We’re past the halfway point in the Gospel of Mark and here is where it really gets interesting. We’re journeying with Jesus to the cross and then the miracle of miracles — the Resurrection. In today’s passage, Jesus reveals His ultimate Glory to His inner circle. Let’s dig in…
Mark 9:1-13 – The Transfiguration
Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” 2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
5 Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials (tabernacles)—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
12 Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”
Mark 9:1-13 NLT
A Glimpse of God’s Glory
There’s a lot going on here besides Jesus’ Transfiguration. Let’s unpack this…
- The transfiguration story appears also in Matthew 17 and Luke 9. Check out the studies on those and compare the differences and similarities. One similarity is that Jesus says that some “will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” The next thing that happens is the transfiguration. They — and not all of them — did see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!
- The Inner Circle. This is the first instance in Mark where Jesus takes Peter, James and John with Him. Why them? One could only guess. Only John stayed with Him through the trial and the crucifixion. He’s the only one of the 3 who wrote a Gospel book.
- They were in the north of Israel near Syria and Lebanon, so more than likely, the mountain they went to was Mt. Hermon.
- The Greek word for Transfiguration is metamorphoō — which is where we get our word metamorphosis — that describes what happens when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. It totally changes its nature.
Moses and Elijah
- Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets. Both of these Old Testament Saints didn’t have normal deaths. God buried Moses and Elijah was raptured to Heaven! What could they have been talking to Jesus about? Luke tells us that “They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.” Jesus Ascension, maybe? Was Jesus getting the logistics as to where and when it would happen?
- Peter, being impetuous again — that is without thinking — thinks it’s a good idea to build tabernacles or shelters for each of them. Now, the Feast of Tabernacles was soon on the calendar, so maybe that’s why he thought of it. Still, they were terrified at what they saw.
- Father God then comes into the picture reaffirming what He said at Jesus’ baptism, but He adds “Listen to Him”. Shut up and listen! Listen and obey! I challenge you to before Easter, to take any of the 4 Gospels and read the Words in Red — what Jesus says. Use the free YouVersion Bible app. They even have a plan, The Read Letter Challenge, where you can read just Jesus’ words! Check it out! I’m going to do it!
- Next, after Father God, Moses and Elijah disappear, Jesus tells them to not tell anyone of what they saw. First, considering the awesome experience they just had, keeping quiet was going to be hard.
“Wait Until I Have Risen from the Dead”
There’s no way they could have understood what Jesus meant with “risen from the dead”! They were spiritual babes. In their mortal understanding, no human could ever die and then rise from death. Yet, that’s what Jesus told them to wait for. Everything would come to light on Pentecost when God sent His Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Why did Jesus want to keep it quiet? For the same reason He didn’t want word about the miracles spreading. He didn’t want people calling Him King, yet. That’s not until His 2nd coming. His mission in His First Coming was SALVATION. His Second Coming will be in Victory over Satan. Also, it was Rome who decided who would be king, and the king they appointed was not even a Jew — Herod Agrippa.
Peter writes about the transfiguration in his 2nd letter…
16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:16-21 NLT
Seeing is Believing!
Yet, there was still so much they did not understand. Then they asked Jesus about what the teachers of religious law say that Elijah must come back before the Messiah. That is prophesied in Malachi 4:5…
5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.
Malachi 4:5 NLT
Now, the “day of the Lord” is Jesus’ SECOND coming. Which makes me think that Elijah is one of the 2 witnesses in Revelation, who come to warn the Jews and the world of the impending Judgment Day.
Jesus, tells them that John the Baptist was the Spirit of Elijah. He came to announce the FIRST coming of the Messiah — and he did. Unfortunately, “they”, Herod and company, chose to abuse him and kill him.
The Holy Spirit is Key
God won’t reveal anything to you if you don’t have the Holy Spirit in your heart. The great news is that it’s very simple! All you have to do is…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Top image by Good News Productions International from FreeBibleImages.org. (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
