Father Snort

Brad Sullivan Proper 20, Year B September 20, 2015 Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX Mark 9:30-37 Jesus’ disciples must have been pretty darn disillusioned and disheartened by the end of today’s Gospel. Jesus had just told them for the second time that he was going to die. This was not long after they had failed to cast a demon out of a little boy. “Why could we not cast out the demon?” They asked Jesus. He replied that the demon could only come out through prayer. Perhaps the disciples were relying on themselves and their supposed power, rather than relying on God. So, they’ve got this question of power and greatness already brewing. Then, when Jesus told them that he was going to die and on the third day rise again, they still didn’t quite understand, at least not about him rising again after three days, but they did seem to understand that he would die because they seemed to be working on a succession plan.