HG084-86 Matthew 16:28-17:13, Mark 9:1-13, Luke 9:27-36
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1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
Shortly after Peter’s success and failure with declaring Him to be the Christ and then rebuking Him Jesus knew that they would need some encouragement.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25: Mark As the Glorified Son
Prophecies of suffering, rejection, and death have overwhelmed their minds and souls. How desperately they need to see what Christ means about His power and glory if they can ever break the hold of the temporal upon their lives. Unless they share a vision of the joy that Christ sees, they can never endure the cross or despise the shame that awaits them as well.
Jesus indicated that there will be those who are going to experience and incredible thing: the kingdom of God will be present with power. Power is the word which we would translate as dynamite being dynamin in the Greek. It is the same word used in Acts 1 describing the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Six days is how long it was before Moses could go up the mountain to receive the law due to all the smoke and thunder. It was six days after that Jesus and His disciples headed up the mountain to pray according to Luke’s gospel. Six days after that which was spoken of by Jesus was fulfilled.
What mountain was it? Tradition says it was Mount Tabor but, like so many traditions, there is unlikely to be any truth to it for it is not a high mountain nor is it close to where they were. But there was a mountain close to Cesarea Philippi which is where Mark says they were for the discourse between Jesus and Peter, Mount Hermon. Now this is a high mountain. Mount Hermon is the same mountain mentioned in Psalm 133 about the unity of God’s people and God commanding the blessing. James and John were to receive a blessing witnessing only that which we will see when either we die or He comes again, there on the mountain, they were on top of the world with Jesus.
But it is a tiring journey and just as in the Garden of Gethsemane they could not keep awake they fell asleep. But from their slumbers they were awoken by a great light. In fact, the word used by Luke indicates it was as bright as lightning and Matthew says that Jesus’ face shone as the sun.
What a sight it must have been. For what they witnessed is Jesus’ true being. He was transformed back to what He is, glorious in the beauty of holiness. The word transfigured here is the word metamorphosis. We use it is for the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It is the same word found in
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This just reveals how far we are to go in our own transfiguration.
Jesus on the mountain, was transformed in a much more spectacular way than that of a butterfly, becoming other-worldly and so shined as the noon-day sun along with His clothes which became whiter than Persil can make white. For a moment Jesus ‘ true essence shone through. This was something that those few disciples would hold onto for the rest of their lives.
John tells us:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
And Peter tells us:
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
And there on the mountain appeared two others: Moses and Elijah:
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Encouragement on the Mountain (vv. 2-8)
These both had been shown God’s glory. Both also had famous departures from this earth. Moses died on Mt. Nebo, and God had buried him in a grave known only to himself. Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire.
Oh that we would desire to see His glory! Was it not Abraham who prayed ‘show me your glory’. What radical affect it would have upon us if we should see it. Abraham prayed and saw. And after this Moses saw God face-to-face on the mountain and his own face was illumined.
Isaiah was changed when he saw the glory of God in all His holiness: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty. And it was then that Isaiah cried out: ‘woe is me’. He realised that before God he was truly sinful and wanted nothing further to do with his sin. Is this not what we want? as a result to live lives of holiness truly to the Lord alone? For Isaiah declares what we are really like:
But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.
God is pure; God is sinless.
And Elijah saw the glory of God when on the mountain and fire came down which made all Israel declare: the Lord He is God, the Lord He is God!
Peter, James and John who did not ask saw God’s glory. Can we see His glory? Perhaps we will not receive such an experience but the experienced of these men are worth contemplating and even praying for. We will, of course, one day, see His glory.
And Peter, being Peter, could not keep his mouth shut! But no longer brash but erring on the side of caution said: it is good for us to be here.
Suddenly a cloud descends. Clouds in the Bible speaks of God’s glory. It was in the cloud that God spoke to Moses. It was a cloud that led the people of Israel through the desert in the day. It was a cloud that filled the tent in the wilderness. It was a cloud that filled the Temple at its dedication. It was a cloud that Jesus ascended in. We will meet Jesus in the air in the cloud that He will come. And it was a cloud that now filled the mountain top. This glory is called the Shekinah glory. Literally His presence.
