Today I read Mark 9. Chapter 9 starts off with the account on the Mount of Transfiguration. The JST clarifies that the Elias that appears to Jesus is John the Baptist. Other than that, there is not much difference between the account in Mark and the account in Matthew that we have already talked about. Mark does add a conversation between the Savior and the 3 Apostles on their way down out of the Mountain about why Elias must come before the Lord. Jesus' answer is fairly simple that Elias was to prepare the way for Jesus to come and teach the people of the prophets and how the Son of Man was to suffer many things for them.
I often wonder if in the scriptures stories and conversations seem so cryptic because they are written down from someone's memory or if that really is the way people spoke back then. In the case of Jesus, for at least most of it, I think that is the way Jesus was speaking because several times it states that the Apostles did not understand Him and what He meant. I do think that was mainly so that those who were not ready to receive Him would be protected and not condemned for rejecting Him.
After leaving the Mt. of Transfiguration, Jesus rejoins the rest of His Apostles to find that they have all been trying to cast out a devil out of a little boy. It specifically states it is a dumb devil, which I suppose just means it had never spoken and caused the boy to not speak. The Apostles were perplexed because while they had previously had much success with casting out devils, this one resisted their attempts to cast him out of the boy. The Savior, of course, is able to cast out the devil just fine and the boy is calm and returned to his father. The Apostles asked the Savior why they were so unsuccessful in casting out the devil and Jesus tells them that it requires prayer and fasting.
I have often wondered what was so different about this experience than the previous attempts the Apostles had in casting out devils. Why was this one so different from all the rest of the times they tried to cast out devils? The only thing I can think of is how they were living their lives up to this point. In the past, the Savior had sent them out to preach the Gospel and it was while on this endeavor that they reported they could cast out devils in His name. This time however, they were merely waiting for the Savior, Peter, James and John to return from the mountain when they were told about the boy's condition. So perhaps they were not in a spiritual frame of mind like they were when they were out spreading the word of God. At least that is all I can think of.
This chapter also contains the story of the Apostles arguing who will be greatest among them. The Savior tries to teach them that the greatest among them must be the servant of all. I very much doubt they understood what He was trying to teach them here. It is a concept that not many people seem to get. It always seems like those with the money and power in this life are those who expect others to serve them, not the other way around. At least that is how it is here in America, I do not know how it is in other countries but I cannot imagine it is very different considering what the Lord teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants section 121. I do not understand what it is about most people who seem to lust after power and spend their time and efforts chasing after it. Those with power ideally should only desire it to do good for their fellow man. Sadly we know all too well this is not the case.
The chapter ends with the statement about salt and if the salt loses its savor what is it good for. We have already talked about how we are the salt and we are to add that bit of goodness into the life of others. If everyone saw it as their personal mission to make sure that everyone they came in contact with on a daily basis had a little bit of a better day because of them, this world would be such a better place. Until tomorrow.
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