ACC ~ Mark 9 v9 - 13

OVERVIEW:

John Chrysostom’s comments on the text focus upon the relation of Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus. Christ called John Elijah, because he had fulfilled the ministry of the type of Elijah. The death of Jesus was darkly foreshadowed in this text immediately after the confession of Peter and the transfiguration. In his atonement, the heart of the Father was being restored to sinners by the self-giving of the Son (CHRYSOSTOM).

9:9 | Tell No One

UNTIL HE SHALL HAVE RISEN

CHRYSOSTOM: So He bound them to silence. Furthermore he spoke of his passion as though it were the reason why he asked them to be silent. Note that he did not tell them that they must never tell this to anyone. Instead they should not tell it until he had risen from the dead. In this respect he was silent as to what was painful, and spoke only of what was joyful. GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 57. [1]

[1] TLG 2062.152, 58.554.27-32; SSGF 2:57-58*.

9:12a | Elijah Does Come First to Restore All Things

RESTORING THE HEART OF THE FATHER TO THE SON

CHRYSOSTOM: Note the extreme accuracy of [the prophetic] expression. [1] He does not say “He will restore the heart of the son to the father,” but “of the father to the son.” [2] GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 57.1. [3]

[1] To which Mk 9:12 is a reference.

[2] Mal 4:5-6 (LXX): “And, behold, I will send to you Elijah the Tishbite, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes; who shall turn again the heart of the father to the son.” In the atonement, the cross turns the heart of God the Father to reconcile the lives of sinners whose lives are hid in the Son by faith.

[3] TLG 2062.152, 58.559.33-36; NPNF 1 10:352. As the heart of the Father was being restored to the Son by his self-giving, so the hearts of the apostles were being restored to the covenant.

9:12b | The Son of Man Should Suffer Many Things

THE PREDICTION OF THE PASSION

CHRYSOSTOM: “Then”—when? When he was confessed to be the Christ, the Son of God. Again on the mountain, when he had shown them the marvelous vision, and the prophets had been discoursing of his glory, he reminded them of his passion. GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 57.2. [1]

[1] TLG 2062.152, 58.560.20-24; NPNF 1 10:353.

9:13 | Elijah Has Come

JOHN AND ELIJAH

CHRYSOSTOM: Christ called John Elijah, not because he was Elijah, but because he was fulfilling the ministry of that prophet. GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 57.1. [1]

[1] TLG 2062.152, 58.559.16-19; NPNF 1 10:352*.