And out of the cloud came a voice, clear and unmistakable of God the Father; hear Him!
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25: Mark As the Glorified Son
By the command, “Hear Him!” God erases any distinction between His revelation and the revelation of Christ. On that same authority, Jesus will proclaim, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (13:31). From now on, the disciples will know that every Word of Jesus, whether they like it or not, will carry the glory of transcendent truth.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Jesus is the expression of truth.
Hear Him means listen! And just as we find in Deuteronomy when we are told to listen it means to listen intently in order to obey.
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Encouragement on the Mountain (vv. 2-8)
We need to listen to Jesus’ words about all of life. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). May we listen to no other voice. Listen when he says: “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37). Listen when he says: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). Listen when he says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
And just as all those before, those who heard God speak fell face down to the ground, scarred witless, so it was with these disciples..
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Encouragement on the Mountain (vv. 2-8)
“Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.” The shekinah was gone. Jesus’ skin and clothing no longer glowed. Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was still, and the three disciples saw only Jesus
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Encouragement on the Mountain (vv. 2-8)
This is what all our experience, all our theology, all our work should come to—seeing only Jesus!
Coming down the mountain the secret was to be maintained. Do not tell anyone until I have risen. But they did not comprehend. But what of the disciples’ conversation about Elijah? What of that? I tell you that Jesus was well pleased. Their conversation was no longer about the mundane things of the world but the conversation was spiritual in nature probably spurred on by hearing Elijah and Moses speak with Jesus about the things that were about to happen.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25: Mark As the Glorified Son
Their question represents an honest attempt to link the Revelation of Jesus the Messiah with the prophecies of Holy Scripture. Only advanced students draw such relationships between facts. Commending them for an intelligent question, Jesus answers the disciples in depth. He asks that they relate John the Baptist with Elijah and recognize the common mission of the two fiery prophets in preaching repentance, calling for social justice and suffering for the cause of righteousness
We, the Church, are now the prophet speaking the Word of God with boldness, speaking for those who have no voice, and standing for what is right. We point to Jesus who, was transformed into incredible light on the mountain, who said:
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Encouragement on the Mountain (vv. 2-8)
“I am the light of the world.” There could scarcely be a more emphatic way to announce one of the supreme truths of his existence. Christ was saying in effect, “The pillar of fire that came between you and the Egyptians, the cloud that guided you by day in the wilderness and illumined the night and enveloped the Tabernacle, the glorious cloud that filled Solomon’s Temple, was me!” “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
It is He who led the way from that glorious moment on the mountain to the depth of the valley, through the gates of Jerusalem to become the suffering servant, the One who came for us. He has given us glimpses of who He is yet gave Himself for us.
And as He concluded His remarks coming down the mountain: The Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt. This One whose glory that had just seen, proving as Mark says, that He is the Son of God and worthy of all allegiance, honour and glory was also the One who would lay His down for humankind.
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Communion
Communion
Shortly, we will come to Communion but first we will hear the words that were prophesied about Jesus 700 years before He came into this world, a prophecy of His life, death and resurrection and for us to remember that this same Jesus, is both Lord and God and lives in light unapproachable:
Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;
He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
Just as many were astonished at you,
So His visage was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men;
So shall He sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;
For what had not been told them they shall see,
And what they had not heard they shall consider.
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
Loving Lord Jesus we come before You now and confess that You alone are the living God, You alone are worthy of all honour and praise for You set aside Your heavenly glory and came into this world as a man, to redeem lost sinners from the curse of the law, and we praise You that we are included in Your gracious forgiveness.
Thank You that You willingly offered up Your body to be the sacrifice for our sin. Thank You that Your body was broken for us, and that Your precious blood was shed to pay the full price for all our many sins – and not for us only but all who would trust in Your name.
Lord, we bow before You in humble submission, as we partake of the bread and wine - and we do this in remembrance of You.
Amen
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Benediction
Benediction
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Gaebelein, F. E., Carson, D. A., Wessel, W. W., & Liefeld, W. L. (1984). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Mark. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
McKenna, D. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Mark (Vol. 25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 21:55 18 August 2018.