Revelation and Sacrifice: The Transfiguration of Christ

 

Summary

In our exploration of Mark 9:2-12, we delve into the profound event of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This moment on the high mountain, where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, offers a glimpse into the divine glory of Christ, a glory that is typically veiled in His humanity. The narrative begins with Jesus taking His closest disciples to a secluded place, where His appearance changes dramatically, His clothes becoming dazzlingly white, a purity beyond earthly comparison. This transformation is not merely a reflection of divine light, as seen in Moses' encounter with God, but an emanation from within Jesus Himself, revealing His inherent divinity.

The presence of Elijah and Moses, representing the Law and the Prophets, underscores the fulfillment of the Old Testament in Jesus. Their conversation with Jesus about His impending suffering in Jerusalem highlights the necessity of His sacrificial mission, a destiny understood and affirmed by these great figures of faith. Peter's impulsive desire to build tabernacles reflects a human longing to capture and prolong moments of divine encounter, yet it is interrupted by the overshadowing cloud of God's presence and the voice from heaven affirming Jesus as the beloved Son to whom we must listen.

This event is a pivotal moment of revelation, a foretaste of the resurrection glory, yet it also points forward to the path of suffering that Jesus must walk. It reminds us that the journey of faith involves both moments of divine revelation and the call to follow Jesus through the valleys of suffering and sacrifice. As we come to the Lord's Table, we are invited to remember and participate in the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, a mystery that transforms us and calls us to live in the light of His glory.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Transfiguration as Revelation: The Transfiguration reveals the inherent glory of Christ, a glory not reflected but emanating from within. This moment on the mountain is a powerful reminder that Jesus is the source of divine light and life, calling us to see beyond His humanity to His divine nature. [08:56]

2. Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets: The presence of Elijah and Moses signifies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus. Their conversation with Him about His impending suffering underscores the necessity of His mission, reminding us that the path to glory often involves suffering and sacrifice. [18:20]

3. The Voice from the Cloud: The divine voice from the cloud commands us to listen to Jesus, affirming His identity as the beloved Son. This call to hear Him is a call to obedience and faith, urging us to align our lives with His teachings and example. [23:05]

4. The Glory and the Cross: The Transfiguration juxtaposes the glory of Christ with the path of suffering He must walk. It challenges us to embrace both the moments of divine revelation and the call to follow Jesus through the valleys of life, trusting in His ultimate victory. [23:54]

5. The Lord’s Table as Participation: Coming to the Lord’s Table is an invitation to participate in the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a sacred moment of remembrance and transformation, calling us to live in the light of His glory and grace. [25:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:37] - The Transfiguration Begins
- [01:30] - The Command of Silence
- [02:09] - Elijah and the Prophetic Fulfillment
- [02:56] - Prayer for Understanding
- [03:51] - From Humiliation to Exaltation
- [04:42] - Moments of Glory in Jesus' Life
- [05:32] - Setting the Scene
- [06:20] - The Disciples' Foreboding
- [07:14] - The Meaning of Transfiguration
- [08:06] - The Source of Divine Light
- [09:50] - Moses and the Reflection of Glory
- [11:39] - The Internal Glory of Christ
- [13:20] - The Brightness of God's Glory
- [14:10] - The Shekinah and Divine Presence
- [15:07] - The Whiteness of Purity
- [17:33] - Elijah and Moses Appear
- [19:03] - Peter's Reaction
- [20:35] - The Overshadowing Cloud
- [21:22] - The Voice from Heaven
- [23:54] - Returning to the Path of Suffering
- [24:59] - The Lord’s Table and Remembrance
- [25:16] - Prayer for the Elements

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Transfiguration of Jesus

#### Bible Reading
- Mark 9:2-12: This passage describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, where His divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John.

#### Observation Questions
1. What significant change occurs in Jesus' appearance during the Transfiguration, and how is it described in the text? [00:37]
2. Who appears alongside Jesus during the Transfiguration, and what is the significance of their presence? [01:30]
3. What is Peter's reaction to the Transfiguration, and how does the text describe his state of mind? [19:46]
4. What command does the voice from the cloud give, and what does this reveal about Jesus' identity? [23:05]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Transfiguration reveal the inherent divinity of Jesus, and why is this significant for understanding His nature? [08:56]
2. In what ways do Elijah and Moses' presence during the Transfiguration underscore the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus? [18:20]
3. What does the command to "hear Him" imply about the authority of Jesus' teachings and the response expected from His followers? [23:05]
4. How does the juxtaposition of Jesus' glory and His path of suffering challenge common perceptions of glory and sacrifice? [23:54]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "mountaintop" moment in your faith. How did it impact your understanding of Jesus' glory, and how can you carry that experience into your daily life? [19:46]
2. The Transfiguration highlights the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus. How does this understanding influence your view of the Old Testament and its relevance today? [18:20]
3. The voice from the cloud commands us to listen to Jesus. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are aligning your life with His teachings? [23:05]
4. Consider the balance between moments of divine revelation and the call to follow Jesus through suffering. How can you prepare yourself to embrace both aspects of the Christian journey? [23:54]
5. As you approach the Lord's Table, how can you deepen your understanding and appreciation of participating in the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection? [25:11]
6. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to see beyond Jesus' humanity to His divine nature. How can you seek a deeper revelation of His glory in that area? [08:56]
7. How can the example of Peter's impulsive desire to prolong the divine encounter inform your approach to spiritual experiences and their role in your faith journey? [19:46]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Light Within Christ
The Transfiguration of Jesus on the high mountain reveals His inherent divine glory, a light that emanates from within rather than being reflected. This moment is a powerful reminder that Jesus is not just a man but the source of divine light and life. His dazzlingly white appearance signifies a purity and holiness beyond earthly comparison, inviting us to see beyond His humanity to His divine nature. This revelation calls us to recognize the divine presence in our lives and to seek the light of Christ in our daily walk. [08:56]

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you seek to recognize and reflect the divine light of Christ in your daily interactions and decisions today?


