loudandclear

Mark 9:1-13

   Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”

 ² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. ⁴ Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

 ⁵ Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

 ⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

 ⁹ As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

 ¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

 ¹² Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”

(((Chapter 9 verse 1 makes a startling statement that can be confusing at first.  Jesus says that many won’t die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power.  We must remember that the Kingdom of God does not mean an eternal heaven that Christians escape to after they die.  The Kingdom of God is life done God’s way or the rule and reign of God in the hearts of God’s people on the earth.  Jesus knew that the Kingdom of God was breaking into humanity as people decided to follow Him with their lives.  It was near.  It was all around.)))

(((This passage contains an extremely supernatural event called “The Transfiguration.  Jesus takes his closest followers up on top of a mountain (which in the tradition of the Israelites is where you go to get a special revelation from God).  Craziness ensues; the weatehr changes, Elijah and Moses (two heroes of the Old Testament) appear, and then the voice of God thunders and tells Peter, James, and John that Jesus is His Son and they should obey Him.  The transfiguration helps us understand and connect Jesus’ sufferings (Chapter 8.) with His ultimate glory and splendor (his appearance and white clothes in Chapter 9).  He will suffer, die, but ultimately Jesus, the humble King will reign!)))

(((Jesus claims that Elijah had already arrived and that he was treated with hatred and violence.  The “Elijah” figure that Jesus is referring to is clearly John the Baptist who was the front runner calling for people to repent and prepare for the Kingdom of God in their midst.  John the Baptist was brutally beheaded and murdered.)))