May 30, 2016
GLIMPSE OF GLORY -- THE REAL THING
Mark 9:1–13
Ann Holford
Central Truth
Jesus is our glorious King: Listen to Him!
Key Verse | Mark 9:7
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." (Mark 9:7)
Mark 9:1–13
1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
The Transfiguration
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one 1 9:3 Greek launderer (gnapheus) on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, 2 9:5 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; 3 9:7 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Dive Deeper | Mark 9:1–13
Every day we hear this world is headed toward trouble. Are we ready?
Jesus knew major upheavals lay ahead in His disciples' world, and He was preparing them. This Jesus they knew as rabbi, miracle-worker, and teacher was about to show them He was much more—their God, veiled in flesh. They got a glimpse of glory on that mountain. Can you imagine how He looked? His appearance was so amazing there weren’t even words to adequately describe it, although Mark tries in Mark 9:3: “[A]nd his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” I want to follow a God who is so amazing there aren’t even words within our earthly experience that adequately describe Him!
Appearing with Him were Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the Prophets. (Did you wonder how they recognized them?) So they saw, then they heard the Voice: “This is My Son. Listen to Him!” God was saying that Jesus is greater than Moses or Elijah, figures the disciples would have known and revered. Listen to HIM.
Jesus showed Himself as who He really is so they would remember this glimpse of glory when Jesus was arrested, humiliated, and crucified; and when their world would be shaken and they’d be tempted to doubt everything they knew about Jesus. He is the Suffering Servant, but He IS ALSO OUR VICTORIOUS KING!
If I didn’t know Jesus is the glorious God, my victorious King, I’d be freaking out. If I don’t listen to Jesus, I’ll be listening to myself, our culture, and social media; and I’ll stay stressed out, anxious, and hopeless. Here are some things to listen to instead: Romans 8:38-39, John 14:6, Revelation 1:8. Listening to Him changes how I see everything!
So when it looks like everything is crumbling, listen to Him and not to Fear or Doubt. I need to know this Jesus when my world falls apart, when I hear the news that this world is unraveling. He gave this glimpse of glory, so we’ll know who He really is, and we'll trust our victorious King! This is the real Jesus—the God-with-us! Who am I going to listen to today—a blogger; Twitter; a news commentator; or Jesus, the One who wrote the end of the story?
Discussion Questions
1. How does this picture of transfigured Jesus give you confidence that He's big enough to handle what's going on with you today? That He's big enough to handle your future?
2. Do you listen to what people say or write about Jesus instead of going directly to what Jesus says in His Word? If you read this devotional instead of reading Mark 9:1-13, go back and read the passage now!
3. Listening to Jesus should lead not just to hearing Him, but also to doing what He says. How can you be not just a hearer, but a doer of His Word?