Jesus Only

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Is the Lord Jesus able to save us completely—for eternity? Can He do the job? Yes, we’ll now see Jesus as God’s servant, six months before He goes to the Cross for us.

Jesus still attracts thousands of people—some are His followers, but His critics also come hoping to trap Him. Others only hope to see miracles.

For the engaged crowd of 10,000+ who listened to Jesus teach for three days in the Decapolis, Jesus fed them from seven loaves and a few small fish—much to the disciples’ amazement.

Didn’t the disciples remember what Jesus had done a few weeks before on another hillside? But don’t we often have the same experience? God does something very gracious for us, but we soon forget it. When a new emergency arises, we stress all over again.

Now that the disciples had fully engaged with Jesus’ ministry, Jesus thought it time to reveal future plans to them and tell them His real identity. He took them on a retreat far away from crowds where He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

“Some say you’re John the Baptist, others say Elijah.” But Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?”

Peter gave the answer for us all: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” This is the finest thing he ever said.

Jesus praised Peter and His men for believing the truth about Him but told them to wait until the gospel story was complete before they talked about it. “Between then and now, there will be the Cross,” He said. “I will suffer in coming days—and then I will die. But three days later, I will rise again.”

This was the first time the disciples heard about the Cross, and they were unprepared for the news. Again, Peter stepped up and protested. “Never, Jesus!” (This is the worst thing Peter ever said.) But Jesus knew where it was coming from—the enemy of our soul. He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Satan denies the value of Jesus’ death.

The Lord, strong on truth but tender towards His followers, then describes what a life of His true disciples looks like. A disciple denies himself, takes up his cross, and follows Him. We don’t do this to be saved, but because we are saved.

Then Jesus took Peter, James, and John and climbed a mountain alone. While the disciples napped, Jesus stood alone in prayer and was transfigured—completely changed—into light. This is the glorified Christ as He will come someday to this earth. It’s what you and I will be someday when we shall be like Him (see 1 John 3:2).

Then Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus—yes, the same men we read about in the Old Testament. Elijah represented the prophets and Moses represented the Law. The whole Bible testifies to Jesus as Messiah.

As they stood there together—Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, with the three disciples looking on—a cloud overshadowed them and they heard a voice say, “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him.” A moment later, the disciples saw Jesus only.

Jesus told them not to talk about this until after He had risen from the dead.

As they continued toward Jerusalem, Jesus shared more about His coming death and resurrection, and the disciples argued among themselves about who of them would be the greatest in the kingdom.

1.The disciples seem to have quickly forgotten the lesson of feeding the multitude, so Jesus did something very similar. We often do the same thing. What things does God seem to be allowing to repeat in your life? What lessons are you struggling to learn?

2. Who did Peter say Jesus was? What does Peter’s confession mean, and how is it life-changing for us today, just as much as it was for the first disciples?

3. The disciples seem to have quickly forgotten the lesson of feeding the multitude, so Jesus did something very similar. We often do the same thing. What things does God seem to be allowing to repeat in your life? What lessons are you struggling to learn?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on Mark 8 and Mark 9.