Transfigured June 25
Mark 9:2 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.
There is a break of six days in the urgency of the narrative. This pause in an otherwise active ministry may be a period of mourning. Jesus has informed the disciples of the necessity of His death. Time is needed to adjust to the new reality that He will no longer be present.
Jesus always goes off alone to pray. Well, almost always. This time He takes three disciples with Him – Peter and the sons of thunder, James and John. He again chooses a wilderness, a place far from the distractions of the world.
He prays. They are surely praying, as well, but their focus is interrupted as their teacher metamorphoses. The Greek word metamorphoō (literally, change form) is translated as transfigured. In communion with the Father, Jesus’ appearance takes on a brightness that is unnatural.
We are reminded of Moses’ shining face after He brought the second set of tablets with the Commandments down from Mt. Sinai. His face radiated, perhaps as Jesus now radiated in the presence of the Father.
There is a crack in the veil between heaven and earth, and heaven pours out in all its glory. A body of flesh becomes spiritual, and the spirit is unable to be contained by thin walls of skin.
Perhaps this is along the lines of Paul’s writing of Jesus in Philippians 3:21, “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Three Together June 26
Mark 9:4 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.
The great lawgiver and the greatest of the prophets come to Jesus. The law and the prophets that were the precursors meet in the future that is this point in time. They have looked forward to this time and place of prophecy’s fulfillment.
That these three commune together show that all are in one accord. History and future, law and mercy, and the hopes of the past are met to complete the tapestry begun at the foundation of the world.
Luke 9:31 tells us that they spoke of Jesus’ death to come. Perhaps this was encouragement, as with the angels in Gethsemane.
Peter speaks. The word translated as “answered,” according to Strong’s is, “by Hebraism, to begin to speak (where an address is expected.)”
In the silence following this holy assembly, no words are either expected or adequate. But Peter’s voice breaks the stillness. He feels compelled to say something even though “he did not know what to say.” Silence is a hard lesson.
Peter suggests a tabernacle for each one – Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
The tabernacle is reminiscent of the tent in the wilderness of the Exodus, a habitation for God among His people, a place for Him to dwell. And so Peter would keep Jesus with himself and the other disciples. Peter does not want to lose Jesus to the death that his Teacher has just warned must come.
A Voice June 27
Mark 9:7 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.
The scene is reminiscent of the Sinai desert. There is a cloud by day for a covering. And a voice brought instructions from on high, words as manna come down to answer their unasked question.
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
(Note that Peter may take this admonition personally. The name “Simon" is from the Hebrew, H8095 shimon, meaning, “listen.”)
The divine statement is the answer. The Father and the Son are together. No other instruction is needed for the disciples. Their Teacher is with them, and they are to hear Him. And to hear Him, to listen to Him, is to obey Him. And to obey Jesus is to obey God.
The veil between heaven and earth is visibly open only briefly. We have no reason to think that the veil is an impenetrable barrier, but that the key to the lock is not under the control of fallen humans, unprepared for what and Who exists beyond.
A literal portal between heaven and earth is open and then closed. Moses and Elijah have passed between. Jesus also could pass between, but He does not. Jesus remains with His three fishermen. There is a work to be done in faith.
To say there was only Jesus with them almost sounds disrespectful, as if some other person is necessary. Seeing only Jesus, they now can also see all that He represents in history and in the future. This “only” is more than enough.
Tell No One June 28
Mark 9:9 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.
Jesus cautions the three fishermen to tell no one of what they have just witnessed until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This brings to their minds two issues.
First, what have they just witnessed?
The implications of this appearance of Moses and Elijah, followed by a strict command from God to listen to the words of His Son, are literally beyond the grasp of mortal minds. The miracles of Jesus have amazed all who have been witnesses, but these three men have now had a glimpse into the larger picture, the larger power behind their Teacher.
The second issue of speaking of this to no one until after the Son of Man is risen from the dead also has two parts.
Not to speak of the transfiguration of Jesus and the spiritual vision and words that followed may have been reassuring in one sense. After all, who would believe their report? They have no evidence, only their firsthand experience. Even three witnesses – more than the law required - to such an event would be arrested and tried as blasphemers!
They have recently been told that Jesus must die soon, and now they are told that He will rise from the dead. Believing the words that came from heaven is not hard for them. They have seen Jesus raise the daughter of Jairus from the dead. But if Jesus is dead, who will raise Him?
How can all of these things be?
Elijah Has Come June 29
Mark 9:11 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.”
The disciples are full of questions! The question recorded is to know why the scribes say that Elijah/Elias must come before the Messiah.
The disciples know their Scripture. They are aware of Malachi 3:1, and of Malachi 4:5, which state:
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…. "
"And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Their real question is, “You are the Messiah, but how is it that Elijah has not yet come?”
