Kingdom, Redemption, and Following Jesus
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1 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.”
2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 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. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 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? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Opening Illustration:
Opening Illustration:
Highlight Main Idea of the Sermon:
Highlight Main Idea of the Sermon:
Jesus fulfills the Kingdom of God, making us right with God and empowering us to follow Him.
Highlight the Observations:
Highlight the Observations:
Kingdom
Redemption
Following Jesus
Kingdom-Mk 9:1-6
Kingdom-Mk 9:1-6
1 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.”
2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
Kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
Kingdom in Mark’s Gospel
Kingdom in Mark’s Gospel
Include some of Mark’s “kingdom” references and exegete Mark 9:1-6 here.
Mark 9:1 (ESV)
1 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.”
In verse 1, Mark records Jesus’ words, almost as a set-up between what Jesus said in Mark 8:38……and the transfiguration in 9:2-8.
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
We’ve talked about the Kingdom of God as “here, but not yet.”
Wherever Jesus is, the Kingdom is there.
From the perspective of today’s account, “here, but not yet” we see Jesus is both with the disciples and the people, He has not yet been to the cross and paid our ransom.
We too live in a “here, but not yet” perspective:
…in that those who are in Christ dwell with God in the Spirit “here” while at the same time, “not yet” since Jesus has not returned in glory at the end of the world.
The phrase, some standing here in verse 1 points the reader to what is about to happen in 9:2-3 AND it’s probable that Jesus is referencing the coming of the Spirit in Acts 2.
2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
We will come back and talk a little more about Peter, James, and John with Jesus, so let’s take a look at the elephant in the room with the word, “transfigured.”
Transfigured
The word in the Greek that we get “transfigured” from means “changed” or “transformed.”
If you are reading this account in the other gospels, Matthew uses this word in his account and Luke simply describes what happened without using the word.
What is interesting, is that these three gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include the same events leading up to Jesus “changing” or being “transfigured” before them.
• Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi
• Jesus’ request not to share His messianic identity
• Jesus’ prediction of His suffering, death and resurrection
• the warning to those who are ashamed of Jesus and His words
Jesus being transfigured, or changed, simply confirms that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the awaited King of the heavenly Kingdom despite His shocking prediction of His impending and violent death.
Sometimes subtly and other times not so much, Jesus is showing His followers that the Kingdom of God is near.
In Mark 8:31 and 38, He kinda called Himself God when He used the phrase Son of Man.
Mark 8:31 (ESV)
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
And 8:38
Mark 8:38 (ESV)
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
This Son of Man language is Him telling His people that He is God and the Kingdom is His!
Jesus is changed into a future representation of Himself.
We see a version of this in Mark 16:12 as well.
Mark 16:12 (ESV)
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.
Friends, we serve a risen King who was, who is, and is to come.
There are two other times this or a variation of the word for “transfigured” used in the NT:
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
“Do not be conformed to this world” points to another world if you will, a Kingdom that is found in Him when we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
My question to you is this: “have you been radically transformed by Jesus?”
“Are you allowing your mind to be renewed by the Good News of the gospel through the Spirit?”
“Have you repented of your sin, believed the gospel, and are now a citizen of the Kingdom of God?”
4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
It’s my opinion that Jesus’ appearance mirrored or represents that which is come-Jesus in His final state of glory-and Elijah and Moses represent the announcement of that which points to the King.
Here in Mark’s gospel, Jesus fulfills both prophetic words about the coming Messiah from the the Law and Prophets in appearing with Elijah and Moses.
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
Here we see evidence that the disciples didn’t have a clue Jesus is using Kingdom language by calling Him, “Rabbi.”
Listen to the Kingdom language Jesus uses:
“Son of God”
“Son of Man”
“Coming in glory”
“Kingdom of God in power”
The Kingdom of God is coming and has come with a King who rivals all other kings-including, but not limited to, Law Givers (Moses), and Prophets (Elijah).
