THE TRANSFIGURATION

Series: Expositions in Mark’s Gospel

Theme: The Revelation of Jesus’ True Identity

Topic: Jesus and the Three Disciples

Introduction

What do you do if someone you are teaching is too slow in learning

Especially when you do not have enough time!

Once upon a time there were two childhood best friends Mr. stubborn and Mr. arrogant and

These two had a common bad habit - they simply hated seat-belts

Every time friends would advice them to put on a seat belt, they would say, NO “we are safe,” If its time to die, a seat belt can’t save you.

One day, Mr. Stubborn and Mr. Arogant were with other two friends in a car. And likewise, they were asked to put on seat-belts

Jokingly, Mr. Stubborn looked at his best friend, smiled, and said, let me put it on just to know how people feel then i will remove it later: and everyone in the vehicle laughed.

Five minutes later, the car was involved in an accident...

Unfortunately, Mr. Stubborn witnessed his friend Mr. arrogant flying through the windshield.

Mr. Arogant was the only one who died a horrible death: the rest were of the passengers survived and off course with some bruises.

Now that Mr. Stubborn survived the accident with an injury, do you think he will continue driving or being in a car without putting on a seat-belt? Maybe?

What changed? Was it the knowledge? Before and after the incident.

What changed is not the knowledge about the importance of seat-belts, what changed about this guy was his experience.

He saw with his eyes how is best friend died, and

he also felt the pain of seeing the person he loved from childhood die because of a bad habit.

Now some of us are culprits, we have a habit of not putting on seat-belts in cars - or there may be some of us who are doing things that are dangerous and we know it

So if you want to teach someone something so that they never forget, you must make them see and experience what you are talking about. experience some have said, “can be the best teacher”

HOOK: UNLESS GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US, WE CANNOT KNOW (experience) HIM INTIMATELY: KNOWING JESUS OR GOD IS A PROGRESSIVE; SOME OF US ARE SAVED BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT WE NEED TO LEARN (SOME COBWEBS MUST BE REMOVED), SOME OF US MAY NOT BE SAVED BUT WE THINK WE ARE: MAY BE THERE IS ONE MORE PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR TRUE NEED FOR THE SAVIOR, IT MIGHT BE TODAY, OR MAY BE LAST WEEK OF THIS COMING WEEK OR AT THE END OF TODAY’S SERVICE; TO SOME OF US JESUS CHRIST IS SOMEONE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT MAY BE WE NEED A SECOND TOUCH THAT WILL MAKE EVERYTHING CLEAR!

PRAYING FOR GOD’S WORD

Mark 9:1 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

The importance of verse one should not be ignored

What Did Jesus mean when He said that some would not die until they saw God’s Kingdom?

Our Natural tendency is to interpret this as a reference to the second coming of Christ. And the English rendering, in fact, can give us that impression especially form Matthew’s perspective.

We will not go deep in the debates: Here we will consider the natural reading in the context of the Jewish world because that is where the key to interpreting the passage is.

OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES

The Rebellious Children of God: They began to doubt God and Moses

Exodus 16:7 (ESV)

and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?”

Exodus 16:10 (ESV)

And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

God revealing himself to Individuals

Genesis 15:17–18 (ESV) Patrich - Abraham the father of the faithful

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

A Coward who was also a skeptic - Gedeon

Judges 6:21–22 (ESV)

Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.”

I am also a very skeptical person; because of that God has used graphic ways to capture my attention.

Some Major Prophets

Isaiah 6:1–7 (ESV)

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Many of us can Identify with this experience: I thought I was a Christian until Philippians 2 was preached and I heard it in a different light.

And another prophet:Living in a time without people to stand in the gap, and God’s power was not seen/what God needed was just one man to stand in the gap.

Ezekiel 1:28 (ESV)

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

We have Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, and many more who had these experiences

To a warrior and leader - Joshua

Joshua 5:13–15 (ESV)

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

BACK TO OUR PASSAGE Mark 9:1

The word translated “seeing the kingdom of God with power”

Basileia = Prince, King, Royal, dominion, realm of rule

Connected with the word = dynamai or dynamis

Ability, achieving power, instrinsic power,

When they are connected the connotation is: a spirit of Strength in opposition to a spirit of cowardice, power beyond or above one’s strength, Al-mighty In other words, Jesus is saying you will see that the glory of God is like nothing you have ever seen.

Therefore, the best way to look at this verse is to understand that Jesus was talking about the Transfiguration.

He was referring to Peter James and John when he said that some of you will see the realm of my rule with a spirit of strength in opposition to a spirit of cowardice

Remember that at this moment, the disciples are saddened by the fact that Jesus will be rejected and killed. As far as they were concerned, this Jesus was weak - (Before concluding this message, we will look at more evidence for this position)

Observing the text

Mark 9:2–13 (ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Do you think after the events of chapter 8, the disciples finally understood and knew Jesus and his mission accurately?

Remember my question in the introduction; how can you make sure a slow learner understands quickly?

Jesus in one passage that we have been ignoring for the past two weeks does something that would help the disciples to remember what was going on in their own lives

Mark 8:22–26 (ESV)

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

This miracle is only found in Mark and it is the only miracle that was complete in two phases

From chapter one, no one had an accurate understanding of Jesus including the disciples: and even after the transfiguration, some of the disciples still did not have an accurate understanding of Jesus except these three who saw him transfigured and heard the voice of God giving them an instruction

BACK TO OUR TEXT

Mark 9:2 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

Six days after what?