Jesus gives an answer that is not clear. He states “that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
John’s call to repentance had been meant to change the hearts of the people, and he had been murdered while in the task of restoring all things.
Jesus could have stated clearly that the prophet had come in the form of John the Baptist, but He uses His characteristic teaching method of letting the disciples find the answer to their question.
The Son of Man June 30
Mark 9:12 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?”
In confirming the Scripture’s prophesy of the coming of Elijah, Jesus also puts a question to the disciples: And what is in the Scriptures concerning the Son of Man? He gives them the answer: that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt.
Isaiah 53 speaks most clearly to Jesus’ question, but Jesus could have reasoned with them on all of the Scriptures prophesying His life and death as He did with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27).
Mark asks his readers to answer this question, as well.
For those of us unfamiliar with the Scripture of Jesus’ day, we take on faith the identity of Jesus as the One fulfilling ancient prophecy. For the unbelieving or the new convert of Mark’s time period, knowledge of these Scriptures can confirm Jesus’ identity. The issue for the people of Mark’s day is the lineage of the Messiah.
The general expectation is He will be the descendant of David through Solomon as a political Messiah. This is the lineage from David through Solomon to Joseph as recorded in Matthew 1.
Luke 3 gives the genealogy of Jesus from David through Nathan, the prophet, to Joseph. This is Mary’s lineage, attributed to her husband when she marries Joseph.
Substantial redefining of expectations to a spiritual Messiah is a difficult task. A heart of flesh open to new understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit was – and is – required.
An Arbiter July 1
Mark 9:14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down the mountain to find the other nine disciples in a dispute with some scribes in front of a large crowd. Seeing Jesus, the people run to Him as to an arbiter in a dispute, someone who will reconcile the feuding factions.
We do not know whether the people favor the scribes or the disciples in their argument, but they abandon both sides as they come to Jesus.
Was Jesus’ countenance still reflecting the glory of His mountaintop experience, the radiance and brightness of the transfiguration? This would explain the “amazement” of those who saw Him
Jesus first asks the scribes to give their version of the dispute. This is an important lesson in itself. Rather than defending His friends without an understanding of both sides, He seeks to know the arguments against them.
This is not disloyal. One must understand the opposing arguments before entering the dispute.
This is Jesus’ approach when confrontation is inevitable, as it will be each time He interacts with the scribes and Pharisees. He first determines the issue, and then proceeds to demonstrate the spiritual resolution.
In this particular dispute, we will see that the scribes who stand against the disciples are not the issue.
Next page
Mark 9:2 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.
There is a break of six days in the urgency of the narrative. This pause in an otherwise active ministry may be a period of mourning. Jesus has informed the disciples of the necessity of His death. Time is needed to adjust to the new reality that He will no longer be present.
Jesus always goes off alone to pray. Well, almost always. This time He takes three disciples with Him – Peter and the sons of thunder, James and John. He again chooses a wilderness, a place far from the distractions of the world.
He prays. They are surely praying, as well, but their focus is interrupted as their teacher metamorphoses. The Greek word metamorphoō (literally, change form) is translated as transfigured. In communion with the Father, Jesus’ appearance takes on a brightness that is unnatural.
We are reminded of Moses’ shining face after He brought the second set of tablets with the Commandments down from Mt. Sinai. His face radiated, perhaps as Jesus now radiated in the presence of the Father.
There is a crack in the veil between heaven and earth, and heaven pours out in all its glory. A body of flesh becomes spiritual, and the spirit is unable to be contained by thin walls of skin.
Perhaps this is along the lines of Paul’s writing of Jesus in Philippians 3:21, “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Three Together June 26
Mark 9:4 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.
The great lawgiver and the greatest of the prophets come to Jesus. The law and the prophets that were the precursors meet in the future that is this point in time. They have looked forward to this time and place of prophecy’s fulfillment.
That these three commune together show that all are in one accord. History and future, law and mercy, and the hopes of the past are met to complete the tapestry begun at the foundation of the world.
Luke 9:31 tells us that they spoke of Jesus’ death to come. Perhaps this was encouragement, as with the angels in Gethsemane.
Peter speaks. The word translated as “answered,” according to Strong’s is, “by Hebraism, to begin to speak (where an address is expected.)”
In the silence following this holy assembly, no words are either expected or adequate. But Peter’s voice breaks the stillness. He feels compelled to say something even though “he did not know what to say.” Silence is a hard lesson.
Peter suggests a tabernacle for each one – Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
The tabernacle is reminiscent of the tent in the wilderness of the Exodus, a habitation for God among His people, a place for Him to dwell. And so Peter would keep Jesus with himself and the other disciples. Peter does not want to lose Jesus to the death that his Teacher has just warned must come.
A Voice June 27
Mark 9:7 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.
The scene is reminiscent of the Sinai desert. There is a cloud by day for a covering. And a voice brought instructions from on high, words as manna come down to answer their unasked question.
