Mark 8:38-9:13 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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The Transfiguration
Comments for Study 15

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Memory Verse: 9:2-3a
Questions
Introduction
Outline
A CHART COMPARING JESUS' PARABLES
A MAP OF JESUS' MID-MINISTRY TRAVELS
A MAP OF GALILEE

I. One Who Comes In Glory (8:38-9:1)

Jesus' Mid-Ministry Travels

>1. After Peter's confession of Christ, what did Jesus begin to teach the disciples about the work of the Messiah? (8:29, 31)

* Mark 8:29 ""But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.""

* Mark 8:31 "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again."

>In 8:38, how did Jesus characterize his times?

* Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

* "ashamed" -Some of those who are saved will be ashamed of Jesus and thus not testify of his glory.

* 'adulterous" -Worshiping, living, and bragging about things other than Jesus and the gospel.

* "sinful" -Not live a life that is pleasing to God. Not denying the flesh.

>Why would a disciple be ashamed of Jesus?

* He won't tell others about Jesus for fear of being ridiculed and rejected. Self justifications following including; the call to witness is not for everyone, I don't know what to say, my friendship is witness enough, and Jesus taught to witness with actions not words.

* Not take up our cross is not a pleasant thought.

* Their lack of action show their weak faith.

* Many of Jesus' parables talk of his coming with rewards for his people who live according to his words in this life. Jesus taught that he gives his followers talents to be used for him, the gospel, and the edification of other believers.

>How are our times like his?

* Many who claim to be Christian, and some who are do not live in obedience to his words.

>2. What promise about Jesus' future glory and power is embedded in the warning he gave in 8:38?

* Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

* Jesus is coming again. He will come in glory. He will come in the sky. All will see him coming. All will acknowledge his power.

* God promised that Jesus will come in glory. (Daniel 12:1-2, 7:13-14; Malachi 4:1-3; Zechariah 14; Ezekiel 39)

>What does this teach us about Jesus' own faith in God's word of promise?

* He believed that he would be glorified.

>What does it mean, practically, to believe Jesus' promises?

* To live according to what he said.

II. His Transfiguration (9:2,3)

>3. When and where did the transfiguration take place?

* Mark 9:1-2 "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." After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them."

* "I tell you the truth" -Jesus always told the truth. When he said this it meant that what he is about to say is very important.

* "some who are standing here" -Meaning those whom he just told about his suffering, death, resurrection and second coming.

* "will not taste death before they see" -Their physical bodies that they are in now, will see and experience what he is about to say.

* "the kingdom of God" -Jesus is the King of king and the Lord of lords. My free book The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires discusses the nature and meaning of the Kingdom of God.

* "come with power" -Jesus had told them that they must take up their cross and follow him. He also told them that he will come back and that he would be ashamed of them if they were ashamed of him. Now he is about to show them what he means by him coming in glory and the need to listen to him.

* "After six days" -Jesus gave them six days to think about what he had just said. He waited a while before he fulfilled his promise to them. Similarly, we have waited a while for the promise of his second coming. The Lord God created the heaven and earth in six days and on the seventh day he rested. Now is our time to work; carrying our cross of gospel mission. When Jesus comes again in glory will begin our time of rest.

>Why do you think he took only three disciples?

* They were his top disciples. They would later be called pillars of the Jerusalem church (Gal. 2:9).

* They were one fourth of the twelve. Similarly, only one fourth of the four soils produced fruit in the parable of the sower (4:1-20).

* Jesus set up a hierarchy of: three among the twelve, twelve among the seventy-two, seventy-two among all the rest of the followers.

>Describe the transfigured Jesus. (Compare Rev. 1:13-16)

* Mark 9:3 "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them."

* Rev 1:13-16 "and among the lamp stands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

>4. How was this glorious vision of Jesus different from the Jesus the disciples knew?

* Jesus normally was just like them is appearance.

* He wore clothes that were traveled in.

* He was dusty from the trips they took.

