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Mark 
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Day 199

2 Peter 2:14a "Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls."

Day 199 – Mark 9

“Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls.”
2 Peter 2:14a

CLEARING UP A MISTAKEN NOTION

The scribes had done their work so well, that nobody knew how to counter this romanticized idea of the return of Elijah. As in the case of perpetuating their traditions, so the scribes also managed to put into the heads of the whole nation that they must await the return of Elijah before the Messiah would come. This was Jesus’ reply to His Disciples.

“Then He answered and told them,
‘Indeed Elijah is coming first and restores all things.
And how is it written concerning the Son of Man,
that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him
whatever they wished, as it is written of him.'”
MARK 9:12-13

1. The prophecy concerning the coming of Elijah

a) Jesus did not discredit the prophecy written in the book of Malachi.
b) However, He taught that Elijah had already come.
c) In Matthew’s Gospel, we have a very clearer statement on this subject:

“Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them
of John the Baptist.”
MATTHEW 17:13

2. The fate of Elijah

Jesus’ focus on Elijah was not on his ministry, but on what people did to him.

“Immediately the king sent an executioner
And commanded his head to be brought.
And he went and beheaded him in prison.”
MARK 6:27

3. A similar fate awaited Jesus

Once again Jesus emphasized to His Disciples that He too would suffer a similar fate.

a) “He must suffer many things”
b) “And be treated with contempt”

Jesus knew that His Disciples had a hard time coming to terms with the idea that He must suffer thus. Nevertheless, He knew that the prophecies of Isaiah would be fulfilled in due time (Cf. Isaiah 52-53). He was prepared for His ordeal. He wanted His Disciples to be just as ready as He was!