Mark 9:1-13
(A Bible Study Led by Dr.
Larry Reynolds)
August 16, 2012)
Some events recorded in the
Scripture are so unusual, they are difficult for us to get our minds
around. For me, at least, that is true
of the event that is recorded in this passage.
This is one of those mysterious events in the Scripture, an event we
really cannot explain. What happened on
that mountain that day is so unusual, so out of the realm of the ordinary, that
if defies human understanding. This event, which is recorded in all three synoptic gospels, is referred
to as the Transfiguration of Jesus
because of the word in verse 2 that is translated transfigured. The Greek word
is metemorphothe which is a compound
word made up of a preposition (meta –
after) and a noun (morphoo –
form). The word means to change one’s
appearance, but it means more than that.
One writer points out the word metemorphothe
means to be changed from the inside
out [Wiersbe, p.88]. It is just the opposite
of the word "masquerade" which means covering up something, as
with a mask, but with the inside staying the same. The idea behind the word is allowing one’s true
nature to show. In this passage three of
Jesus’ disciples were privileged to get a glimpse of His true nature.
Verse 1 – It is
unclear whether this verse is the conclusion of the discussion in chapter 8 or
the introduction to chapter 9. Actually,
I view it as a transition statement, linking the two sections together.
“truly I say to you” – Jesus way of
introducing an authoritative, important saying.
“shall not taste death” – An Hebrew idiom meaning to experience
physical death.
“see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” – A
number of interpretations have been offered of this phrase:
·
Jesus’ resurrection
·
Jesus’ ascension into heaven
·
Coming of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost
·
The expectation of Jesus’
early second coming
·
The transfiguration experience
It seems to me the most natural
interpretation of this verse is to see it as referring to the transfiguration
of Jesus which occurred shortly after these words were spoken.
Verse 2
“six days” - Luke 9:28 has “eight days.”
Such a specific time designation is very unusual in Mark’s Gospel.
“Peter
and James and John” -
This is the inner circle of disciples who were always present at major events
(cf. 5:37). This event was as much for them as for Jesus.
“on a
high mountain”
Tradition says it was Mt. Tabor, but probably it was one of the foothills of
Mt. Hermon.
“by
themselves” - Luke
9:28 states the purpose as “to pray.” Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds
to teach the disciples privately. In this instance it was this inner circle of
leadership.
“He was
transfigured before them”
- The radiance of His true divine self was visible to these disciples (cf. II
Pet. 1:16–18).
Verse 3
“exceedingly white” – This comment
is unique to Mark’s Gospel, probably reflecting the eyewitness account of
Peter.
Verse 4
“Moses…Elijah”
– Why these two? Why not some
other Old Testament characters such as Isaiah and Jeremiah or David and Daniel? A number of suggestions have been put forth
about why Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus that day:
·
Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the
prophets...Moses is the one through whom God gave the law to Israel......Elijah
was commonly viewed by the Israelites as the greatest of all the prophets...the
law and the prophets represent the entire OT...here we have the father of the
law and the father of the prophets conversing with Jesus..
·
Both Moses and Elijah had both had previously conversed
with God on mountaintops and had been
shown God's glory... Moses on Mt. Sinai and Elijah on Mt. Horeb...
·
Both Moses and Elijah had unusual departures from this
world...Moses was buried by God, Himself, in a grave known only to God...Elijah
was taken up in a chariot of fire...
“appeared” – This word is used in the
New Testament to describe the supernatural appearance of angels (see Luke 1:11)
“talking with Jesus” – The
phrase involves an extended conversation.
Luke’s account indicates the disciples were asleep during at least part
of this conversation. Luke tells us the
discussion centered around Jesus’ departure from Jerusalem.
There is an
amazing corollary between this passage and Exod. 24:12–18: (1) the time element
of six days (v. 16); (2) the place, on a high mountain; (3) the presence of a
cloud and God’s speaking from it (vv. 15–17); and (4) the mention of glory on
Moses’ face and here Jesus’ face (v. 19; Exod. 34:29–30).[1]
Verse 5
“Peter
said to Jesus” - Luke 9:32 says the three
disciples were asleep after a long day and a hard climb and Peter woke up just
in time to see Elijah and Moses departing.
“Rabbi ”
- The Matthew parallel has “Lord” and the Luke parallel has “Master.”
“it
is good for us to be here” - What an awesome spiritual and
physical experience this must have been; what a confirmation of the person of
Jesus as the promised OT Messiah.
