MARK|| The Trasnfiguration

Enchanting Moments

Perhaps like me there have been moments in your life that have been defining, precious, beautiful, amazing moments that you just want to linger in and capture and kind of live there.

Its often those moments that don’t last long enough or seem to fly by and end with an abrupt entry back into the ebb and flow and less enchanting elements of average day in the life.

But it seems that those moments are often harkened back too or tried to be recapture in the midst of struggle of the mundane, the tired, the suffering that we find in our lives.

What keeps a person going? What keeps them on their feet? What does the end of the journey hold that allows one to endure the valley that they may get to the pinnacle, the panoramic view that the mount top holds?

Last week we saw how the disciples had limited view of Jesus, eyes on an earthly kingdom that could not fathom a suffering messiah. Missing what Jesus had come to do though they got it right in title they could not seem him rightly in this role. They had there mind set on earthly things and not set on the divine. So Jesus tells them - the way of the messiah, the way of the kingdom, is the way of suffering as will.

Mark 8:34–35 ESV

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. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

It is a long term investment in the kingdom and trust in the promises of God and walking in his way.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” - Jim Elliot 30 years old

He lived that saying and he died that saying. This life is short, very short for some, and passing. Thus, you must live it well. We may not all be called to fulfil this saying the way Jim Elliot was, but we are each called not to be fools, and to live and die so as to gain what we cannot lose.

But what cause one to hold fast? And that is to see clearly the Christ that is presented, the eternal life he offers, and the promise of hope that if fulfilled in eternally dwelling with the Holy God who created all things.

So God the father - through his divine initiation - show Peter, James, and John the empirical reality of Jesus the son of God. The thing that has remained just outside of their grasp is displayed clearly on top of a mountain.

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.”

Here we find Jesus bringing these 3 disciples with him up the mountain to give divine revelation about the messiah. To help them truly realize who Jesus is and what awaits them in the future.

There is a real sense of Jesus showing them this deep picture of his glory, his identity, his oneness with the father so that they can understand that here and now holds suffering for Jesus but what awaits them after is wedding feast of the Lamb and the glory of God and his kingdom.

Parallels with Sinai

Instantly in this image we are taken back to another picture in the bible - Where God reveals himself to moses and the Israelites to give them the law and make a covenant with the people. It becomes a pivotal aspect of the history of redemption. Its a critical piece in the timeline of the bible and God’s interaction with humanity. And Here we have Jesus on top of mountain, a classic place where God often reveals himself. Look at the parallel

Mark The Transfiguration (9:2–8)

Jesus

Moses

Jesus takes three disciples up the mountain (Mark 9:2).

Moses goes with three named persons plus seventy of the elders up the mountain (Ex. 24:1, 9).

Jesus is transfigured and his clothes become radiantly white (Mark 9:2–3).

Moses’ skin shines when he descends from the mountain after talking with God (Ex. 34:29).

God appears in veiled form in an overshadowing cloud (Mark 9:7).

God appears in veiled form in an overshadowing cloud (Ex. 24:15–16, 18).

A voice speaks from the cloud (Mark 9:7).

A voice speaks from the cloud (Ex. 24:16).

The people are astonished when they see Jesus after he descends from the mountain (Mark 9:15).

The people are afraid to come near Moses after he descends from the mountain (Ex. 34:30

God is once again showing a pivotal point in redemptive history. He has sent his son to finish the work that the servant could not accomplish. He is the fullness of everything that has been promised prior too all this. From Abraham to John the baptist.

He stand out among Moses and Elijah to show that his word and deed transcends all past revelation. That the kingdom is at hand as Moses was Israel’s first redeemer from Egypt, and Elijah was to appear at the end when God’s kingdom truly would be at hand

Malachi 4:4–6 ESV

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

In the Jewish mind this would have come up quickly. - Truly the kingdom is at hand -

Mark 1:15 ESV

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark Bridging Contexts

It reveals Jesus’ divinity as God’s Son. The Messiah surpasses even the greatest saints of old.

But in its timing and its connection to suffering is also removing the idea of a earthly quickly coming kingdom - but this kingdom is greater and not of this world and is gained through Jesus’ suffering and death.

Mountain top vs the Valley (Lower still)

This scene servers to confirm Jesus as king, kingdom bringer, but also to help the disciples understand that suffering and death comes first but their is a greater hope - seeing Jesus in this scene with the proclamation of being God’s son also offers comfort and hope of ultimate vindication the glory that is awaiting after the suffering that Jesus has already spoke about to the disciples.

