February 17, 2006

EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY

Mark 9:1-13

Today, we are considering one of the pivotal events in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus. We know it is important because three of the Gospel writers record it in some detail. We know it is important because as we read the passage, we can tell that something significant, something big is happening. We also know that it is pivotal because Peter, in his final epistle, written not long before his death, makes reference to it as one of the key experiences in his life in establishing his faith.

Let’s turn to 2 Peter 1:12-18 (Read)

So, clearly, what he saw on the mountain had a powerful impact on Peter, and became one of the building blocks of his faith; one that he sought to pass on to others.

But having said all that, we must also confess that the events on the mountain that day are mysterious and hard to understand. In some ways, the passage leaves us with more questions than answers. Why did it happen? Who was it for? What are we to learn from it?

In wrestling with those questions, I want to remind you of a key principle of Bible interpretation, and that is the importance of context. The context is essential to understanding these events. In some ways, it is unfortunate that there is chapter break here. Because I believe that the first 13 verses of chapter 9 are intrinsically linked to the last paragraph of chapter 8. In Mark 8:27-38, three issues are addressed. First is the issue of Jesus’ identity. It didn’t come up at random. Jesus raised it by questioning his disciple. Who do you say I am? To which Peter responded, “You are the Christ.”

The second is the issue of Jesus’ death. In Mark 8:31-32, Jesus for the first time clearly tells his disciples that he is going to suffer and die. This is immensely troubling to them. They cannot wrap their minds around the concept of suffering Christ.

The third issue is Jesus’ coming glory. In the closing words of the paragraph, Jesus speaks of when the Son of Man comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

Keep these three issues in mind as we turn to chapter 9. This chapter begins with a puzzling verse: And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” This verse has created a lot of confusion. What was Jesus referring to? Did he mean that some of the disciples would still be alive when Jesus came back to establish his kingdom? If he meant that, then he was mistaken! All of the disciples died in the first century, and we are living in the 21^st century, and Jesus still hasn’t come back to establish his kingdom. Another possible interpretation applies the word “kingdom of God come with power” to either the entirety of the events of Passion Week, culminating with the Resurrection. A third view applies these words to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

Personally, I believe that we must turn again to context to establish the matter. This verse is a bridge between what Jesus has just said, and what immediately follows in the text. I think there is good support for this in the fact that this verse occurs in all three Synoptic Gospels and in all three Gospels, it is followed immediately by the account of the Transfiguration. If I might paraphrase the verse, Jesus has just confirmed his identity and announced his death and prophesied his coming again in glory. Then he adds simply: “In fact, some of you standing here will be given a visual preview of that kingdom in all its glory while you are still alive.”

Then in the very next verse, with a tight time connection of 6 days to link the two together, we are told that Jesus took Peter, James and John (“some” of the disciples) up on a high mountain and there he was transfigured before them.

Remember the three issues in chapter 8: Jesus’ identity, Jesus’ death, and Jesus’ coming glory. All three of these issues are brought up again and illustrated or emphasized in the events that transpired on the mountain. Let’s take them up in reverse order.

The first is Jesus’ coming glory. This event is bathed in the glory of God. The verse says that Jesus was “transfigured” before them. The Greek word is “metamorpheo”. You may recognize this word from the English word “metamorphosis.” It is a word that speaks of a change in which the outward appearance is changed to represent an inner reality. In other word it is an inside out change. Jesus was always the Son of God intrinsically and in his character and essential identity. But during his earthly life, that inner reality was clothed in human flesh, a physical body. What happened on the mountain was that Jesus’ own inner reality, his heavenly glory was allowed to shine forth. His clothes became dazzling white. The word “dazzling” literally means “shining”. There was in inner luminescence that shone out of his very garments. It was a whiteness that no earthly launderer could ever reproduce. The appearance was one of glory and majesty. As Peter recollects what he saw in 2 Peter 1:16, he says, We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

One of the questions about this passage and this event, is what was its purpose? Who was it for? In reality it probably had more than one purpose. But one clear purpose was that it was intended as a confirmation and encouragement to the disciples. Much of what happens in the last half of Mark is directed toward the disciples. It is to prepare, equip and train them for their pivotal roles in the establishing and spread of the church. This experience of Jesus, appearing to them in his glorified state, was part of that confirming and equipping process. It would give them a rock to cling to in all the turbulent events which were to follow. I am not pretending that they fully grasped the significance of what they saw. In fact it is clear that they did not understand it at the time. But the truth of these events would become clear to them later. “The glory is real. We have seen it!”

The second is the issue of Jesus’ death. This, we know, was something the disciples could not grasp. But Jesus’ death and its necessity was part and parcel of what took place on the mountain. It is Luke’s account that gives us the clue to this. In Luke 9:31, we are told what Jesus talked about with Moses and Elijah. Thye spoke about his departure which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. The word “departure” is the Greek word “exodus”. That’s an interesting topic for Jesus to discuss with Moses, isn’t it? But clearly here, the words refer to the events of his death, resurrection and ultimate ascension that would take place in Jerusalem. We are not sure how much the disciples overheard or comprehended. But we know that Jesus’ Passion was the topic of discussion that day.

We know that the reality of Jesus’ death was also part of the theme that day because of the discussion Jesus had with the three disciples that day. Look at Mark 9:9-10. (Read) Jesus specifically referred to his resurrection. But there is no need for resurrection unless there is first of all a death. That’s what the disciples couldn’t quite grasp. “Why is he talking about resurrection?” they asked each other. Only later would they grasp the significance of the conversation. But Jesus’ death was very much on his mind that day on the mountain.