Commentary-focus for a moment on the word “tents.” (v.5)
Peter’s usage of the word “tents” adds to the evidence that Peter still doesn’t get it, and to be honest, probably James and John, only they just didn’t say anything.
Have you ever been in a room where someone asks an inappropriate question or one that shows they weren’t listening and everyone knows they weren’t listening?
The person answers it in a way that you think, “I’m glad that wasn’t me!”
But secretly, you were thinking the same thing because you didn’t get it either!!
That’s Peter!
Church, Mark is showing the early church and us that the Kingdom of God has arrived!
Mark’s not being secretive.
He’s not being coy.
Our passage from last week lays out the blunt reality of being a Christ-follower:
Christ-followers deny themselves and take up their cross because we live in a new Kingdom with a new King (they are saying I’m not my own anymore)
Christ-followers take up the cross because it represents dying to oneself and receiving the forgiveness that only the King can give. It’s a cross of death. Dying to the way we think it’s done. Dying to comfort. Dying to complacency. Dying to preference.
Christ-followers follow Him-Bridgeway, it’s His Kingdom (Your Kingdom come, Your will be done) And in this section of scripture, we are seeing the King giving His closest followers a glimpse of Jesus the God/Man who is greater than the Law and the fulfillment of the prophets.
Redemption-Mark 9:7-13
Redemption-Mark 9:7-13
Son and Son of Man
Son and Son of Man
The “Son of Man” title appeared only twice in the first half of Mark (2:10, 28). Now it will occur with great regularity, especially in the context of His suffering (8:31; 9:9, 12; 10:33, 45; 14:21, 41). The title hearkens back to the heavenly man of Dan. 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Mark records Jesus’ usage of “Son of Man” language along with references to suffering, death on a cross, and the coup de grace, His resurrection.
God and Man
God over ALL-mountain imagery
transfigured-proof of divinity
voice from a cloud-confirmation by God
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
We were introduced to this idea earlier in Mark 1:11
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The voice of God said, “listen to Him.” What are we supposed to hear?
I think a lot, but two things really and both of these followed the voice from Mark 1:11.
Repent and believe the gospel. Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
2. Follow me Mark 1:17
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
What does that look like? Mark 8:34-35
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Friends, the Kingdom of God is about Jesus redeeming His people!
He is making a people who were not His people, His people!
The King of the world comes in human form and speaks in parables so that those who hear, will hear.
The One who was slain before the foundation of the world speaks privately to the 12, preparing them to make disciples of the world.
The Alpha and Omega, He who was and is, and is to come, walks with 3 of His disciples up a mountain to be changed before their eyes only for one of them to get so befuddled that he talked about making three tents.
Friends, listen to verse 7:
Mark 9:7 (ESV)
7 …“This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
Jesus is making the way and for us, has made the way.
Verse 8 we read that Elijah and Moses disappear, the cloud and voice go away and there is only Jesus.
Verse 9 they are told not to tell anyone until Jesus rose from the dead, and verse 10 and 11 show us that they still have no clue as to what Jesus raising from the dead actually means.
Within the idea of redemption, I want to stop at verse 11.
In v.11 they ask, “why do the scribes say Elijah must come first?”
12 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?
Mark introduced the coming Elijah in the person of John the Baptist back in Mark 1.
Remember in Mark 1:8, John was fulfilling the prophet’s role as He pointed to the coming Messiah. Mark 1:8
8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Elijah, or John the Baptist came to point you to Christ by calling people to repentance and symbolically washing away sin.
Jesus calls people to repentance and through the gospel, we are actually and truly washed clean because He defeated death.
And in Mark 9:12 Jesus again reminds His disciples of His purpose in redemption by alluding to the cross:
Mark 9:12 (ESV)
12 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?
Just like Peter, James, and John, we will never understand Jesus and His work without understanding and submitting to the finished work of the cross. (Akin, Daniel L. Exalting Jesus in Mark. 2014.)
