Suffering and Glory: Mark 9:9-13

Introduce

Last week you learned that is the beloved Son of God. I charged you to listen to His law and gospel. The story we just read gives us the conversation that followed our Lord’s transfiguration. It addresses the subject of the suffering of Jesus and His servants, especially John the Baptist. Before I apply the story to you, I will retell it.

Retell

To begin, consider the command conveyed (9-10).

While Jesus, Peter, James, and John descended the mountain, Jesus commanded the three to tell no one about the transfiguration. Jesus has commanded silence before in Mark. This time, however, He does something slightly different. He qualifies His command for silence by giving it an expiration date. They are to tell no one of the transfiguration "until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”

Jesus had already stated that He would suffer, die, and rise again. His suffering and glory are the ultimate revelation of His identity as God’s Son and the Messiah. Silence before the resurrection was required because of the mass confusion about the nature of the Messiah’s work. The objective of His first coming was not a restoration of national Israel, as many thought it would be. Instead, it was an establishing of God’s spiritual Kingdom.

After Jesus’s charge, Mark informs us that the three did keep the transfiguration to themselves. They began discuss the point He just brought up, namely His resurrection. A majority of Jews in that day had a notion of a universal future resurrection. (Isaiah 26:19; Job 19:25-26; Daniel 12:2). Perhaps the disciples could not conceive of an individual resurrection separate from the general resurrection. Yet there is Old Testament warrant to believe in the death and resurrection of the Messiah (Isaiah 53:10-12). Maybe the three believed what many of their contemporaries believed.

However, it seems more likely, given the context, they were confused by what proceeds His resurrection, His death. They could not reconcile the Messiah suffering. They could not coupe with their beloved Master dying. The notion of Jesus dying was like a roadblock in their understanding. This being the main reason for their questioning becomes more clear in the next scene.

At this point, Jesus has conveyed a command of silence regarding the transfiguration until after His resurrection. The disciples obey and discuss the meaning of the resurrection among themselves.

You have considered the command conveyed.

Now, consider the concerns conversed (11-13).

The disciples pose Jesus a question. Look at verse 11: “Why do the scribes say Elijah first must come?” What does this question have to do with their discussion of the resurrection? The best answer to this question is what I suggested earlier. The disciples are still struggling with the concept of Jesus suffering and dying. To rise from the dead He must die first. By bringing up Elijah, who they just saw, they are still holding out hope that their master will not suffer. The prophecy that the disciples and Scribes are pulling from comes from the end of Malachi.

The Prophet writes, “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.”

The Scribes likely tried to use this prophecy to undermine the authority of Jesus. Jesus, they thought, could not be the Christ because Elijah had not come. They were wrong. The one with the spirit of Elijah had come.

The disciples just saw Elijah. Elijah would change the hearts of the generation and prepare the way of the Lord. Their question is basically this: If Elijah has come to prepare the way the Lord and His restoration of all things, then why must the Son of Man die and rise again?

Jesus answers their question in verse 12. Look there, “Elijah does come first to restore all things.” The Scribes are not wrong entirely. They have misinterpreted the prophecy and its fulfillment. Jesus goes on to connect the prophecy of the coming of Elijah with the prophesies of Daniel’s conquering Son of Man and Isaiah’s suffering servant.

Keep reading verse 12: “And how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” Yes, these things are written of the Son of Man. The prophecy of the coming Elijah who restores all things and prophecy of the conquering and suffering servant are both true. One should not be affirmed at the expense of the others.

Jesus concludes His answer by identifying the coming Elijah and connecting Him with the Son of Man. Read verse 13, “But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” John the Baptist is the one who came in the spirit of Elijah. Like the Elijah of the Old Testament John suffered the persecution of a wicked queen and weak king (1 Kings 19:2, 10b). He is the forerunner to the Messiah, who prepared His way.

John preached of the coming Kingdom of God, called upon people to repent and be baptized, and turned many from their rebellion to salvation. Those that rejected John and His message, also, were hardened to the one who He went before. They would come under judgement. As Mark later reveals, the restoration of all things and the glorious salvation God has promised comes through the suffering, dying, and rising of His Son. The servants of God’s Son likewise enter glory through suffering.

Transition

You have considered the command conveyed and the concerns conversed. Now we may answer the “so what question.” Jesus came to suffer, die, and rise again. His forerunner John the Baptist likewise experienced suffering. Jesus is the Son of Man and the suffering servant. John is Elijah. Jesus through suffering and death entered glory and brings His people into glory. \

“So what” you might say. Well in light of this text and the broader narrative of Mark, I want to encourage you to embrace Jesus and His sufferings. That is the big idea. Embrace Jesus and His sufferings. I will apply this big idea in two ways.

