While the lectionary seems to attribute the first verse of Mark 9 with the preceding chapter, I have become convinced that those historical figures who set the chapter and verse designations, at least in this case, got it right.

Verse 1: Jesus is expressing that there are those “standing here” who will not “taste death” until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power.”   To relegate this verse to the preceding chapter is to imply that the Kingdom does not come with power until the “He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels”—the anticipated second coming of Christ Jesus! 

Yet, Jesus makes it clear that the “kingdom” is “at hand” (close enough you could reach out and grab it, that is!)  The book of Hebrews leaves no uncertainty that Jesus is right now seated at the right hand of the Father—reigning.  Jesus explained to Pontius Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world.  The Kingdom of God enjoys a spiritual quality that equips it with an “eternal throne” and far from the influence of the corruption and decay of this world.

“Mark” is the master storyteller of the gospel writers.  Luke is the avid journalist, no doubt, and Paul, perhaps even through his inspired disciples, is the most prolific.  But “Mark” is by far the most apt yarn spinner.  His style is fluid and we see its flow in the 9^th chapter. 

“There are those standing here who will…see the Kingdom…come with power…” 

Verse 2:  “…And six days later…”

Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain.  He was transfigured before them.  What is the significance of this?  Why is he transfigured? Why did Jesus not bring all the disciples?

Earlier, Mark has told us that the Religious Right has shown up demanding a sign as evidence that Jesus is in fact from God.  Jesus gives them none.  Yet, now we see Peter, James and John invited to a private sign party. 

What distinguishes these three from the Pharisees and Biblical scholars?  What sets these three apart from the other nine disciples? 

Evidence that these three connected with Christ in ways that the others did not is right before you between the covers of the Bible in your hand.  It is the testimony and teachings of Peter, James and John that comprise our New Testament Midrash.  With the exception of the Apostle Paul, who had, in his own right and unique way, a revelation of the transfigured Christ on the Damascus Road, time has proven that these disciples developed a relationship with Christ that uniquely made them capable of understanding and expressing the good news in ways that cause a whole new generation of believers in “The Way” to endear their written words.3

Verse 3: This relationship is both honored and enhanced by what is about to take place.  Jesus’ garments become radiant.  Jesus glows with supernatural, holy light.  Please remember with me that to this point, Jesus is a rabbi to them: a pastor, a spiritual director.  Wise, certainly he is, and powerful; a prophet with no equal in time memorable.  But they are now seeing Jesus in a new light.  Jesus is a holy man.  Their understanding of who Jesus truly is, is beginning to widen.

Verse 4:  Elijah and Moses appear; talking with Jesus.  Immediately our western minds must categorize them.  Why these two?  Instinctively we translate them into types giving to their presence a symbolic message.  Moses, we say, represents the Law; Elijah the prophets.  We smile smugly with our neatly organized compartmentalization.  But by putting these two men in these boxes we have picked the pockets of the devout students of the Bible. 

Moses and Elijah do not represent anything.  They might, if we read that the image of Moses and Elijah appeared. But these figures are not icons hanging on a chapel wall. The spirit-souls that are their God-created essences are talking with Jesus.

Relationship.

Our western minds revolt! What?  How could they not represent the Law and the Prophets! There must be some explanation as to why it is these two specific figures! 

But, think with me for a moment about the unreasonableness of our argument.

Moses, we say is the figure of the Law.  But God says that others will emerge to fulfill Moses’ role.  Among other prophets, Samuel emerges over time, being for Israel judge, priest and prophet.  Moses’ role is not unique.  He is not the only champion of the law or the only spokesperson for God.  And to relegate Moses on Mt. Hermon with Jesus as diplomatic representative of the Law is to ignore Moses as one whom God worked miracles, for this the abuse we lay on Elijah when we identify him as the representative of the prophets. 

Do we really mean to isolate the miracles of God through Elijah from the message behind them? Elijah championed the law.  His preaching ministry, just as Moses, was notarized by God through the acts of miracles.  But Elijah was a preacher whose pulpit was fixed squarely in the king’s court where he cried for social and spiritual reform into the deaf ears of his own Pharaoh named Ahab.  Elijah no less cries for the release of God’s people from a culture of paganism and exploitation than did Moses. Just as Moses did, Elijah longs for the time and place when the people of God will abandon all other idols and gather to worship, only, the one true God. 

