“And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.”
My Notes
What Does Mark 9:12 Mean?
Jesus confirms that Elijah does come first to restore all things—affirming the prophetic expectation from Malachi 4:5-6. But He immediately pivots to a harder truth: the Son of man "must suffer many things, and be set at nought." The disciples want to discuss Elijah's triumphant restoration. Jesus redirects to the Messiah's suffering and rejection.
The word "must" (dei) expresses divine necessity—the suffering isn't optional or accidental. It's required by God's plan. The Son of man must suffer. The cross isn't Plan B. It's Plan A. The necessity of suffering is woven into the fabric of God's redemptive purpose.
"Set at nought" (exoudeneō) means to treat as nothing, to regard as worthless, to completely reject. The Messiah won't just be opposed—He'll be dismissed. Treated as negligible. Regarded as zero. The one who is everything will be treated as nothing. The reversal of His true value is the ultimate human insult and the ultimate divine sacrifice.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When has being 'set at nought'—treated as worthless—been part of a larger purpose God was working in your life?
- 2.The disciples wanted restoration talk. Jesus gave suffering talk. Are you avoiding the 'suffering' conversation in favor of the 'glory' conversation?
- 3.Jesus said the suffering 'must' happen—it was necessary, not accidental. How does divine necessity change how you view your own suffering?
- 4.Have you been dismissed as 'zero' by people who should have valued you? How does Jesus' experience of the same treatment shape your response?
Devotional
The disciples want to talk about Elijah restoring everything. Jesus wants to talk about the Son of man suffering everything. They're looking for glory. He's pointing to the cross. They want the restoration. He says: first, the rejection.
The word "must" is the hinge. Not "might" or "could" or "unfortunately will." Must. The suffering is necessary. Required. Built into the plan. The cross wasn't God's backup after Plan A failed. It was always Plan A. The Messiah's suffering is as essential to redemption as the resurrection that follows it. You can't get to Easter without Friday.
"Set at nought" is the detail that cuts deepest. Not just opposed. Not just persecuted. Set at nought—treated as nothing. Zero. Worthless. The infinite Son of God, treated by human beings as if He had no value at all. The one who holds the universe together, dismissed as negligible. That's the cross in relational terms: the most valuable being in existence, assessed as worthless by the creatures He made.
If you've ever been treated as nothing—dismissed, overlooked, regarded as zero by people who should have valued you—Jesus knows the feeling from the inside. He wasn't just rejected dramatically. He was set at nought. Treated as worthless. And He endured it because the plan required it. Your experience of being dismissed doesn't disqualify you from God's purposes. Sometimes it's the pathway into them.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Why say the scribes ... - See the notes at Mat 17:10-13.
And how it is written - Rather, as also it is written. Instead of και πως, And How it is written, I read καθως, As Also…
Here is, I. A prediction of Christ's kingdom now near approaching, Mar 9:1. That which is foretold, is, 1. That the…
and how Rather, but how is it written of the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and he set at naught? See…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture