Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 9:9-10 (New International Version)

⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

This is a classic example of Jesus saying something that puzzled His followers. What in the world did Jesus mean when he said that he was to “rise from the dead?”

Here are some possibilities:

1. rise from the death of the power of sin to live a sinless life
2. rise from a separation from God the Father to be restored to a perfect relationship with God
3. rise from a physical death to be alive physically once again

I am pretty sure that there are more possible explanations. I am almost certain that over the centuries people have considered other possible explanations and debated them at length. In hindsight, possible explanation #3 seems most likely to me. I believe #3 because we are told that Jesus actually died (many witnesses to that), was buried in a tomb (sealed by the local government and guarded by an army), and later appeared alive (many witnesses to that as well).

I am not discounting other explanations as to what Jesus meant when he said “rise from the dead.” The physical rise from the dead is the one I believe most. Sometimes the simplest explanation, i.e., it means what it sounds like, is the one we should consider.

God grant me the wisdom to understand when it means just what it says and when it means something more. Most of all, grant me the desire to search, know, and love.