Day 2: Fulfillment Through Suffering
The presence of Elijah and Moses during the Transfiguration signifies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus. Their conversation with Him about His impending suffering in Jerusalem underscores the necessity of His mission. This highlights that the path to glory often involves suffering and sacrifice. As followers of Christ, we are reminded that our journey of faith may also require us to embrace challenges and sacrifices, trusting in God's greater plan and purpose. [18:20]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge or sacrifice you are currently facing, and how can you trust in God's plan to bring fulfillment through it?


Day 3: Listening to the Beloved Son
The divine voice from the cloud during the Transfiguration commands us to listen to Jesus, affirming His identity as the beloved Son. This call to hear Him is a call to obedience and faith, urging us to align our lives with His teachings and example. In a world filled with many voices and distractions, we are invited to prioritize the voice of Jesus, allowing His words to guide and transform us. [23:05]

"And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!'" (Luke 9:35, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to quiet the noise around you and focus on listening to Jesus' voice in your life?


Day 4: Embracing Glory and Suffering
The Transfiguration juxtaposes the glory of Christ with the path of suffering He must walk. It challenges us to embrace both the moments of divine revelation and the call to follow Jesus through the valleys of life. Trusting in His ultimate victory, we are encouraged to hold onto hope and faith, even in the midst of trials and tribulations, knowing that our journey with Christ leads to eternal glory. [23:54]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you find strength and hope in the promise of future glory as you navigate a current trial or difficulty?


Day 5: Participating in the Mystery of Christ
Coming to the Lord’s Table is an invitation to participate in the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a sacred moment of remembrance and transformation, calling us to live in the light of His glory and grace. As we partake in this holy communion, we are reminded of the profound love and sacrifice of Jesus, and we are invited to let this mystery transform our hearts and lives. [25:11]

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16, ESV)

Reflection: As you prepare to partake in communion, how can you allow the mystery of Christ's sacrifice to transform your heart and actions today?

Quotes

We continue this morning with our study of the Gospel According to Saint Mark, and I will be reading from chapter 9, verses 2 through 12, since we considered verse 1 of this text last week. Mark 9:2–12, and I’ll ask the congregation now to stand for the reading of the Word. [00:00:01]

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [00:00:27]

And a cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him! Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. [00:01:23]

For our benefit the gospels give to us this narrative of the glorious manifestation of Christ in the transfiguration. May the Spirit take this revealed Word to our hearts. Please be seated. Let us pray. Father, we have absolutely no hope whatsoever in this world to fathom in its fullness the things that we have just heard. [00:02:35]

Several years ago, I wrote a book that was kind of an unusual book. It was titled “The Glory of Christ,” and I wrote it for this reason, that in classical theology we make note that the progress of Jesus’ life in general is a progress that moves, again in the main, from humiliation to exaltation. [00:03:42]

But there is no point in the life of Jesus prior to the resurrection where His glory shines forth so magnificently as it does here at Mount Hermon presumably in His transfiguration. Let’s note the setting for it. Mark tells us that it was after six days that Jesus took the inner circle, Peter, James, and John, up to a high mountain apart from the crowd. [00:05:25]

And so this foreboding cloud of doom was hovering over them for six days, and in the midst of the edge of despair, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John and goes up to a high mountain, apart from the people, and the Scriptures tell us He was transfigured before them. The word in the Greek is a form of the verb “metamorpheo.” [00:07:04]

The incarnate Logos, the second person of the Trinity has His glory hidden and veiled in the cloak of Jesus’ humanity, and now all of a sudden before the eyes of the disciples they see the bursting forth of the full deity of Christ. Now let’s notice the details that Mark gives us. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white like snow. [00:08:48]

But beloved, when Moses’ face shown with such intensity, it was the shining of the face of a creature who had been in the presence of God and whose face was now reflecting the radiance of God. That is to say, the light in the face of Moses was a reflected light. Moses’ face was not the source of the light. [00:11:48]

But the source of the light that the disciples are now seeing is coming from within Christ Himself. Again, it’s not refracted, it’s not a reflected glory. It’s an internal, inherent glory that is now bursting forth before their very eyes. Throughout the gospels, the gospel writers refer back to this when they said, “And we beheld His glory as the only begotten Son of God.” [00:13:00]

And then we read that Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Can you imagine? The disciples are watching this display of light, this breakthrough of glory, and all of a sudden appears before them Elijah and Moses, and they are watching Jesus in a conversation. He’s huddled together with Moses and Elijah. [00:17:52]

The voice thunders from heaven, “This is My beloved Son.” Three times God is heard to speak audibly in the New Testament and every time it’s to acknowledge His only begotten Son. “This is My beloved Son.” And now listen to what He says, “Hear Him.” You know if God were to speak aloud this morning from the heavens, you know what He’d say? [00:22:56]

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