Most clearly presented that day was the issue of Jesus’ identity. It is here that the evidence is clearest. It had a huge effect on the three men. The voice came out of the cloud: “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him!” Friends, there can be no higher testimony, no stronger evidence than this. This is how Peter recalls it in 2 Peter 1:17: For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came out of heaven…

Mark began his Gospel with the words: The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Now, in the end of chapter 8 and the beginning of chapter 9, this section of Scripture, in the very center of his Gospel, two stunning proclamations have been made about Jesus. One is from Peter, an eyewitness who had lived with him, walked with him and seen his miracles: You are the Christ. The other is God the Father himself, speaking out of the cloud: This is my Son.

These were the truths that Jesus wanted to fix in the minds of Peter, James and John that day, so that they could pass them on to the others at the appropriate time. No, they didn’t fully grasp it, but they would in time.

So, what should we glean from this passage? Yes, the Transfiguration happened for Peter and James and John’s benefit. But I believe it also happened and was recorded for out benefit. What should we take away from this passage? I would like to share five truths for us to take away and think about it.

1. The certainty of Jesus’ identity. This is central to this event, for us as it was for the three disciples. Who is Jesus, and how do we know? Well, we know because God the Father himself spoke and identified Jesus as his Son. I believe the Apostle John, at least in part, had this same event in mind, in 1 John 5:9-10: We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

What is God’s testimony? His own voice spoke out of the cloud, “This is my Son.” If we refuse to believe his words, we make him out to be a liar. It’s that simple.

2. The necessity of the cross. We saw this in last week’s message on the deep magic of the kingdom of God; the cross precedes the crown. Here on the mountain, the disciples had a chance to preview the crown, to see the glory. But what did Jesus talk about on the mountain? His coming death in Jerusalem. It is not a question of either/or. It is both. But the cross must come first. Jesus understood that. So, apparently, from their heavenly perspective, did Moses and Elijah. While Jesus wanted the three disciples to preview the kingdom in its glory, he also continued to introduce and hold up to them the necessity of the cross. The deep magic of the kingdom of God required the death of the Messiah to open the doors of his kingdom to sinners like Peter and James and John and like you and me. We can never fully grasp the essence of the kingdom of God until we understand the necessity of the cross in the establishment of that kingdom. There are many people even today who are ready to welcome Jesus as an example, a moral teacher, a prophet from God. But they balk at the cross, at the necessity of the sacrificial death of the Christ, the Son of God. But this is the very heart of the Gospel.

3. The certainty of the coming glory. Christianity is a faith that is filled with hope. That hope is that we will one day experience the glory of God in all its fullness. Sometimes, as we carry our cross, and the way seems so long and hard, the hope of that glory may fade and grow dim. Was it just a dream, a cleverly invented bedtime story? That’s why Peter’s words are so important. We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. “I know it’s real!” Peter said. “I’ve seen it!”

You and I have not seen the glory for ourselves. But we have the eyewitness account of one who has seen it. We shall one day witness that glory, just as Peter and James and John did. And we shall one day share that glory, just as Moses and Elijah did when they conversed with Jesus on the mountain. Hang on to the hope of the coming glory.

4. The unity of Scripture and of God’s eternal kingdom plan. This truth may be a little more subtle, but I believe it’s important. It is found in the two Old Testament saints who appeared and talked with Jesus. Moses represents the Old Testament Law, given as a clear statement of God’s righteous character. Elijah represents the Prophets, who proclaimed the Word of God so faithfully over the generations. When they meet with Jesus on the mountain, they converse together about the events of Jesus’ death in Jerusalem. There is no debate, no contradiction, no grinding of theological gears. There is a picture of beautiful harmony and oneness of understanding and purpose. God’s eternal plan was being fulfilled, his eternal kingdom purposes were reaching the culmination point to which all had been pointing all along. In this mysterious incident on the mountain, we have a clear testimony to the oneness of the Word of God and the completeness of his revelation and the fulfillment of his kingdom plan, as well as a preview of how believers of all ages will one day fellowship together around the throne of God.

5. The pre-eminence of Jesus. This truth is thrown into the clear spotlight by Peter’s blundering words. When he saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah, he spoke out: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. It is difficult to know exactly what Peter intended by his words. The word for “shelters” or “tents” was the same word used for temporary booths that the Jews constructed during the “feast of tabernacles” when they lived in temporary shelters for a week as commemoration of their years wandering in the wilderness. Scholars point out that the time of year could well have been approaching the time of the feast of tabernacles, hence Peter’s comment. I’m not sure whether that’s true or not. But I do know that Peter made one critical error. That was when he placed Jesus and Moses and Elijah all on the same level. “One for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” In Peter’s mind this was no intended slight. There were no higher figures in Jewish history than Moses and Elijah. He was in awe to be in their presence. But it is at this point that the cloud enveloped them all and the voice spoke: This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him!

As honored as Moses and Elijah are in Scripture and in Jewish history, they do not belong on the same level as Jesus. He is preeminent, on a level of his own, as the one and only Son of God; the one before whom one day “every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Take these thoughts, these truths that were demonstrated on the Mount of Transfiguration. Think about them, ponder them, meditate on them. Let them shape your world view and your view of the reality that is now and the reality that is to come.