The Transfiguration

1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

vs 1 How was this verse fulfilled? To whom was Jesus referring?

Of course these words of Christ could refer to the explosion of the church age beginning at Pentecost. But I believe this is referring to John’s vision in Revelation of the second coming of Christ. John lived the longest of all of the disciples, and he certainly saw, in detail, the coming of the kingdom of God in power through the revelation recorded in that book. Although he wrote down what he saw, nothing could possibly have compared with actually seeing it first hand.

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

vs 2-3 What do you think happened that caused Jesus to appear so white? Why was this done in the presence of the three disciples? How have you received a glimpse of God’s glory?

Most of the time in the New Testament Christ is clothed in humanity and takes this servant form. But every now and then in the gospels we see glimpses of his deity. This is one of them where the disciples witness his heavenly glory.

As the Wycliffe Bible Commentary points out, the Greek "refers to a change of essential form, not a superficial change of outward appearance. Our Lord's human body was glorified, and it is in this glorified body that he will some day come to establish his kingdom."

The fact that this was done before witnesses indicates that God wanted the disciples to understand who Jesus really was. No doubt the three disciples never forgot this event. Throughout our lifetime, there will be times when we glimpse God’s glory. When those times happen, they stay with us throughout our lives.

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

vs 4 What is the significance of Elijah and Moses being sent to talk with Jesus? Where were they sent from?

It is interesting whom God sent to talk with Jesus. Moses represented the law and the commandments. In a way he represents the teachings of God. Moses died and was buried. Elijah represented the prophets and the miracles. In a way he represents the supernatural side of God. Elijah never died, but was taken up to heaven in a chariot. The fact that they both came and ministered to Jesus indicates they came from the same place - one who had died and was buried, and one who had never died. They both came from paradise, which punches a huge hole in the idea that we know nothing in death or we sleep in the grave. Moses and Elijah were not asleep, but had already assumed some form of supernatural presence.

5 Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

vs 5-6 Why would Peter suggest three shelters? How do you try to "help God out" when you shouldn’t?

Peter was so overcome with emotion that he wanted to do something. It is interesting that he suggests three shelters - one for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Moses represents the law which convicts us of our sin. Elijah represents the promise of future deliverance. And Jesus represents the redemption from our sins. But God did not want the disciples to just stay on the mountaintop beholding his glory. They had a work to do. They must climb back down the mountain and learn some important lessons of faith.

We are often just like Peter. Sometimes we try to "help God out." We take things in our own hands and try to do God’s job for him. Or we just want to stay on the mountain in God’s presence receiving blessing after blessing. But God has a work for us to do. We need to come down from the mountain and be willing to minister to others. We need to learn how to walk by faith. And we need to learn that God’s ways are often radically different from our ways.

7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

vs 7-8 Why do you think God sent the cloud and the voice? When did Elijah and Moses disappear? Have you ever felt enveloped by God’s presence?

Have you ever seen an illusionist who causes a smoky covering to hide some part of his act from view? When the smoke clears, the rabbit has vanished. God covered the disciples with the cloud of his presence. When they could look around again, everything had changed. Elijah and Moses had gone back to paradise, and Jesus once again had the appearance of an ordinary man.

God sent the cloud and the voice so that the disciples would understand the importance of Christ’s ministry. There will be times when we will feel enveloped by God’s presence, and we will hear God’s voice speaking to us if we are willing to listen for it. But afterwards, God wants us to come down the mountain and return to minister to the people.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

vs 9-10 Why would Jesus not want the disciples to share what they had seen? What does verse 10 tell us about the disciples’ understanding of Christ’s ministry?

Barnes comments, "This vision was designed particularly to confirm them in the truth that he was the Messiah. While he was with them it was unnecessary that they should relate what they had seen. When he was crucified they would need this evidence that he was the Christ. Then they were to use it. There were three witnesses of it as many as the law required, and the proof that he was the Messiah was clear."

You can understand that the disciples would want to share this amazing experience as soon as they had a chance. As soon as they started descending the mountain, Jesus started talking to them about his coming death and resurrection. When we spend time in God’s presence, we want to share about God’s glory and his blessings. But we must also share about Christ’s death and resurrection. Without Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, we would be unable to experience the blessings of God.

It is apparent from verse 10 that the disciples really did not understand the implications of Christ’s words. But we who have the benefit of learning from those very disciples through reading the Bible have no similar excuse. If all we ever do is talk about God’s love and glory, we are missing the most important message of Christ’s ministry. Jesus came to pay the price for our sins. And because of God’s mercy and forgiveness, we too can enter into God’s presence. Let us never forget the price that Jesus paid and the suffering he had to endure. It is only through the suffering of Christ and the cleansing power of the atonement that we can truly understand how great is God’s love toward us.

11 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

vs 11 Where is mention found of Elijah coming back in the Old Testament? Why would Elijah be selected to come back?

It was natural for the disciples to be thinking of this teaching about Elijah. They had just seen him on the mountain. The prophecy concerning Elijah is found in Malachi 4:5, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes." In the disciples minds, Elijah had not come back yet, so they were wondering why the teachers of the law would say this.

There were only two people in the Bible who never died - Elijah and Enoch. And the description of Elijah ascending to heaven in a chariot of fire leaves little doubt, whereas the account of Enoch is less clear. If anyone would come back to earth, it would seem logical it would be someone who still retained a human form, who had never died.

12 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

vs 12-13 Who was the Elijah that had come? Read Matthew 17:11-13 for a clearer understanding of this portion of scripture. From Matthew 17:11, it seems Jesus is speaking of a future coming. Do you think another Elijah will come? What were the similarities between Elijah and John the Baptist?

The form of the Greek used in verse 12 seems to indicate a future coming of Elijah, but verse 13 indicates a past coming. This is made a little clearer in the parallel passage in Matthew 17:11-13, "Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist."

There were many similarities between Elijah and John the Baptist. Both were rough men who lived in the wilderness. Their clothing was animal skins and they ate locusts and wild honey. They both were probably Nazarites in that they never cut their hair. The Bibles tells us both of them were filled with God’s Spirit.

But the Elijah which is to come will probably come back right before Christ returns to rule and reign on earth. He very well might be one of the two witnesses referred to in Revelation 11:3-12. Two witnesses come back to declare God’s judgement. The two are killed by the Anti-Christ. Since Elijah and Enoch are the only two in the Old Testament who never died, it is thought that these may be the two witnesses. Of course, just as with John the Baptist, God may raise up two men at the end of the age like Elijah and Enoch.

Footnotes:



	Mark 9:1-13