Mark The Transfiguration (9:2–8)

The Transfiguration occurs on the seventh day after this incident and connects Jesus’ announcement of suffering with the foretaste of his promised resurrection glory that occurs at the end of the Passion week

Mark The Transfiguration (9:2–8)

For a brief moment, the disciples glimpse the truth as divine glory shines through the veil of suffering. It foreshadows the time when God will gloriously enthrone Jesus after the degradation on the cross. This white flash of the splendor to come brightens the dark cloud of tribulation that presently hangs over Mark’s first readers and confirms Jesus’ promise that those who follow and suffer for him will not have done so in vain.

Peter remembers it fondly when he writes in

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.

The glimpse from the mountain top became an anchor point of truth for them as they followed Jesus path themselves after Jesus ascension.

We sometimes ask, did that really happen? Is this really true? Is this really worth it? Does glory really await us? Or like peter we want to camp in those moments to hold onto what is not made to last here and now - the valley awaits.

In Pilgrims progress

There is a scene where in their journey to the celestial city, that is heaven, the fullness of God’s kingdom, the gaining of life, they meet a man who says I have looked for the celestial 20 years and have not found it.

doubt begins creep in and the main character Christian asks is companion - Hopeful

“Then Christian turned to his companion, Hopeful. “Is what this man said true?” “Be very careful,” Hopeful warned. “This man is one of the Flatterers. Remember what it cost us once already for listening to another sweet-talker like this one.” He shook his head in disbelief. “What a thing to say that there is no Mount Zion! Didn’t we see the gate of the city ourselves from the Delectable Mountains? Furthermore, are we not now to walk by faith?”

God uses these mountain top experiences to serve us in the valley where most of our time is spent - to remind us what awaits us, that he is who he says he is.

Mark Bridging Contexts

Glory awaits them, but they must not begin the celebration too soon. Christians do not live on the mountain but down in the valley, where confusion and mayhem reign and where they must continue to joust with Satan. Yet even in the midst of suffering, God’s presence shines through.

To see Jesus in all his glory one must see how his power merges with suffering.

We cant just move right on to glorious celebration of the kingdom we are in waiting room till the moment comes

Waiting for glory

(premature timing for glory - waiting to camp in the place harness what is time for)

video of DK Metcalf - dont celebrate prematuraly

But when we leave that mountain top moment when all the amazing light and radiance fades and we walk back to the valley, what remains? Jesus! His words - God says listen to him - he speaks for me and he walks with them down the mountain.

Jesus remains, his word remains, he walks with us on the way to the cross

He did not depart with Moses and Elijah, but remains and turns to accompany them on the way.

So he invites us to join in his glory, in his power, in his work, but also in his path of suffering that is focused on doing the will of God

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

the suffering comes first we cannot skip it.

So we take communion to give us that tangible mountain moments to give us the panorama - Jesus gave himself for us, to rescue redeem and restore - to give us rest that we may know the father and experience the fullness of life that is lived unto the Lord. It comes with loosing our lives here to gave eternal life. But he did it first for us, to lead us, to show us, and invites us to see him and his sacrifice.

Take the cup, take the bread, touch, taste, smell, hear, and see the tangible reminder of the life the Jesus gave for us to make what was lost found, that which was marred restored, that which wretched now beautiful, that which was dead now alive, that which was devoid of his spirit filled with the spirit.

The Mountain and Golgotha both lift Jesus up as king

The Father reveals what we can not see, but when it shows faith beleive and follow Jesus on the way to Cross

Mark The Transfiguration (9:2–8)

God then intervenes to make things clearer for addled and fearful minds.

Jesus has spoken plainly of his suffering and death (8:31); now God speaks plainly about the Son: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

The Gospel according to Mark Excursus: How Should the Transfiguration Be Understood?

Given the crisis in the minds of the disciples, it is hard to imagine anything keeping them in fellowship with Jesus short of the Father’s visual witness to his Son and ratification of his mission. That is the essence of the transfiguration.

The Gospel according to Mark Excursus: How Should the Transfiguration Be Understood?

The uniqueness of the transfiguration of Jesus deprives it of any adequate external standard or frame of reference by which to judge it. Given this fact, the judgment that readers make about the nature of the transfiguration will ultimately derive from their estimate of Jesus himself.