Summarize:
We have looked at 2-13 and have seenJesus foretelling The Kingdom of God with His disciples. They are learning about the “here, but not yet” concept and will get a better grasp of it as the Spirit comes in Acts 2.
We have also seen a theme of Redemption in Mark’s usage of the Son of Man language and God’s voice from the cloud specifically saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” What did He come saying?
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Now, we’ll close with my final theme/observation which is Following Jesus. Let’s do something a little different and go back through the text quickly to see what we as disciples can learn from this section that will help us practically follow Jesus.
Following Jesus-Mark 9:2-13
Following Jesus-Mark 9:2-13
Disciple Making and Disciple Being Principles
Mark 9:2 (ESV)
2 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,
Notice Jesus had a relationship with a few that He didn’t have with the others.
Let’s look briefly at a few examples of this:
37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
And scripture highlights even a single man with whom Jesus spent even more time.
John 19:26 (ESV)
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
John 21:7 (ESV)
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
John 21:20 (ESV)
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”
Let me share some practical principles that I’ve learned about spending more time with one or a few rather than trying to pour into 500.
One or a few will open up, are very candid, and you can do the same.
One or a few can be poured into in a customized manner. Disciple making books, guides, and methods are a good start, but practicing shows that rules are meant to be broken or at the very least, are to be held loosely.
One or a few produces accountability and sees multiplication happen faster.
Negatively, one or a few is exclusionary by nature. In saying “yes” to this guy, you are saying “no” or “not yet” to another. Some people really don’t like this and people will get upset with you.
Negatively, one or a few opens you up to be hurt as you may have shared some sensitive issues or have gone out of your way to love and care the person is insensitive or betrays your trust.
5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
When we are Following Jesus as a disciple maker, you’ll see that at times your disciple may speak out of turn, or simply say stuff that he or she has no idea about.
Notice the other two didn’t say a word. Probably the best thing to do. Watch. Listen. Ask questions later.
Not Peter. There’s a couple really good principles here:
Mark includes this and then shares verse 6. Peter did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Disciples are loving each other here. Mark is essentially giving Peter a really good excuse. Maybe your discipling friend says something really insensitive, unkind, or just dumb. How about we give them the benefit of the doubt. “Hey, Toby, when you said that guy is a no good scoundrel in front of two of his community group friends, I think what you meant was, he struggles and we’re here to love on him.” YUP!
Sometimes those you are discipling will say things that aren’t correct.
Theologically
Socially
Or maybe they are simply being unkind and need a gentle reminder toward love and grace. OR they need you to overlook it like Jesus did here. Jesus ignored it, God ignored it, and as they went down the mountain Jesus only said, “hey, please don’t tell anyone until I’ve risen from the dead.”
Mark 9:9–10 (ESV)
9 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. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.
These verses highlight that we don’t need to do a theological emptying of the dump truck on those we disciple.
They see some things that are difficult to explain…
Jesus says some stuff that’s hard to understand…
And Jesus let’s them question, wonder, and continue putting the pieces together as they walk together.
Mark 9:11–13 (ESV)
11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 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? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Finally, the disciples asked Jesus. His method of disciple making was intentional, it was life-on-life, and He allowed and made time for questions.
Disciple makers, are you building this into your Repertoire, or your disciplemaking arsenal?
Are you asking if your Timothy is picking up what you are putting down?
Are you creating a safe environment for question asking, by answering in a theologically understandable and biblical manner?
Disciple, are you asking hard questions of yourself as a follower, the biblical text you are reading that day, and are placing yourself in a position of humility in asking good questions of older or more mature believers?
Let me leave you with this regarding the observation of Following Jesus:
Mark’s gospel is continually showing us that following Jesus is being a disciple.
One who faithfully follows to the point of trusting Him, finding their identity in Him, and doing so in such a way that we are not only growing, but are intending to reproduce this lifestyle in others.