After God’s revelation to Peter

The promise that some of the Disciples would see the power of the Kingdom

LOOK AT THE EMPHASIS

A. Jesus led them on a high mountain by Themselves

B. And he was transfigured before them

Mark 9:3–4 ESV

and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

TWO FIGURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT APPEARED AND WERE TALKING WITH JESUS

We do not know the nature of the conversation

But Jesus says something about Elijah and we know something about Moses

Elijah - Represents the Prophets - in fact he is one of the “Sign prophets”

Moses - Represents the mosaic Law - Moses used to speak to God face to face

These Two figures where important to the Jews

When Jesus asked about his identity, what was the response

Some say you are John the Baptist, some Elijah, some say one of the ancient prophets.

But who do you say that I am: And Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God

Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my father who is in Heaven

There is a lot we are not told by Mark but let’s focus on what we are told, and what we know about the Jewish mindset!

The Jews were waiting for Elijah - and Peter, James, and John, saw with their own eyes that Jesus was not Elijah, And they also saw that He was not just one of the prophets. They saw it physically - and it was tempting to tell the others

The Jews trusted in the mosaic Law - they saw Jesus talking with Moses, and therefore, they came to understand that Jesus was not against the law. Rather they could see that both Elijah and Moses were actually servants of Jesus

When they Saw the transfiguration, what was the response.

Mark 9:5–6 ESV

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

Mark is telling us that Peter was terrified: This Jesus whom he rebuked for being a weak Messiah, was transfigured before his eyes and he saw

Matthew tells us that Peter was interrupted by the voice: He probably should have been quiet but instead he was busy making up theories

Matthew 17:5 ESV

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

a spirit of Strength in opposition to a spirit of cowardice, power beyond or above one’s strength, Al-mighty

He Saw the Power of the Kingdom of God: They all saw the Old Testament saints with their naked eyes:

Even today: What would your reaction be if God showed you one of the Old Testament saints - someone you admired

It was unlike anything the disciples had ever seen in their lives:

What happened after Peter’s question that was asked out of terror?

Mark 9:7–8 ESV

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

The same peter who rebuked Jesus was told to listen to Jesus: and there is no way he could have said NO given the circumstances

But that did not prevent Peter from denying Jesus three times

God said to things:

This is my beloved Son

Listen to Him

Matthew 17 adds a phrase that God spoke after the Baptism of Jesus.

Matthew 17:5 ESV

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

What Did God say when Jesus was Baptized?

Mark 1:10–11 ESV

And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Peter represent many of us today: we simply talk too much

People for example say, “I pray for five hours a day” but the truth is that they have been talking to God for five hours - and they have no idea about what God was saying

They just come up with theories that have no biblical basis; just like peter who said

“It is good that we are here, I will make three tents, one for you Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah - so what what?? so they should camp while eating quails and the other disciples should just be waiting down the mountain?

It does not even make sense and no wonder God interrupted him, telling him that what matters in God’s presence is that Peter knows that:

Jesus is the Son of God,

God is pleased only with Jesus,

and that Peter should listen to Jesus:- instead of rebuking him and making tents

How many of you pray for hours? I am not saying it is wrong or right

But my question: what do you talk about all that long? your friends are making money, sharpening their gifts, making a difference in the world, while you are busy talking? What is it that you talk about with God for so many hours but without fruit?

I used to pray for many hours too:- and I regret the hours I was wasting God is not that cruel… why would good use five hours talking to us and yet there are no results

In fact I realized that many people who pray for hours are just looking for a certain feeling of excitement, others it is pride, others are just miserable and they are using prayer as a substitute for hard-work.

What happened Next/ They avoided the question about the identity of Jesus and his death because at this time, they were told by God the father to listen to Jesus

And what did Jesus tell them, That he was the Messiah and he had come to die: it was not a matter of debate for the three disciples.

But knowing the identity of Jesus did not answer the question of Elijah, especially with the fact that they even saw Elijah with their eyes.

Lets observe: Jesus charges them not to tell others until his resurrection.

Mark 9:9–13 ESV

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

But they were curious about Elijah and we are not told why they did not ask about Moses

Mark 9:9–13 ESV

So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

Yes Jesus we know you are the Son of God, In fact the Father has instructed us to listen to you but what about what the scribes have been saying concerning Elijah whom we have just seen talking to you on the mountain?

Mark 9:9–13 ESV

And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

And in Jesus responds by telling them that they scribes are correct in their interpretation of the coming of Elijah, but unfortunately, when Elijah came, they could not recognize him

Mark 9:9–13 ESV

And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

APPLICATION

HOOK: UNLESS GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US, WE CANNOT KNOW HIM : KNOWING JESUS OR GOD CAN BE PROGRESSIVE; SOME OF US ARE SAVED BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT WE NEED TO LEARN (SOME COBWEBS MUST BE REMOVED), SOME OF US MAY NOT BE SAVED BUT WE THINK WE ARE, MAY BE THERE IS ONE MORE PIECE OF INFORMATION WE NEED TO SEE OUR TRUE NEED FOR THE SAVIOR, IT MIGHT BE TODAY, OR MAY BE LAST WEEK OF THIS COMING WEEK OR BEFORE THE END OR AT THE END OF TODAY’S SERVICE; TO SOME OF JESUS CHRIST IS SOMEONE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT MAY BE WE NEED A SECOND TOUCH THAT WILL MAKE EVERYTHING CLEAR!

DO YOU RECALL HAVING AN EXPERIENCE WHERE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAVE YOU? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT?

WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE SALVATION, WHAT HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN LIKE SINCE THEN, WHAT RADICAL CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR CHARACTER

Disciples of Christ Testifying

2 Peter 1:16–18 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

1 John 1:1 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

Luke 1:1–2 ESV

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,