* The word resurrection in Greek is "anastasis", meaning literally standing again. It is used forty times in the New Testament, and always refers most naturally to a bodily rising from the dead. (John 11:24; Acts 4:33, Rev. 20:5) There is certainly no warrant for taking it to mean something else.

>What does Jesus' transfiguration preview? (8:38b)

* Jesus' glory with his father.

* This is our first glimpse of the glorious future of Jesus and the glorious future of his believers, his bride. This is the first glimpse of a resurrection body, for Jesus is the first to have one. That is why he is called the firstborn. (Rom. 8:29, Col. 1:15-18, Heb. 1:6, 11:29, 12:23, Rev. 1:5) Like him, Jesus' bride will have a resurrected body. Jesus bride is not now as we will be for we will be changed. (1 Cor. 15:52)

>In the light of Jesus' teachings about his suffering and death, what do you think this vision meant to the disciples in the days ahead? (2 Pet. 1:16b; Rev. 1:7)

* Peter later wrote, "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. 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 from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18)

* Rev. 1:7 "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ."

* John starts out his gospel by writing, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

* Romans 8:18-25 states, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

* Philippians 3:20-21 also tells us of the bride's glorious future. It states, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Jesus came as the Savior from sin and death the first time. Jesus will come again as the Savior from our dead weak bodies and oppressive governments. Jesus bride eagerly waits for the Savior of our body and governments. What a glorious hope!

III. Elijah and Moses Talk with Jesus (4)

>5. Who were Elijah and Moses?

* Mark 9:4 "And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus."

* Elijah was a great prophet.

* Moses gave the law to the Israelites.

>What did they have in common with each other?

* They were men of God; suffering servants, men who carried their cross and are now glorified.

* They worked to turn the people to God, they taught the word of God.

* They lived sacrificially.

>What was the significance of their talking with Jesus at this time?

* To encourage Jesus.

* To help the disciples understand what happened to Jesus.

* Moses represented the Law. Elijah represented the prophets. Both pointed to Jesus cross and resurrection.

>What do you think they talked about?

* Luke 9:30-31 "Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem."

>How were Elijah's life and times like those of Jesus?

* Elijah lived in the time of evil queen Jezebel and king Ahab. Elijah preached to them.

* The people in Jesus' day were wavering to accept the Lord or Baal.

IV. Listen To Him (5-13)

>6. How did Peter react?

* Mark 9:5-6 "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.)"

>What do his thoughtless words reveal about his real mind?

* He wanted to stay their forever.

* Same reckless words as in 8:32.

>7. What did the voice of God teach them about Jesus?

* Mark 9:7 "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!""

>What was the point of his words?

* So the disciples would listen to Jesus because of who he is.

* They had not been seriously considering all that he said.

* Even Jesus needed help to get through the thick skulls of the disciples.

* Jesus is the Son of God.

>Why did the disciples need this message?

* They had not really been listening to him.

* James 1:21-22 "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

>What do the words "except Jesus" (8) suggest to us?

* Mark 9:8 "Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus."

* Jesus is the fulfillment of the law an prophets. In the end his word prevails. In the end he is all that matters. In the end it is all about him.

>8. What charge did Jesus give them on the way down?

* Mark 9:9 "As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."

* They didn't to get ride of what they believed about the Messiah and listen to what Jesus was saying.

>How did Jesus relate this event to the resurrection?

* "until the Son of Man had risen from the dead"

>Why?

* The disciples did not understand and accept his death and resurrection.

>Why didn't the disciples understand?

* Mark 9:10 "They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant."

>9. Why did they ask about Elijah? (Mal. 4:5,6a)

* Mark 9:11 "And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

* Malachi 4:5-6 ""See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.""

>Who had fulfilled the prophecy? (Mt. 17:12,13)

* Matt 17:12-13 "But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist."

>What had been done to him?

* Put his to death.

>What does Jesus' response in 12 and 13 teach about the real work of the Messiah?

* Mark 9:12-13 "Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

* Jesus answered more than what they asked.

* Refer to Matthew and Luke's account and words.