So I posit, what truly is the difference in these two men that would justify our flimsy associations born of our dependency on western reasoning?

We are better off to wonder about their similarities if we want to understand why they are on Mt. Hermon with Christ.  Both men preached with the voice of God.  Both men worked miracles as three dimensional sermon illustrations at God’s discretion.  Both men wept for the people to embrace Jehovah as God alone and to divine wisdom and love through a sincere adherence to the Law.

But something else stands out.  Both of these men had a relationship with God that eclipsed that of others in their generation.  Both of them were keenly sensitive to the moving of God’s heart, God’s thoughts, and God’s words.  Both of these men were exceptions in that God alone preached their funerals. 

Who will carry out the business of your funeral?  Presumably it will be the one(s) who care for you the most.  This speaks of relationship.  It speaks of eternal relationship.

Moses walked with God in Moab, we read in Deuteronomy, and God buried him; safeguarding the secret of the place to offer his servant a peace his resting place would not otherwise have known. Though we do not know, is it worth speculating that if God took such care to bury his bones, that his spirit remained with God rather than, let’s say, descending to Abraham’s bosom?  To Moses alone, we are told, God would speak as if to a person face to face…

Relationship.

Elijah was caught up in a chariot of fire.  God chose to transfigure the prophet; foregoing the decay of the flesh.  Only Enoch, we know of, has enjoyed such a privilege. Scripture tells us that Enoch received such an honor because he “walked with God.” 

These two men were individuals with “opened eyes” to things spiritual; with a developed, mature relationship with God.

Verse 6:  Peter, we read, is speaking just to have something to say when he doesn’t know what to say!  But it good for us that he did speak, so we are able to understand just how his relationship to Jesus is changing in light of this wondrous revelation!

Verse 7:  God speaks.  The cloud of God is present at all significant events that mark the beginning of something new and wonderful.  It indicates the actual, real presence of God. The first thing we learn from the voice of God is that “opened eyes” respond with “open ears”.  God speaks of Christ in two ways that are deeply rooted in relationship. 

1) God speaks of Jesus as His Son.  Moses and Elijah walked and talked with God.  They were close to God in ways that trumped all others.  But, God speaks of Christ in relational terms that trump the relationship experienced by either Elijah or Moses: This is my Son.

2) Listen to Him…  Listening is decidedly distinct from hearing.  For some time now, the disciples had been “hearing” Jesus.  They heard a lot of other voices too.  The Pharisees.  The Sadducees.  The Herodians.  It was a time of political, social, and religious upheaval.  There were a lot of voices on the wind and in the marketplace.  But genuine relationship is characterized by the function of listening.  This is God’s charge in relationship to Christ to those on the mountain.

Peter writes: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance  as this was made to Him by the majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased’—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain…” 2 Peter 1:16-18

John’s gospel plays out through a theology about Jesus that is solidified on this mountain.

His letters to the churches are Rottweilers at the gate threatening those who suggest any other way of seeing or understanding Jesus than “what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life .” 1 John 1:1   Is there any doubt why John’s writing is so riddled with the correlation of Jesus and Light?  The mountain leaves little doubt.  The image is burned into his theological psyche.  John will forever see Jesus through the transfiguration.

What is the significance of the transfiguration? 

Someone you hold in esteem you filter little; accepting as true what they tell you or what they believe…until some indiscretion comes to light.  You hear them in a different way.

Or, someone you once thought little of stuns you; they say or do something that shows you that perhaps you were wrong in your presumptions…and because you see them in a new light, you hear them in a new way.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is preparatory for new light and new revelation and each new revelation deepens our relationship to and with Him. 

We move from a gracious hearing to a place where Jesus, perhaps, offers us wisdom but always negotiable and subject to our skepticism.  We will make up our own minds what is good and worth trying. 

At some point we begin to see in Christ the sum of the whole word of God and that we call Him the Word of God begins to no longer confuse us, but make perfect sense.

Then, some glorious day, the full revelation takes place.  The voice of God rings clear within us.  There is no other voice.  There is no other acceptable influence.  There is no higher authority.  It is Jesus alone.

“And all at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.”  Mark 9:8

May it be so in our hearts.  May the Transfiguration find fulfillment within us.  May your relationship draw you into the revelation of Truth; and the revelation of Truth draw you deeper into a relationship with Him.