A Celestial Preview

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ss=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>1) 5-24-09…AM…SBC     2)“A Celestial Preview”

Mark 9:2-13

Introduction:  

On March 23, 1743, when “The Messiah” was first performed in London, the king was present in the great audience. It is reported that all were so deeply moved by the “Hallelujah Chorus” that with the impressive words, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” the whole audience, including the king sprang to its feet, and remained standing through the entire chorus. From that time to this it has always been the custom to stand during the chorus whenever it is performed. With spontaneous joy the soul stands to salute Him who “cometh in the name of the Lord.” He is “King of kings, and Lord of lords” and to Him we pledge allegiance. [1]


Proposition:               The Christian must be motivated to bring Him glory.


Contextual Connection / Geography:

Ø      Christ and His disciples are still in the region of Caesarea Philippi (map)

Ø      “After six days” (Matt = 6 days / Lk. = 8 days) – Luke uses “approximately” – Lk implies no intent to specify

Ø      A High Mountain – Luke’s account gives us the reason for going up to the mountain  - it was to pray

1) The Shift                                     v2-8

A-    Definition of Transfiguration μετεμορφώθη       v2-3     same word used in Romans 12:2 &  2 Cor 3:18

 

1-      this is the word that our English word metamorphosis comes from – caterpillar to butterfly

2-      Paul uses it for moral transformation and Mark uses to refer to Christ physical transformation

3-      Jesus’ appearance was temporarily changed from that of an ordinary human being to a divine being in all of his glory.[2]

·       For a brief time Jesus’ human body was transformed (glorified) and the disciples saw Him as He will be when He returns visibly in power and glory to establish His kingdom on earth[3]

·       v3 tells us that no cloth refiner/bleacher/fuller could ever clean a cloth this white – unique to Mark

·       Matthew and Luke not only confirm His clothing changed but also his appearance – his face

·       This is reminiscent of John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:13-14

Ø    It is not that Jesus became God at this time, but rather his divine nature broke through his human nature for all to see.

Ø    He never ceased to be God, but his glory was concealed for a time when he was human. Here a small part of that glory is allowed to shine through the cracks.

Summary:     As you meditate on this event, keep in mind that He has shared this glory with us and promised us a glorious home forever (John 17:22–24). According to Romans 12:1–2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, believers today are to experience a moral transfiguration.[4]

B- Elijah and Moses                            v4

 

1-      Symbolic of the two great divisions of the OT, the Prophets and the Law.[5]

2-      Matthew and Mark record that they were talking while Luke tells they what they were talking about

3-      Luke 9:30-31 (insert verse)– they were conversing over Jesus own “Exodus” – i.e. His coming death

4-      Both were prominent mediators of God’s rule to the nation of Israel.[6]

C- Peter’s Ambition and Motivation  v5-6

 

1-      Luke 9:33 tells us that Peter spoke not realizing what he was saying – Mk says it was out of fear v6

2-      Peter appears to have quickly forgotten the teaching on Jesus suffering and going to the cross

3-      Peter most likely was thinking about the prophetic nature of the Feast of Tabernacles and the permanent dwelling of the line of David – chronologists speculate that this feast was near Zech 14

4-      By suggesting booths to dwell in, Peter is attaching an element of permanency to this event and if Peter’s plan is accomplished then the cross would be circumvented – connect to 8:33

 

Ø    Peter, in eagerness to honor His Lord and Savior neglected to remember just what kind of Messiah he was going to be

Ø    Application: Sure Peter was foolish by circumventing the cross – but do we desire that same closeness with our Lord?

