The Transgiguation

 Mark 9:2-9

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

 

So Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  Most believe this mountain was Mount Tabor about 18 miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee.  Peter, James and John were what scholars call Jesus' inner circle.  He had his 12 disciples then he had his inner circle. 

Jesus leads up the mountain and they became witnesses to a glorious moment.  Jesus was transfigured before them.  In that moment His clothes became dazzling white.  Jesus appeared in His pre-incarnate form.  For this moment he threw off the veil of the flesh and became so much more.  It was dazzling white and as Mark stated no one on earth could bleach them that white.  This is a supernatural moment.  This showed that Jesus was who He said He was. The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on the mountain is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.

The Transfiguration provides further evidence that Jesus was the divine Son of God. It is not coincidental that this happened soon after Jesus had acknowledged Himself to be the Christ, the one who left heaven's glory to come to earth.  The Transfiguration scene of Jesus is a representation of His coming kingdom in its fullness.  This also shows Jesus in His glorified body.  The purpose of the transfiguration of Christ into at least a part of His heavenly glory was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was.  This showed all The claims He made were true.

Now Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.  Elijah representing the prophets and Moses the law.  Remember Jesus said He came to fulfill the law and Jesus is the greatest prophet who ever lived.  Jesus is the balance between the two.  Jesus is the living and revealed Word of God.  The presence of Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration has been read as summarizing “the Law and the Prophets” now being fulfilled in and by Jesus’ life, the Messiah.  Moses was the law and Elijah was a representative of all the prophets who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  

The Transfiguration is considered one of the five milestones of Jesus’ life according to the Gospels, alongside his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

So we have a Peter moment.  He seems to say what the others were thinking.  Now the reason he said it was because they were frightened.   Peter says, “Jesus it is good that we are here.”  Peter and John will mention this in their writings.  It would have had a lifetime effect on them.  They would never be the same and never look at Jesus the same after this

Peter recognized Moses and Elijah.  This speaks of divine recognition.  Even though he had never met them he knew who they were.  We will know those who have gone before.  Each one of us will have a divine signature.  When we put on incorruption and immortality we will still be recognized.  Our identity will be our own.  At this moment Peter had a spirit to spirit recognition.  

Peter suggests to Jesus that they make three dwelling places for each of them.  There are several reasons.  

It was the habit of Jewish people to build a temporary shelter called a sukkah to celebrate and meet with God. 

He wanted to commemorate the experience.  

He wanted to keep the divine on the earth to make it last or make a memorial.  Sadly, the place can become more important than the experience.  

Peter wanted to honor these men. 

He spoke out of fear and did not know what to say and fearful

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.

A cloud comes and overshadows the whole place.  The divine glory, presence, splendor and essence of God shows up.  Then a voice speaks out of the cloud.  This is the second of three divine proclamations.  The others were the Jesus baptism and the temple.    

The voice identifies Jesus as the Son of God.  The second person of the Godhead.  The Messiah and King.  

He is Savior, healer, baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and the Soon Coming King.  Jesus is the beloved.  Jesus is the beauty, unity, and endearment of love.  He is love with a face.  The New Testament word here is means to breathe.  Jesus is the breath of love.  In this case, Jesus is the object and giver of love.  As He is beloved so through Him we become the beloved.  

The voice tells them to listen to Him.  He has a message.  Jesus has come for a reason.  Jesus told His disciples to learn of Him.  Have eyes to see and ears to hear.  Let Jesus be your example, role model, and mentor.  Learn everything you can from Him.  He is the master teacher.  Don’t let go of one thing you hear and see.  

Suddenly they look around and they saw no one by Jesus.  It was only a moment of time.  Divine moments are just that but they can last a lifetime.  Divine moments change you.  They make you more focused, give you a purpose, prepare you for eternity and remind us that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.  

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

There are four reasons why Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone.  

Jesus told them not to say anything till after he had reason from the dead.

Waiting for the Right Understanding.  They would not fully understand this experience till after Jesus had been raised from the dead.  God doesn’t show all things until we are mature, wise, and understanding enough to grasp what is being revealed.  That is also why we need to ask for wisdom. There is a time, maturity, education, knowledge, and understanding that is needed.

Timing.  Jesus continually said my time is not right.  Timing is everything in the things of God.  God is never early, late but always on time.

It was a matter of obedience, trust, and faith.   Jesus entrusted these men with this experience and He was entrusting them to reveal it at the right time.  It was a matter of honor, trust, truth, and integrity.  They had seen something no other human beings had seen or would ever see again.  Timing is everything and trust is paramount