“tabernacles”
- This would have been a structure similar to the temporary thatch huts used
during the Festival of Booths. The implication of Peter’s statement was that if
the glorified OT visitors would stay a while, they could stay a while longer,
too![2]
Verse
6 - Mark’s
explanatory (gar, “for”) comment is
set off as a parenthesis. It shows that Peter, as spokesman, responded
inappropriately because (gar) they were so frightened (ekphoboi, “terrified,” a strong
adjective used only here and in Heb. 12:21 where it is trans. “fear”[3]
Verses 7-8 - God the Father’s response to
Peter’s suggestion set forth the true meaning of this event. The cloud that enveloped them (Jesus, Moses, Elijah) signified God’s awesome
presence (cf. Ex. 16:10; 19:9) and from it came His commanding voice. Once again, as at Jesus’
baptism, the Father placed His unqualified endorsement on His beloved Son (cf. comments on Mark 1:11). Jesus’
sonship sets Him above all other men including Moses and Elijah. Listen
to Him (pres. imper.), actually means, “Be obedient to Him.”[4]
Verse
9 - On their
descent from the mountain Jesus told
the three disciples to keep silent about what
they had seen till after His resurrection. Their misunderstanding of His
messianic mission (8:29-33) was still evident at the transfiguration (cf.
9:5-6, 10; and comments on 8:30).
This was Jesus’ last command to silence
recorded by Mark and the only one on which He set a time limit. This implied
that a time of proclamation (cf. 13:10; 14:9) would follow this period of
silence. Only from the perspective of the Resurrection would they understand
the transfiguration and thus be able to proclaim its meaning correctly.[5]
Verses 10-11 – These verses indicate the
disciples lack of understanding. The
disciples did not understand the distinction between “the Second Coming” (8:38)
and “the Resurrection” (9:9). The Jews of Jesus’ day expected only one coming
of the Messiah into history and this coming was related to the military victory
and supremacy of national Israel on a global scale.[6]
Verses 12-13 – The essential thrust of these
verses is that in a spiritual sense, John the Baptist was “the Elijah” promised
to Israel (Mal. 3:1; 4:5–6; Luke 1:16–17; John 1:21; Matt. 17:13).[7]
What
are we to learn from this event? It is
important to look at the Transfiguration in the context of what has been happening in lives of Jesus and
disciples...notice Mark begins paragraph with phrase "And six days
later..."...refers to events at end of chapter 8...Jesus taking
disciples to Caesarea Philippi...identifying Him as Messiah... Jesus explaining
was going be suffering Messiah...then dropped bombshell on them that to be His
followers must be willing follow Him to the cross...told them only way gain
life was to give up their lives for His sake...disciples were certainly
confused by all that...must have wondered what kind of future there was for
them in following Jesus...the Transfiguration was Jesus' answer to that question...
There is something
to learn from this event about our future in Christ in this life
1. The word metemorphothe is used only
four times in Scripture... twice it is used in relation to this particular
event in Jesus' life--once in Mark 9:2 and again in Matthew 17:2 in Matthew's
account of this same event...however, the other two times it is used, is used
of us to describe what God desires do in our lives...it is used in--
--Romans
12:2 - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind..."
--2
Corinthians 3:18 - "But we all...are being transformed into the same
image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."
2. When Peter, James, and John saw Jesus
transfigured that day on the mountain, actually seeing a dramatic preview of
what God desired to do in their lives...it is God's purpose for us in this
world to transform us, transfigure us into the image of Jesus Christ...
3. That transformation begins the moment you
accept Christ as Savior...when turn to Him for salvation, doesn't just
masquerade/cover up our faults...enters our hearts and makes us new people...as
Apostle Paul put in 2 Cor. 5:17 - "Therefore if any man is in
Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new
things have come." ...and it continues throughout our lives in
this world...God is never finished with us...we are never complete...we are
continually in the process of being remade from the inside out...
There is something
to learn from this event about our future in Christ after this life
1.
Imagine what Peter, James, and John must have been
thinking as saw Jesus talking with Moses who had been dead for over 1400 years
and Elijah who had been dead for about 900 years...no doubt must have realized
the implications of that for their own lives...maybe God chose to send Moses
and Elijah to meet with Jesus to remind them and to remind us that whether we
die as Moses did or whether we're caught up as Elijah was when Jesus returns to
this world, our destiny is to spend eternity with Him...
2.
That's the great hope, the great assurance of
Christianity... that's what helps us make sense out of this life...this world
is not all there is...there is more to our existence than the cycle of birth,
life, and death...we are destined for eternity...and very reason Jesus came to
our world is make it possible for us to spend eternity with Him...He said--
--John 11:25
- "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall
live even if he dies..."
--John
14:2-3 - "In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were
not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also."
3. And if we lose sight of fact that we are
destined to spend eternity with Christ and that our loved ones who have died in
Him are with Him this very moment, then we are missing the very heart of
Christianity...
As I studied this amazing event in Mark’s in the life of
Jesus, the words of old gospel song kept running through my mind. Those words are a good summary of the practical
truths to be learned from this event about our future in this life and the next
life. The song says:
I don't worry about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine for its skies my turn to
grey
I don't worry o'er the future for I know what Jesus said
And today I walk beside Him for He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my
hand.
[1]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (101). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[2]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (101–102). Marshall, Texas:
Bible Lessons International.
[3]
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An
Exposition of the Scriptures (Mk 9:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4]
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An
Exposition of the Scriptures (Mk 9:7–8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5]
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An
Exposition of the Scriptures (Mk 9:9). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (102). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[7]
Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s
expository outlines on the New Testament (124). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
