An Apprenticeship to Jesus
Gospel of Mark Study
Week 9

Introduction: 
Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s fantastic to be here with you today. We are on week 9 of our new season called An Apprenticeship to Jesus: Gospel of Mark Study.
Last week, we looked at Mark 8 and the key takeaways were:
Jesus meets physical and spiritual needs with compassion.
Faith requires clarity — beware influences that distort truth.
Discipleship means surrender — losing our life for Christ’s sake is the way to save it.
This week, we are going to see Jesus for who he really is.
Make sure that you download the PDF of the study and listen with a friend.
Let’s jump in to the study. Would you pray with me.

Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see Jesus. Open our ears to hear what you have to say to us and soften our hearts. Help us to be more like Jesus today. In His name we pray, Amen!

Read Mark 9
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 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.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 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.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 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.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  
Mark 9:1–50, ESV

Discussion:

What did Jesus say in this chapter?

What did Jesus do in this chapter?

What did you learn from Jesus?

What surprised you about Jesus?

What confused you about Jesus?

What questions do you have?

How can I be like Jesus this week?

Closing Prayer:
You, O Lord, are my shepherd; I shall not be in want. You make me lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside quiet waters. You restore my soul. You guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Your house, O Lord, forever. Amen.
Adapted from Psalm 23:1–6 

I am excited to announce a new season called 365 Days with Jesus starting January 1, 2026.

Slow down. Listen. Be transformed.

In our fast-paced, noisy world, it’s easy to skim over scripture without letting it sink in. 365 Days With Jesus invites you to step away from the rush and spend a full year walking slowly and intentionally through the Gospels.

Using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, each day’s reading is divided into seven simple, life-giving steps:
Slow Down – quiet your mind and prepare your heart
Read – encounter the words of Jesus
Notice – pay attention to what stands out
Reread – let the truth sink deeper
Meditate – reflect on God’s message for you
Respond – speak to God from your heart
Exercise – live out the Word in your daily life

Whether you are new to the Bible or have walked with Christ for years, this devotional will help you hear Jesus’ voice more clearly, love Him more deeply, and follow Him more faithfully.

Take the journey. One day. One step. One scripture at a time.

Thanks for listening, support the Podcast, share the Podcast, leave a comment and I’ll see you next week.

Exercises for the week (pick 1 new practice this week)
Meditation - Think of meditation like chewing a piece of gum that’s flavor never goes away. Each day this week chew on the following verse like a piece of gum with unending flavor. Roll it around in your mind and make it like that song that gets stuck in your head all day. “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9, NLT

Scripture Memory - This week, take time to commit the following verses to memory. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”   
1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV

Long Walk - This week, go on a long walk with the Lord. Find a beautiful trail, put on your walking shoes and take a walk with God. While you walk, take time to talk with God.  

Assignment for next week : Read Mark 10