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3. Jesus’ Transfiguration on a High Mountain (Mark 9:1-7)

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MARK 9:1-7
1 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power.” 2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid. 7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

The reason for Jesus’ coming is to set up the kingdom of God with his power, and glory. This does not mean a fearful, dictatorial state, but a kingdom whose citizens live in the peace of love, and the joy of heaven. This kingdom is spiritual. It is full of light, truth, and good deeds.

Jesus realized this divine plan on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon his expectant disciples, and they were changed from cowards into courageous men, and from skeptics into believers. They became the light of the world, bearing the name of Jesus Christ to all.

But before this great in-dwelling, and when Jesus had revealed his imminent death, and called his disciples to self-denial, he took three of them to show them the beautiful glory of the kingdom of God. Some commentators believe that this event took place on Mount Hermon near Caesarea Philippi (8:27) where he was transfigured before them on the top of this lonely, high mountain.

There Jesus appeared as Christ, the King of kings, Lord of lords, holy in himself, sinless, more shining than the sun, and in him is no darkness at all. His clothes became completely white as an indication of absolute purification. This is experienced by everyone who believes in him. Without this purification, we are not worthy to appear before God at all.

The kingdom of Christ does not only include the present generation of holy believers in our world, but also the dead in the Lord who did not die, but live and serve God with innocence, and everlasting holiness. In this transfiguration on the mount, Moses appeared to the disciples as representative of the Law, with Elijah who represented the prophets, bearing witness to Jesus as the true Christ, in spite of his choosing the way of shame and self-denial, even to the cross.

By their appearance to the frightened disciples, the two witnesses also proved that Jesus was in harmony with the Law and the Prophets, and that his going to the accursed cross was the only way to save the world.

In the presence of this heavenly light, Peter showed the longing of every man’s heart to live near to God. Shortly before this event, Jesus called Peter “Satan”. But this most prominent man among the apostles wished to take hold of those enlightening people that he might also be enlightened. In fact, Christ granted him on the Day of Pentecost, to become with all the prayers a temple of the Holy Spirit full of life, power, and love.

The natural man is unable to see the glory of God. He becomes astonished, confused, frightened, and falls down as dead, particularly in such a dazzling condition where God revealed himself in the gentle, shining cloud. He did not appear as he had already done on Mount Sinai, in the midst of lightening and thunder, but revealed his glory announcing the holy gospel of mercy. The holy God testified personally to the representatives of men that Jesus is his only Son, and that he is greater than Moses and all the prophets, for to him was given all authority in heaven and on earth. It is impossible for the living, life-giving Jesus to die. But since he had humbled himself willingly, choosing to suffer for us in God’s judgment, he rejected his disciple’s counsel and went on to the cross.

When he first humbled himself at his baptism in the Jordan, so after proclaiming his firm decision to go to the cross, God the Father expressed his full satisfaction with that, saying: “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” He had to die as a substitute for us, as the Lamb of God to redeem the world. There is no other glory for us but in the cross on which the beloved Son of God died, in whom the love of God became incarnate. There is no salvation for men but in him who was crucified. He who hears this saying and believes in him finds life, joins the children of God, and is filled with the love, which is of God.

PRAYER: O glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you are my King. Forgive my impurity and sins. Clothe me with your purity. Let your glory dwell in me that I may be changed through your Holy Spirit from selfishness into a caring man. Come in your power to thousands of hearts around us that they may be changed, and may enter into the kingdom of your Spirit today. Amen.

QUESTION:

51. What is the significance of Jesus’ transfiguration as seen by his disciples?

A verse to memorize:
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
(Mark 9:7)

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