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
(Note that Peter may take this admonition personally. The name “Simon" is from the Hebrew, H8095 shimon, meaning, “listen.”)
The divine statement is the answer. The Father and the Son are together. No other instruction is needed for the disciples. Their Teacher is with them, and they are to hear Him. And to hear Him, to listen to Him, is to obey Him. And to obey Jesus is to obey God.
The veil between heaven and earth is visibly open only briefly. We have no reason to think that the veil is an impenetrable barrier, but that the key to the lock is not under the control of fallen humans, unprepared for what and Who exists beyond.
A literal portal between heaven and earth is open and then closed. Moses and Elijah have passed between. Jesus also could pass between, but He does not. Jesus remains with His three fishermen. There is a work to be done in faith.
To say there was only Jesus with them almost sounds disrespectful, as if some other person is necessary. Seeing only Jesus, they now can also see all that He represents in history and in the future. This “only” is more than enough.
Tell No One June 28
Mark 9:9 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.
Jesus cautions the three fishermen to tell no one of what they have just witnessed until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This brings to their minds two issues.
First, what have they just witnessed?
The implications of this appearance of Moses and Elijah, followed by a strict command from God to listen to the words of His Son, are literally beyond the grasp of mortal minds. The miracles of Jesus have amazed all who have been witnesses, but these three men have now had a glimpse into the larger picture, the larger power behind their Teacher.
The second issue of speaking of this to no one until after the Son of Man is risen from the dead also has two parts.
Not to speak of the transfiguration of Jesus and the spiritual vision and words that followed may have been reassuring in one sense. After all, who would believe their report? They have no evidence, only their firsthand experience. Even three witnesses – more than the law required - to such an event would be arrested and tried as blasphemers!
They have recently been told that Jesus must die soon, and now they are told that He will rise from the dead. Believing the words that came from heaven is not hard for them. They have seen Jesus raise the daughter of Jairus from the dead. But if Jesus is dead, who will raise Him?
How can all of these things be?
Elijah Has Come June 29
Mark 9:11 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.”
The disciples are full of questions! The question recorded is to know why the scribes say that Elijah/Elias must come before the Messiah.
The disciples know their Scripture. They are aware of Malachi 3:1, and of Malachi 4:5, which state:
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…. "
"And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Their real question is, “You are the Messiah, but how is it that Elijah has not yet come?”
Jesus gives an answer that is not clear. He states “that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
John’s call to repentance had been meant to change the hearts of the people, and he had been murdered while in the task of restoring all things.
Jesus could have stated clearly that the prophet had come in the form of John the Baptist, but He uses His characteristic teaching method of letting the disciples find the answer to their question.
The Son of Man June 30
Mark 9:12 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?”
In confirming the Scripture’s prophesy of the coming of Elijah, Jesus also puts a question to the disciples: And what is in the Scriptures concerning the Son of Man? He gives them the answer: that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt.
Isaiah 53 speaks most clearly to Jesus’ question, but Jesus could have reasoned with them on all of the Scriptures prophesying His life and death as He did with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27).
Mark asks his readers to answer this question, as well.
For those of us unfamiliar with the Scripture of Jesus’ day, we take on faith the identity of Jesus as the One fulfilling ancient prophecy. For the unbelieving or the new convert of Mark’s time period, knowledge of these Scriptures can confirm Jesus’ identity. The issue for the people of Mark’s day is the lineage of the Messiah.
The general expectation is He will be the descendant of David through Solomon as a political Messiah. This is the lineage from David through Solomon to Joseph as recorded in Matthew 1.
Luke 3 gives the genealogy of Jesus from David through Nathan, the prophet, to Joseph. This is Mary’s lineage, attributed to her husband when she marries Joseph.
Substantial redefining of expectations to a spiritual Messiah is a difficult task. A heart of flesh open to new understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit was – and is – required.
An Arbiter July 1
Mark 9:14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down the mountain to find the other nine disciples in a dispute with some scribes in front of a large crowd. Seeing Jesus, the people run to Him as to an arbiter in a dispute, someone who will reconcile the feuding factions.
We do not know whether the people favor the scribes or the disciples in their argument, but they abandon both sides as they come to Jesus.
Was Jesus’ countenance still reflecting the glory of His mountaintop experience, the radiance and brightness of the transfiguration? This would explain the “amazement” of those who saw Him
Jesus first asks the scribes to give their version of the dispute. This is an important lesson in itself. Rather than defending His friends without an understanding of both sides, He seeks to know the arguments against them.
This is not disloyal. One must understand the opposing arguments before entering the dispute.
This is Jesus’ approach when confrontation is inevitable, as it will be each time He interacts with the scribes and Pharisees. He first determines the issue, and then proceeds to demonstrate the spiritual resolution.
In this particular dispute, we will see that the scribes who stand against the disciples are not the issue.
Next page