Text: Mark 9:1-8 ESV
1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
2 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,
3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they wer...
Text: Mark 9:1-8 ESV
1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
2 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,
3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 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.”
6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
-Mark 9:1-8 ESV
THE GLORY OF JESUS
Jesus was with Peter, James and John alone. They went up to a high mountain. These three were His core disciples. This mountain is either Mt Hermon or Mt Meron. As Jesus prayed, He was ‘transfigured’. It comes from the Greek root word 'metamorphoo'. It means to change forms. While Jesus prays (Luke 9:29), His body changes from a purely human form to one that more accurately displays His deity and glory.
In verse 1, Jesus promises that some of the disciples will see "the kingdom of God after it has come with power" before they die. This, according to many interpreters, is the display of the power of the kingdom of God Jesus promised seen by Peter, James and John. His clothes became as "white as light[Mat 17:2]; in Luke 9:29 says "dazzling white," like a flash of lightning. The original text doesn't say "bleach" but "whiten." Other versions give the more precise word of "launderer" or "fuller." A fuller is someone who uses nitrium to clean woolen cloth. In John’s vision in heaven, the twenty-four elders and the tribulation martyrs will also receive white robes (Rev 4:4; 7:13–14). His clothes are a metaphor for the righteousness that characterizes the presence of God. We will never be good enough, just as a launderer can never bleach Jesus' robes white enough so that we must receive Jesus' gift of forgiveness of our sins.
Amazingly, the images of Moses and Elijah appeared also. This has an allusion to the OT law since two witnesses were required to prove someone's guilt (Deut 17:6; 19:15). Now, God sends two witnesses to validate Jesus' identity. Both Moses and Elijah represent how Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection fulfill the requirements of Judaism (Mat 5:17).
Peter, James, and John are terrified. They do not know how to respond (v.6). They have no reason to think Moses and Elijah are leaving any time soon, so Peter offers to make tents, similar to the booths used in the Feast of Tabernacles. They are to enjoy the precious moment. Do such august visitors need shade from the sun?
But, a cloud overshadowed them. It was the ‘Shekinah glory’ of God. A voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" This was a repeat affirmation during Jesus’ baptism. When faced with this image of glory and the voice of God, Peter, James, and John fall on their faces in terror until Jesus comes to them, touches them, and says, "Rise, and have no fear" (Mat 17:6–7). Similarly, when we are confronted with the overwhelming glory of Jesus, a reverential fear is felt.
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