Jesus has just finished telling the crowd and the Twelve that anyone who wants to be His disciple must take up his cross and follow Him. Anyone who wants to be His disciple must be willing to die to self in order to live for God. Next He makes this statement, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power." (Mark 9:1) Jesus is not predicting that the ultimate fulfillment of the kingdom will come during the lifetime of some of His listeners. Some skeptics have attempted to assert that Jesus got it wrong, that He promised to return and set up the eternal kingdom during the first century AD, but they are taking verse 1 out of context. Verse 1 is fulfilled six days later, as we will learn in today's passage. We have to always look at the words of Jesus in the context of what is going on around Him at the time He speaks the words. Though the eternal kingdom did not come in the first century AD, the kingdom in one sense has already come because Christ has come, and what happens in today's passage is further proof to three of the disciples that Jesus is truly the Christ.
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone." (Mark 9:2a) These three are Jesus' inner circle of friends. He sometimes takes these three along without the other nine disciples. One commentary I was reading on the book of Mark suggested that Jesus has to keep a closer eye on these three because they are the mostly likely to get into trouble when left unsupervised! Although I wouldn't agree that this is the reason Jesus keeps them close, I had to chuckle because these would be the three most likely to do something bold and unexpected. Peter is courageous and he displays great leadership potential but he is also very impulsive. The brothers James and John have been named "Sons Of Thunder" by Jesus, and that may indicate fiery tempers or loud and outspoken personalities. But personally I believe Jesus is closest to these three because out of the Twelve their hearts are the most like His. They have an intense hunger for God. Right now they are a bit unfocused in their fervor, and they are still pretty rough around the edges, but Jesus knows who these three men are going to become. James is the first disciple who will be martyred. He will not only die to self in order to serve the Lord, but he will also lose his life for Him. Peter will become a great leader in the church, will write two books of the Bible and, according to early church tradition, will be crucified for his faith. John will write one of the gospels along with three epistles and the book of Revelation. He will not be called upon to be martyred, but in every other way he will give his life for Christ, ending his years in exile as persecution for his faith.
"There He was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus." (Mark 9:2b-4) The gospel writer Luke tells us what Elijah and Moses (who represent the Law and the Prophets) were discussing with the Lord: "They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." (Luke 9:31) The word Luke uses is the Greek exodus, and I'm thankful Luke uses this word instead of saying, "They spoke about His death, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." An exodus means leaving one place for another; it does not mean an end to existence. When we die, we don't cease to exist---we make our exodus. We are going somewhere. And because Christ made His exodus from this world by way of the cross, we who believe on Him make our exodus from this life into His eternal presence.
When the gospel writers tell us Jesus is transfigured, they don't simply mean God shined a spotlight down on Him from heaven. The light comes from within Him, for He is the light. The Apostle John will begin his gospel account by explaining to us that Jesus is the light, and I think he gained this insight by witnessing the transfiguration. The late British evangelist Charles Spurgeon points out that the humanity of Christ somewhat conceals His glory within a human body, but when He is transfigured the three disciples get a glimpse of who He really is: "For Christ to be glorious was almost less a matter than for Him to restrain or hide His glory. It is forever His glory that He concealed His glory; and that, though He was rich, for our sakes became poor." In other words, we can't imagine the effort and the power required for Christ to restrain His glory! Except for the working of miracles, when Christ took on human form He was bound by the restraints of a human body. He is not trying to hide Himself from mankind, but is being merciful to mankind. The glory of the Lord is so great it would consume us if we saw it in our natural bodies! This is why we will all be changed when we enter the presence of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:51)
Peter doesn't know what to say when faced with the spectacle of the transfiguration, but as usual he doesn't let that stop him from speaking. "Peter said to Jesus, '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.' (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)" (Mark 9:5-6) Peter suggests something like this, "Let's stay on this mountaintop forever. It doesn't get any better than this! We don't need to have any more talk about rejection and crosses and death. Why lay aside Your glory for a cross? Why exchange the crown You should be wearing as the Son of God for a crown of thorns? With power such as we've just witnessed, You don't need to go to any cross! Let's all just stay here."
Peter means well, just as he meant well when he refused to accept Jesus' warnings about His impending death. He doesn't want to accept bad news about Jesus, but in being guided by his love for Jesus rather than by his love for God's will, Peter gives bad advice. His bold leadership style and his impetuous personality likely give him a lot of influence over the other eleven disciples, so God the Father speaks up at this point and overrides Peter's suggestion. "Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!" (Mark 9:7) Jesus has said He is going to the cross and He is going; there should be no more argument about it. The disciples mustn't be swayed by Peter who wants to see Jesus installed at Jerusalem as king rather than hung on a cross outside the city. These men are to listen to no one but Jesus, for He is God, and His words are truth. They must be willing to accept what He says even if it hurts and even if they disagree. They must be willing to obey what He says even though they can't yet understand the scope of the plan of salvation or how exactly the cross fits into that plan.
The world constantly calls to us and tries to pull us in various directions. Even well-meaning Christians sometimes give bad advice. This is why it's vital that we study the Scriptures. We have to know the truth in a fallen world that so often distorts it. We are to be led by the words of Christ and we are to obey God's command, "This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!"
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