Ø    In v7-8 we see God the Father’s response to Peter’s suggestion and the true meaning of this event.[7]

D- The Voice of God                          v7

1-      this scene is reminiscent of the Shekinah Glory that rested on and over Israel—tabernacle—removed

2-      Reminiscent Jesus’ baptism, God Father authenticates the mission of Jesus Christ as a suffering Messiah

3-      By calling the disciples to be obedient to His Son God the Father was approving of the all that Jesus had been teaching about previously – namely that he was not there to “tabernacle” but to die on a cross

Ø      the scene of the transfiguration abruptly ends emphasizing that it was but an interlude and that the real business of the cross had to be attended to

2) The Silence                                           v9-10

 

A-    This was Jesus’ last command to silence recorded by Mark and the only one on which He set a time limit.[8]

B-    The very fact of Christ’s death followed by his resurrection would illumine this account, setting it in its proper perspective.[9]

C-    Only from the perspective of the Resurrection would they understand the transfiguration and thus be able to proclaim its meaning correctly[10]

D-    The request for silence came because the Messiah that Jews of that day were expecting was the Messiah who had come

·       had the people caught wind of this display of Glory it would have incited them to try and make Jesus a king of their own kind and selfishly relieve them of political bondage – cf:  Jn 6:15; 12:12-19

·       But when they would hear of the story after the Resurrection takes place it would be clear that he had not come to conquer Rome but to conquer death

 

3)  The Sacrifice                                      v11-13

 

A-  Peter, James and John are immediately confused how this appearance of Elijah fit it with Malachi’s prophecy about the coming of Elijah (4:5-6)

 

·       the Malachi passage references Moses and after seeing these two men they connected it to the prophecy

·       the confusion for the disciples was that if Jesus was the Messiah, and having just seen Elijah come, then why didn’t Elijah come before Jesus came as the Messiah

B-    Jesus affirms in one sense that the Scribes were correct in relating the Messiah w/ the appearance of Elijah

·         Understand - the disciples were confused Christ 2nd Coming with Him being a suffering Messiah

·         Christ assures them that just like Elijah (John the Baptist – Matt. 11:11-15) came before Jesus’ first coming so will there be the declarations of an “Elijah” before his 2nd coming

C-    John the Baptist fulfilled the Elijah prophecy (Mal. 4:5-6) typically at Christ’s First Advent. Yet Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 4:5-6) indicates that Elijah himself will also appear just before Christ’s Second Advent (Rev. 11).[11]

Summary of Transfiguration:

1-    The Transfiguration is intended to offset the teaching that the disciples just heard about the upcoming Passion of the Christ –for the disciples present, it offset the perplexity and pain of his upcoming death

2-    The Transfiguration once again, and in a unique way, anchors Christianity in the historical events of Jesus’ life and ministry – Peter’s Confession

Conclusion:

 

Ø    Although the transfiguration gave a preview of Jesus’ future glory, in actuality the cross had to precede glory.[12]

How did you do this week Christian at denying yourself and surrendering your self-supremacy?

Who did you share the glory of the cross with this week?

1-      Salvation - The motivation of Mark’s writing this Gospel is so that you may realize that this Jesus, whose name is so often kicked around in the mud today came to take your penalty, and w/out Him you are lost on your way to Hell

You are a sinner—You are in need of a Savior—only in that Savior is found security

It is through that salvation that we see what a glorious Savior He truly is

 

2-      Believer:

·         The glory that He displayed at the transfiguration is a glory that is constantly in the life of the believer through salvation – Kids’ Song – “there is none like good old Joshua”—Mark says there is none like Christ!

·         This glory must be the driving or motivating factor behind all that you do

For whose glory do you live for?        Do you want it or do you want Him to have it?

-        if you came—sang—gave—prayed—listened here today with the right motivation then you brought God glory

-        I know that you have done this, not just today either, I’ve seen you do it

-        Keep it up! – don’t be a pansy and settle for anything less than the glory of God – Press on!

-        And as you press on expand the ways that you glorify God to the areas that you don’t


----

[1]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).

[2]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 142.

[3]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:142.

[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), Mk 8:27.

[5]John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), Mk 9:4.

[6]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:143.

[7]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:143.

[8]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:143.

[9]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 10, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 342.

[10]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:143.

[11]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:144.

[12]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 143.

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