior to Jesus. Since people did “whatever they wished” (9:13) to John the Baptist, Jesus himself would “suffer many things and be rejected” (9:12). The coming of the Son of Man was preceded by the coming of a prophetic figure represented by Elijah. The way this prophet was treated foreshadowed the way people would treat Jesus.

Biblical Principles

Keeping Silence and Contemplating Resurrection. Jesus commanded his disciples to keep silent about his transfiguration. Specifically, the disciples were “not to tell anyone what they had seen” (9:9). Jesus told them to keep this event a secret until his resurrection. Since three disciples experienced the transfiguration together, their silence did not mean they could not talk among themselves about the event. In fact, during their descent on the mountain, the disciples “kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead” (9:10). The disciples both kept silence and collectively contemplated the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection. As Jesus discussed the matter with his disciples, he twice referenced inspired Scripture—“it is written” (9:13; cf. 9:12). Silence afforded opportunity for reflection. This silence was also conducive to private conversation among the disciples and Jesus. This discussion led this small group to reflect on God’s revealed word. The practice of silence can facilitate theological contemplation, spiritual conversation, and biblical inquiry. The contemplative and conversational silence specifically provided an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection. Eventually, this silence would break, and the disciples would become public witnesses of Christ.

Announcing Crucifixion and Resurrection. Silence breaks at the resurrection. The conversation between the disciples revolved around “what it meant to rise from the dead” (9:10). Only after Jesus’ resurrection were the disciples allowed to tell people about the transfiguration (9:9). The disciples’ personal witness of the resurrected Christ would enable them to speak openly about Jesus’ revealed glory. The discussions about Elijah and his mistreatment were references to John the Baptist, the prophet who would come to prepare the way for Jesus and the restoration of all things (9:11–13). A reference to his eventual crucifixion, Jesus would “suffer many things and be rejected” (9:12). After his death on the cross, Jesus would rise victoriously from the grave. Clearly, the transfiguration was a preview of Jesus’ glory and exaltation. At the time, the disciples did not fully understand what it meant. Only after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection would the hidden meaning at the transfiguration be revealed.

Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are the centerpiece of our faith. These historical events are the nucleus of the gospel message. They are what make Christianity a faith of good news. The cross and the empty tomb are also the main prism through which believers understand life and God’s work in the world. The whole of human history and the entirety of our life purpose revolve around Jesus’ redemptive work. Additionally, Christ’s redemptive work on the cross is the means of salvation and also an interpretive grid to understand Jesus’ true identity. His work provides a pattern for Christian discipleship: suffering before glory. When believers place their faith in Christ, they live a life of self-denial in anticipation of future bliss (cf. 8:34–9:1). Jesus’ death and resurrection also represent the core content of Christian witness. While believers should cultivate habits of silence and secrecy to grow in our faith, we should not be silent about Christ. We live in a post-resurrection world: Jesus has already risen from the dead. Along with testimony about Jesus’ life and death, we are called to bear witness to Jesus’ resurrection and transcendent glory (cf. Luke 24:46–48; Acts 1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33). The sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the triumph of his resurrection are powerful and life-altering truths. Silence that often accompanies theological reflection, spiritual conversation, and biblical inquiry must give way to public witness of the resurrected Lord.

All Things Are Possible to Him Who Believes: Faith as the Foundation for Prayerful Intercession

Biblical Narrative (Mark 9:14–29)

When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain, they saw a large crowd gathered around the other disciples (9:14). At that time, the disciples were embroiled in an argument with Jewish scribes. When the people saw Jesus, “they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him” (9:15). When Jesus asked what the dispute was about (9:16), a person in the crowd told Jesus that the disciples had failed to exorcise a demon from a boy. The person who spoke to Jesus was the boy’s father. He told Jesus that an evil spirit had made his son mute and tormented him with seizures. The father explained the severity of the boy’s condition: “Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground” and “He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid” (9:18). The man brought his son to Jesus to be healed (9:17), but the disciples had been unable to drive out the evil spirit in his stead (9:18). This failed exorcism stirred dissension in the crowd.

Jesus rebuked the people’s lack of faith, calling them an “unbelieving generation” (9:19). After expressing his disapproval and disfavor over their spiritual dullness, Jesus instructed them to bring the boy to him (9:19). When the spirit saw Jesus, it “immediately threw the boy into a convulsion” (9:20). The boy was tormented as the father had described: “He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth” (9:20). Jesus asked the father how long his son had this condition (9:21). The father explained that even from childhood the spirit would cast the boy into fire and water in an attempt to kill him (9:22). In desperation, the father pleaded, “if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (9:22). Jesus emphatically challenged the father’s unbelief by repeating the man’s question as a kind of rebuke: “If You can?” (9:23). Subsequently, Jesus declared that “all things are possible to him who believes” (9:23). Overcome by the severity of his son’s condition and convicted by his own personal doubt, the man made an emotional appeal to Jesus: “I do believe; help my unbelief” (9:24).

