Mark 9:33-37

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

So soon the disciples forgot the uncomfortable words that Yeshu had spoken about his death! They wanted to be chief ministers in his kingdom, they wanted to sit on the highest cushion next to Him.

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

In the privacy of a house Yeshu calls a solemn meeting; he as Teacher seated and his chosen disciples around him. See how he rebukes them. It is an object lesson, with just a child as its focus. How serious a lesson is it?                                                                                                                                                                                                        Answer:   ………………………… What does he do? He looks to the boy. The man wanting to be first minister wants the world to look at him. But Yeshu looks to the boy and cradles him in his arm. Is Yeshu’s heart high-minded or low?                                                                                                                     Answer:    ………………………..  The disciple of Yeshu must be last, not first; not high like an official, but low and servant-hearted. If a man shows such unselfish love to a child – and as a disciple of Jesus receives him – is it just that unimportant person whom is he receiving?                                                                                                                                                                             Answer:   …………………………. Or might it also be Yeshu himself?                                                                                                                                           Answer:   ………………………….. Or is it indeed more than Yeshu; is it the Father-Son Himself?                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Answer:   ……………………………

Mark 9:30-32

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Again Yeshu speaks clearly of his coming death. It is the purpose of God that He, Son of God, should be delivered up to his enemies.

Why do the disciples not understand his teaching (gsung-rab), this strange idea that he would die and rise after a short period? Or is it because they do not want to understand? they do not want a Messiah who will be murdered. Read on to find how quickly they forgot this uncomfortable thought. They wanted glory.

Mark 9:25-29

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could not we cast it out? And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” 

In the presence of Yeshu the spirit came out angry, but defeated..

For disciples of Yeshu to cast out such powerful spirits, in addition to believing in him, their praying is definitely needed, and should never be neglected.