The situation, however may confidently be defined with still greater exactness. Jesus dwelt in a village (Mk 9:28) in the neighbourhood of which there was a mountain to which he betook himself with the three Disciples (Mk 9:2). All this agrees, however, most certainly with the sojourn in _Bethsaida._ The mountain which he seeks with the Three is _the mountain on the north shore of the lake where he prayed in the night when he came to Bethsaida!_ The passage Mk 8:34- 9:29 belongs therefore in the days at Bethsaida! It is no longer possible to make out by what process it came into the present impossible context. The adoption of the present order may have been prompted in part by the consideration that the impressive word about the obligation of following Jesus in suffering (Mk 8:34- 9:1) seemed to form a most natural conclusion to [pg 177] the prediction of the Passion at Cæsarea Philippi (Mk 8:31-33). Moreover the transformation of the account of Jesus meeting his Disciples at their landing into a miracle made it difficult to effect a natural connection with the events which occurred the following morning. And yet Mk 8:34 ff. may fairly be said to imply such measures as were adopted the evening before (Mk 6:45-47). Jesus had dismissed the people, had himself retired to solitude, and while it was yet night had overtaken his Disciples at Bethsaida, where they found lodging in a house (Mk 9:28). The next day he calls the people about him with the Disciples (Mk 8:34) and speaks to them about the requirement of self-denial on the part of his followers, readiness to endure shame, scorn, ridicule, rather than prove untrue to him. This conduct is justified by the nearness of the coming of the Son of Man, who will perform judgment in the person of Jesus. This admonition concludes with a word about “the coming of the Kingdom of God with power,” i. e. the eschatological realisation of it. In its present form it is toned down: some of them that stand by shall not taste of death till that moment arrive. As the conclusion of this address, however, it [pg 178] must have run: Ye who stand here shall soon experience the great moment of the mighty dawn of the Kingdom of God! Thus this earnest address at Bethsaida reflects the expectations which stirred Jesus and the throng about him. Six days after that address at Bethsaida Jesus took with him the Three and led them to the mountain where he had prayed in solitude at evening after the great cultus-meal in common. At their return they find the other Disciples surrounded by the people. In spite of the authority over demons of which they had made proof during their progress through the cities of Israel, they were now not able to master a demoniac boy who was brought to them. Jesus takes the father and boy apart. The very moment that the people come running together (Mk 9:25-27) the crisis begins, after which Jesus takes by the hand the lad, who was lying as dead, and raises him up.