Mark 9:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Mark 9:1-13. Let’s go!
Mark 9:1-2 (NIV)
1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
On verses 1-2: It’s not too much of a stretch to say that when Jesus lived on earth, His glory was under cover, veiled by human flesh. For while Jesus came to the world revealing God’s glory, in some ways by being limited to a human form Jesus was also concealing God’s glory. For if Jesus came to us in all the glory that He had in heaven, we would not be able to take it. Like Moses who came down from Mount Sinai with a radiant face and at the people’s bidding had to cover himself with a veil, so Jesus’ heavenly glory would be too much for us to take on earth. That is why this scene that Mark 9 describes – the transfiguration of Jesus – is so precious. To transfigure means to change in appearance. Here, for a moment, God takes the cover off of Jesus’ glory and gives Peter, James and John a glimpse at the kind of glory Jesus had in heaven. John would see a vision of Jesus’ glory again later in life, which prompted him to write the book of Revelation.
Now notice this: Jesus didn’t reveal Himself this way to everybody. He revealed Himself this way only to His closest disciples when He was alone with them. What can we learn from this? Don’t just chase crowds. Some of the most precious, most important experiences God wants to give you will only come when you get alone with Him.
Mark 9:3-4 (NIV)
3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
On verses 3-4: It is significant that Moses and Elijah specifically are the ones talking with Jesus. Moses, the greatest leader of the Old Testament, represented God’s law. Elijah the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, represented God’s prophets. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. As Jesus would say in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Let me put it another way so that the significance is not lost on you. The ultimate message of the law (represented by Moses ) is: “You’re a sinner who needs a Saviour.” The ultimate message of the prophets (represented by Elijah) is: “God is sending a Saviour (Messiah) to you”. The ultimate message that Jesus embodied and preached is: “That Saviour has come.”
Mark 9:5-8 (NIV)
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
On verses 5-8: What mistake did Peter make?
– Instead of being quiet and listening to Jesus, Peter was a busybody and couldn’t sit still.
– By offering to build three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah, Peter was potentially diverting the attention away from Jesus and onto himself.
– By offering to build three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah, Peter was potentially putting Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus, when in fact as great Moses and Elijah are, Jesus is far, far greater.
How should we live based on this?
– Don’t be so into your own plans and agenda that you miss what God is saying to you. Take time to be still and listen to Jesus.
– Don’t get in the way of God’s glory by taking attention away from Jesus and putting it on yourself.
– Don’t put other people or things on the same level as Jesus. Let Jesus be by far your number one love, the one you live for.
Mark 9:9-13 (NIV)
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
On verses 9-13: Many people thought that the prophet Elijah would somehow come back before God’s judgment day and before God sent His Messiah. This was based on the last words of the Old Testament, which go like this:
Malachi 4:5-6 (NIV)
5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.
6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Here Jesus affirms that Elijah does come first and suggests that this prophecy was fulfilled when John the Baptist came and ministered (see Matthew 17:13).
Jesus, You are greater than anything or anyone. No one can compare to You. I pray that I would not get in the way of Your glory. I pray that I wouldn’t be so into myself and my plans that I miss what You’re saying. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
