Mark 9:11-15
Mark 9:11 (KJB)
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
The question which troubled the disciples, even in spite of what they just
experienced, was that they heard that Elijah was to come first. The Scribes had
been teaching that since Elijah has not yet come back to Israel, it was
impossible for the Messiah to come. This was just another ploy to reject the
claims that Jesus was the Messiah. The scribes were looking for a physical
return of Elijah and not one who came in spirit. It is a good thing that the
physical Elijah did not come back because knowing what type of prophet he was,
he would have denounced all the Pharisees and Sadducees because of their
unbelief and lifestyles of greed.
Mark 9:12 (KJB)
And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all
things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many
things, and be set at nought.
Jesus did confirm the teaching of the scribes that Elijah was to come and
restore all things. The restoration was not one of political nature but of a
spiritual and moral nature. (Mal 4:6 KJV) And he shall turn the heart of the
fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I
come and smite the earth with a curse. The disciples, like the others in
Israel were looking for a physical Messiah to throw off the yoke of Rome. John’s
ministry was a mending ministry of repentance. Then Jesus wanted His disciples
to focus on the fact that He too was going to suffer according to what was
written in the Scriptures, especially Psalm 22, Psalm 69, Isaiah 53 et al.
Mark 9:13 (KJB)
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him
whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Then Jesus confirms to them that Elijah had already come and they did not know
him. He was not speaking of a return of the actual prophet but He was speaking
about the ministry of John the Baptist. The disciples knew that Herod had him
thrown in prison because he pronounced his marriage as sinful and eventually
John the Baptist was beheaded for his unrelenting ministry. Then Jesus tells the
disciples that just as John had suffered at the hands of these evil leaders, He
will also suffer the same fate as He will be crucified.
Mark 9:14 (KJB)
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the
scribes questioning with them.
At this point, Peter, James, and John had rejoined the other disciples at the
base of the mountain. The people had gathered knowing that Jesus had gone up to
the mountain and that He would be returning to His other disciples. It is not
known why the Scribes were questioning the other disciples but maybe to gain
information about Jesus or because in the following verses, a man brought his
devil vexed son and they could not expunge the devil from him. This should have
been something they were familiar with because when they went out two by two,
they encountered those with devil possession. The Scribes may have been
ridiculing the nine for their inability to cast out the devil from that person.
Mark 9:15 (KJB)
And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and
running to him saluted him.
Once the crowd of people had seen that Jesus was coming toward them, they had
gone toward Him and were greeting Him. They may have had joy because Jesus came
at an opportune time to help the boy possessed by a devil. This is the way the
Christian life goes. We go from a mountaintop experience to hand to hand combat
with the forces of Satan. Some believe that Jesus had some of the glow from the
Mount of Transfiguration still on Him when He descended the mountain and that is
why they were amazed. (Exo 34:29 KJV) And it came to pass, when Moses came
down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he
came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone
while he talked with him. Moses had the same residual glory.