At this time, the crowd made their way to Jesus. They were running to him in haste (9:25). Jesus spoke a firm and forceful rebuke to the evil spirit: “You deaf and mute spirit … I command you to come out and never enter him again” (9:25). The spirit cried out, violently convulsed the boy, and came out of the boy (9:26). The exorcism of the spirit left the boy like a corpse on the ground (9:26). Many people thought he had died, but Jesus grabbed the boy’s hand and helped him stand up on his feet (9:27). Jesus had healed the boy, overcome the forces of evil, and demonstrated his unparalleled power to the crowd. After this, Jesus went into the house and spoke privately with his disciples. The disciples asked Jesus why they had not been able to successfully cast out the spirit (9:28). Jesus told them that this kind of unclean spirit could not be exorcised “except by prayer” (9:29).

Biblical Principles

Confronting the Silence of Oppression. In this story, we learn that silence is not always good. The argumentative clamor of the crowd (9:14, 16) was in stark contrast to the boy’s inability to hear and speak (9:17, 25). The cause of the boy’s physical impediments was an evil spirit. This spirit was identified as an “unclean spirit” and a “deaf and mute spirit” (9:25). This evil spirit was also the cause of considerable torment for the boy. When the spirit seized the boy (9:18), he was thrown to the ground (9:17, 20), foamed at the mouth (9:18, 20), gnashed his teeth (9:18), became stiff in body (9:18), rolled uncontrollably on the ground (9:20), and experienced severe convulsions (9:20, 26). In the boy’s past, the spirit even threw him into fire and water in an attempt to kill him (9:22). The boy had suffered with this condition from childhood (9:21). The boy was under the oppressive control of an evil spirit, and he could not even speak out for himself. This forced silence was a case of evil oppression. In contrast to the other beneficial modes of silence in this narrative, the silence of the mute boy was a malady to be resolved, not a condition to be maintained.

Oppression often induces forced silence. Compulsory speechlessness is a means for tyrants and evil regimes to control those under their cruel and domineering rule. When oppressed—whether economically, sexually, emotionally, physically, or spiritually—the afflicted rarely feel the power to speak up for themselves. The voice of the poor can be muffled by the loud and powerful noise of the wealthy. Victims of abuse often lack the words, means, and ability to speak up for themselves. Many with special needs lack advocates who will champion their best interests. And, as in the case of this biblical narrative, evil spirits confine their victims to silence under emotional, physical, and spiritual torment. Jesus’ exorcising rebuke of the unclean spirit delivered the boy from his oppressed silence. Jesus’ gracious and powerful word broke the oppressive silence of the demon-possessed boy. The disciples’ failure to deliver the boy from his predicament was due to immaturity of faith and lack of prayerful intercession.

Faith-Filled Intercessory Prayer. Faith is the foundation for the spiritual life and a ministry of advocacy for the oppressed. In this narrative, the people, the disciples, and the father lacked faith. The divisive argument among the crowd of people (9:14, 16) represented some contention about the disciples’ failed exorcism. Jesus responded by chastising the people as a whole: “O unbelieving generation” (9:19). Clearly, the disciples lacked some measure of faith to exorcise the evil spirit (9:18, 28–29). Even the boy’s father struggled to be a faith-filled advocate for his son. The father’s doubt caused him to be hesitant in his request to Jesus. Although the father asked for Jesus’ compassionate help, he did so with tentative words: “if You can do anything” (9:22). Eventually, the father admitted his doubt and asked Jesus to help him grow in faith (9:24). Jesus rebuked the man’s uncertainty and asserted that “all things are possible to him who believes” (9:23).

Jesus explained the cause of the failed exorcism: weak faith and prayerlessness (9:28–29). Without the foundation of authentic faith, people do not turn to God in sincere prayer. The severity of the boy’s malady did not prevent his healing; the lack of faith was the overwhelming reason the boy remained in his oppressed and tormented state. The longevity of his condition was not a problem for Jesus; the disciples’ failure occurred due to a lack of prayer. While God may not heal all people in the same way, his liberating power is always and fully available for his people. God’s power is not limited by challenging circumstances or debilitating conditions. God’s power is accessible to those who humbly approach God in faith and prayer. Prayer is a powerful means to commune with God and to employ our speech to help others in times of need. Approaching God in this way is not only to our own spiritual benefit but is a means of advocacy for others suffering under spiritual plight.

