Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Mark 9:1-8


1 Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before they die.” 2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain by themselves. While they watched, Jesus’ appearance was changed. 3 His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened. 7 Then a cloud came and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them. ~ Mark 9:1-8

Today, we transition into Mark 9. At this point in the story of the Lord Jesus, the disciples had eyes but could not see and ears but could not hear. 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before they die.” 2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain by themselves. While they watched, Jesus’ appearance was changed."

In v.1 of today's passage, a promise was given, and, in v.2 the promise was realized. Six days after the Lord Jesus made the promise, Peter, James and John all saw the Lord in His glory. The Greek word from which we get our English word "metamorphosis" was used by Mark to describe the transformation or change in the appearance of the Lord Jesus. Metamorphosis is more than a change of appearance, though, it is the change of ones essential form. Like when a caterpillar is in a cocoon and gets changed into a butterfly. Its essential form changes. The Lord Jesus was seen that day in His post-resurrected body which was a preview of His post-resurrected form. 

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus."

On Mt. Hermon that day, God provided for these three disciples an audio-visual to authenticate His Son. The Old Testament prophet Elijah was there to represent the Prophets and Moses was there representing the Law. The purpose of the audio-visual was to show that the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Also, Elijah and Moses represent the two ways by which people have entered heaven. Moses entered through the normal, natural process of death. And yet here Moses is, although his body lying in some unmarked grave on a mountain top beyond the Jordan River. And, Elijah, on the other hand, was one of two men caught up to heaven without death. We have the dramatic story in the Old Testament of Elijah's ascension into glory, caught up in a fiery chariot, without passing through the normal process of death.

According to Luke's account of this story, the Lord Jesus spoke with Elijah and Moses of how He would leave the earth by means of the cross and the resurrection. Moses perhaps spoke of how the Lord Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament sacrifices which the Law demanded, picturing His death that would follow. Elijah, perhaps spoke of how the Lord Jesus was the Promised Messiah who would free us from the penalty of our sin and ourselves.

In v.5-6 in today's passage we read, "5 Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened."

This incident took place about six months before the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. The crucifixion took place at Passover, so that's the springtime of the year. That timing placed this event in our passage for today during the month of Tishri in the Jewish calendar, or, our October, the very month that the Feast of Tabernacles takes place. The Feast of Tabernacles did two things: it looked backward to God's provision in the wilderness, and, it looked forward to the Millennium when Israel will live in complete peace. During the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel celebrated what God did and they anticipated what God will do at the end of time as we know it. According to the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, during the Millennium, we will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem every year.

In addition, the Apostle Peter was so fulfilled, he had no thought of himself and he wanted to make tents so that they could remain there for an indeterminate amount of time. The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment that we have all longed for all of our lives, and, this is the point of our sanctification.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "Then a cloud came and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!'"

This is one of three times in the Gospels when the voice of God spoke directly from heaven concerning the Lord Jesus. One was at His baptism, when he began His ministry. In today's passage, we have the voice of the Father addressing the disciples, to correct a mistake they were making. The third occurs in John 12, just before the cross in Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus spoke of having completed the work which the Father had given Him to do, and the Father said, "I have glorified my name, and I will glorify it again," referring to the cross immediately to follow. 

In v.8 of today's passage we read, "Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them."

After the voice of God was heard, Moses and Elijah were nowhere to be found, and the disciples saw only the Lord Jesus. Like these disciples, we have all entertained doubts about the identity of the Lord Jesus. But, God always is faithful to do those things in order to open our eyes to see His Son. This is the point of this passage today. Through this story, God affirms for us the true identity of His Son who came to finish His story of redemption for you and me.