Application

1. Embrace Jesus and His sufferings because He will lead you to glory

Jesus suffered in His birth, life, ministry, and death. Herod tried to kill Him in infancy. Religious authorities challenged him, plotted to kill him, and rallied the masses to crucify Him. Judas betrayed Him. The devil tempted Him. The disciples misunderstood and even abandoned Him.

He willingly suffered death on the cross. There He made payment for the sins of His people. He underwent the judgement they deserved. He was buried.

On the third day, He rose to never die again. Through His obedience in life and death He entered the glory that all others have fallen short of in sin (Romans 3:23; Philippians 2:5-11).

He ascended to God’s right Hand, makes intersection for His people, sent His Holy Spirit to effectually call, sanctify, and preserve His people.

He will return and bring all who have trusted in Him into glory, the heavenly Jerusalem and the new earth.

Christian

Christian, it is true that you will suffer. Suffering is the school of Christian discipleship. Your Lord suffered. John, his forerunner, suffered. Jesus said that if you would come after Him you must take up your cross. Paul said that if you desire to live a godly life you will be persecuted. Peter says that you shouldn’t be surprised when you face suffering.

Furthermore, when you suffer, you are not without hope. Jesus the firstborn from the dead will not leave you to suffer forever. Even in your sufferings He has promised to be with you and give you strength, comfort, and hope. He intercedes for you. His prayers are always answered with a yes! Those who Christ intercedes for will suffer, but through suffering they will enter glory.

No matter how bad your life gets or is, Christian, it will not always be so. Christ will finish what He began in His first coming. When you trust in Him you can know that your sufferings don’t have the last laugh. Even death doesn’t get the last word for the believer. Jesus will bring you through suffering and death to life eternal. Embrace Him He won’t fail you.

Unbeliever

Unbeliever, you know suffering too. You have likely cause others to suffer and suffered at the hands of others. Death may seem distant to you, but if your honest it terrifies you. For you death and suffering do have the last laugh and word. Apart from Christ, you will die and come into judgement without Jesus as your advocate. You will have to come with your own righteousness into God’s courtroom. The standard is perfection. A standard you from which you fall short.

Instead of suffering for your sins embrace Jesus and His sufferings. For if you embrace Jesus and suffer for Him, He will get you through suffering to glory. Glory is eternal life and communion with God. He will grant you pardon for your sin and rescue from final judgement. He will raise you from the dead and place you in the New Earth. He will wipe every tear away. He will put the final nail in death’s coffin. Why, unbeliever, do you go on suffering with no hope? Why do you deny Christ who can save you? Embrace Him. Embrace Him today.

Embrace Jesus and His sufferings because He will lead you to glory.

2. Embrace Jesus and His sufferings by proclaiming His glory to others

Jesus ordered the three disciples with Him not to speak of the transfiguration and the glory of Jesus as the Christ and the beloved Son of God until after His resurrection. Guess what. Jesus is risen, He is risen indeed. Thus, the time to speak of the glories of the Son of God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, is now.

Church

Church, people need to know that they are creatures created by God and belonging to Him. God makes the rules. Rules they have broken. They need to know they are sinners and that with sin comes death and judgement. They need to know that they cannot save themselves. Scientists cannot save them. Doctors cannot save them. Government cannot save them. Jesus can save them. They need to know this truth. They need to know who He is and what He did. They need to know how they should respond to Him. They need to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus.

Let us remain unashamed of these truths and proclaim them to our community. Let us leverage everything we have and do toward this work.

Christian

Christian, do you delight in the hearing the glories of Christ proclaimed? Do you long to know Jesus more than you do now? Do you get excited for the reading, teaching, and proclamation of God’s written Word that discloses to us His incarnate Word? Wake up. I now many of you are tired from a long week or long night. But you are here to worship and hear about our Savior and God Jesus Christ. Stop and think for a moment. Is hearing Christ’s glories proclaimed a priority in your life? Is proclaiming the glories of Christ something you do often or at all? Christian, delight in hearing Christ proclaimed and proclaiming Him to others.

Conclude

Embrace Jesus and His sufferings because He will lead you to glory. Embrace Jesus and His sufferings by proclaiming Him to others. These application points came from the story I asked you to consider. You considered the command conveyed and the concerns conversed.

Now, listener, what will you do? How will you respond? Will you do nothing? Will you leave unscathed and unaffected? Will you embrace Jesus and His sufferings? May God effectually apply His Word to your hearts and bring you to true knowledge of and faith in His Son by His Spirit. Let us pray.