While Jesus commended modes of silence earlier in this narrative, he rebuked an oppressive kind of silence at the end of the account. The two modes of silence and speech are reciprocal and interdependent. Godly silence enables us to employ our speech on behalf of others. The practice of silence is a means of building our faith in Christ. Refraining from speech at appropriate times and in fitting ways is vital for our own spiritual growth. Too often, our misplaced and misguided speech obstructs our faith progress as disciples. The practice of silence also prepares us to be a voice on behalf of others. We should not always be silent. We should speak out against oppression and proclaim Jesus to the world. Additionally, we should give ourselves to petitionary prayer. Faith in Christ is the vital basis for prayerful intercession. Those who genuinely trust God retreat to prayer in complete dependence. In this biblical story, advocacy for the possessed boy looked like an authoritative rebuke (9:25) and intercessory prayer (9:29). As our faith in Christ grows through various spiritual practices (including silence), we become equipped as advocates to boldly and prayerfully confront oppression, tyranny, and forced silence that we encounter.

Conclusion

Jesus’ ministry was characterized by a perfect balance of speech and silence. At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus taught his disciples about his identity, vocation, and call to discipleship. In the course of this conversation, Jesus commanded silence to develop patient trust in God’s unfolding plan and correction of his disciples’ theological error. On a high mountain, Jesus was gloriously transfigured before three of his disciples. This revelatory experience summoned the disciples’ faithful obedience to God’s word and attentiveness to divine mysteries of the faith. As they descended the mountain, Jesus instructed his disciples to remain silent about what they had seen on the mountain. In this brief episode, we learn how silence can facilitate theological reflection, spiritual conversation, and biblical exploration. The final scene of this story recounts Jesus’ exorcism of a spirit that oppressed a boy with violent seizures, deafness, and muteness. Jesus’ authoritative rebuke of the spirit and his insistence on the importance of prayer highlight a Christlike way to break the silence and advocate for the oppressed.

Silence is a powerful practice to aid us in the Christian life. Silence can expose, curb, and correct theological misunderstanding and help us embrace the fullness of the mystery of God with humility and conviction. To practice silence is to center our thinking on the person and work of Christ, establishing his death and resurrection as a primary lens by which we understand our personal vocation and God’s purposes in the world. As a result of practicing godly silence, believers can speak out on behalf of others with Christlike rebuke and prayerful intercession when oppressors force silence on them. We practice silence by refraining from speech and exploring theological truth in the Christian community. Through this spiritual practice, we can embrace the mystery of the faith with conviction, courage, patience, and devotion. Let us learn to listen to the Son, placing him at the center of our focus and attention.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 7 SYNOPSIS
Silence and Secrecy	In this passage, Jesus commends the practice of silence and secrecy. On the way to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus taught his disciples about his identity and vocation. He also helped them understand the nature of the Christian life. Soon after this, Jesus took three of his disciples to a mountaintop where his appearance was gloriously transfigured. On the way down the mountain, Jesus discussed important theological matters with them. When they came down the mountain, they met an angered crowd, upset at the rest of the disciples for not exorcising a demon-possessed boy. Jesus drove out the spirit and taught his disciples about the importance of faith and prayer. Throughout this narrative, Jesus commends to his disciples an appropriate balance of speech and silence as a means to grapple with the mystery of the faith. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
The Practice of Silence	Disciples can grow in their faith by practicing times of temporary silence. Silence can help disciples develop patience in God’s timing (8:29–30), correct theological misunderstandings (8:31–33), cultivate faith in Jesus and obedience to his commands (9:7–8), contemplate biblical and theological reality (9:9–13), foster spiritual conversation (9:10, 28–29), and give oneself to intercessory prayer (9:29).
Revelation and Mystery	Although God clearly reveals truth in his word (9:12–13), his Son (8:27–33; 9:2–8), and prophetic announcement (8:31; 9:1, 9–13), there is a mystery of the faith that disciples do not fully understand (9:2–3, 6–7). Silence helps believers live out their faith in word and deed, confessing the truth, obeying God’s commands, trusting in his word, bearing witness to Jesus, and ministering to the lost and oppressed.
Oppressive Silence	Some silence is oppressive and evil. The demon-possessed boy experienced oppressive silence (9:17–18, 20–22, 25–26). Oppressive silence can be overcome by the power of Jesus (9:18, 22–25, 28), genuine faith (9:19, 22–24), and intercessory prayer (9:28–29).
The Identity and Vocation of Jesus Christ	This passage teaches that Jesus is the promised Messiah (8:29), Son of Man (8:31, 38), teacher (9:5, 17), and Son of God (9:7). Times of silence can help us grow in our faith of Jesus, deepening our knowledge of his identity and vocation (8:27–33), his deity and humanity (9:2–8), his crucifixion and resurrection (9:9–12), and his power and compassion (9:14–29). Reflective and theological silence can help disciples understand God’s redemptive work across ages (9:5, 11–13) and his plan to restore all things (9:12).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Practice Silence

In the following week, find some space to be silent. Try to spend an entire day not speaking about yourself. Then afterward, record what was surprising, insightful, and challenging about such an activity. Also, think through how such a practice of silence will be a part of your regular practice as a Christian.

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Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.