TRANSFIGURATION

 

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.

 

1.      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 Sea of Galilee.  Mount Tabor is one of the three mountains that form the valley of Megiddo.  The other two are Mt Gilboa and Mount Carmel.  Peter, James and John were what scholars call Jesus inner circle.  He had his 12 disciples then he had his inner circle. 

2.      Jesus leads up the mountain and they became witness 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.  Jesus was no longer terrestrial but celestial.  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.

3.      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. Now three of His disciples were to get a glimpse of that glory. The Transfiguration scene of Jesus is a representation of His coming kingdom in its fullness.  This is 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 His claims He made were true.

4.      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.  They were talking with Jesus.  I would have loved to be privy to that conversation. 

5.      The Transfiguration is considered one of the five milestones of Jesus’ life according to the Gospels, alongside his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.  Moses was the law and Elijah was a representative of all the prophets who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. 

 

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.

 

1.       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 frighten.  They had just witness a great event.  This was a divine moment.  Peter says, “Jesus it is good that we are here.”  It was because they will talk about it later.  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.  You cannot be the same when you have had a divine encounter.  This changed them. 

2.      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.  Our bodies will never know pain sickness or death.  In this moment Peter had a spirit to spirit recognition. 

3.      Peter suggests to Jesus that they make three dwelling places for each of them.  There are several reasons.  First, it was the habit of Jewish people to build a temporary shelter called a sukkot to celebrate and meet with God.  Secondly, he wanted to commemorate the experience.  This was a mountaintop experience.  Thirdly, he wanted to keep the divine on the earth.  Whenever we have an experience like this the natural response to try and make it last or make  a memorial.  Jacob did at Bethel, Abraham at Hebron and Solomon at Gibeah.  Sadly, the place can become more important than the experience.  Fourthly, Peter wanted to honor these men.  Lastly, because he spoke out of fear and did not know what to say.  The gospel writer often said, Peter not knowing what to say then said.  Which Mark stated.

 

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 any more, but only Jesus.

 

1.       What an amazing moment.  Moses, Elijah and then a cloud comes and over shadows 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.   

2.      The voice identifies Jesus as the Son of God.  The second person of the God head.  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 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. 

3.      The voice tells them to listen to Him.  He has a message.  He is the way truth and life.  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. 

4.      Suddenly they look around and they saw no one by Jesus.  It was only a moment of time.  Only long enough for Peter to say one thing and the Father to respond.  Often divine moments are just that but they can last a lifetime.  Divine moments change you.  They make you more focused.  They give you a purpose. They show you there is more than just this world.  They prepare you for eternity.    They remind us that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.  You know there is more and greater things on the other side of eternity. 

 

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.

 

1.      There are four reasons why Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone.  The first because Jesus told them not to say anything till after he had reason from the dead.

2.      Secondly, 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.  For example you do not give a 3 year a manual for building a house.  There is a time, maturity, education, knowledge and understanding that is needed.

3.      Lastly 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.

4.      Lastly, 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.  Jesus was telling them keep a great secret.  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.  I have a question for you can God trust you.  It is easy for us to trust God but can He trust you?  Close with how Paul waited 14 years before his first missionary journey.  Timing is everything and trust is paramount.  Cam Floria said this, “Waiting is often providential disciple for those who are being entrusted to a great task.”