2   And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them; 3   and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them. 4   And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5   And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 6   For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid. 7   And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him. 8   And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9   And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead. 10   And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.

(On Mark 9:11-32 see the Notes.)

Verse 2. Six days after what? Would Jesus have a special reason for showing His disciples His own glory beforehand, before He "became obedient unto death"? What does Peter say about this scene he and the two others witnessed in the "holy mount?" 2 Pet. 1:16, 17. What five terms does Peter use to describe it? Look up Rom. 12:2 and 2 Cor. 3:18 where the same word "transfigured" is used (in the Greek).

Verse 3. What (according to Luke 9:29) was Jesus doing at the time the transfiguration took place? What do Matthew and Luke tell us about the glory of His face and His garments? (Matt. 17:2; Luke 9:29). Who saw His glory after His ascension? (Acts 26:13; Rev. 1:16, 17).

Verse 4. Who appeared to and talked with Jesus? On what subject did they talk to Him? (Luke 9:31). Who was Moses? Who was Elijah?

Verse 5, 6. What did Peter think when Jesus

foretold His sufferings? Mark 8:31, 32. But what did he think now? Was he entirely at himself? (Luke 9:33).

Verse 7. Who spoke out of the cloud? What did He say? Whom must we hear first and above all? (Heb. 1:1, 2).

Verse 8. When they looked round about whom only did they see? Whom alone, therefore, had God owned as His Son?

Verse 9. What charge did Jesus lay upon them? Compare Mark 8:30. When did the time come for the public proclamation of Jesus' Name?

Verse 10. Did they remember, obey, and ponder these words? Did they seem inclined to take the "rising from the dead" literally? But how did Jesus mean it?

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

      The reason for the Transfiguration lies in the disclosures Jesus had made to His disciples just a week previous. (See preceding lesson). The announcement of His death and sufferings having been made, it was now needful to strengthen the faith of at least the three who stood nearest to the Lord, and who were leaders among the apostles; that they might be able to withstand the shock of the coming tragedy, and to strengthen their brethren. So six days after (Luke says "about eight days after"--he counted in the first and last day, Mark mentions only the six intervening ones) Jesus took Peter, James, and John, "into a high mountain apart," and there, as the [160] lesson sets forth, they were granted a glimpse of His Divine glory. The language used by Peter when speaking of this vision many years, later is very remarkable. "We did not follow cunningly devised fables" he says, "when we made known unto you the power and coming of the Lord Jesus, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." That is, the Christian's hope which they preached of the Lord's Return ("parousia," a word used of the Lord's second coming only, never of the first) in power and great glory, was no myth or legend, but faith confirmed by ocular proof. Peter claims that what he saw in the mount of transfiguration demonstrated the truth of his doctrine of Jesus' Power and Coming; for there he had personally beheld His Majesty. "For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him buy the Majestic Glory"--out of the "bright cloud" (Matt. 17:5), the Shechinah cloud of God's presence, identical with that which rested over the Tabernacle in the wilderness--"This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount." (2 Pet. 1:16-18). The fact that God added the words, "Hear ye him," (cp. Deut. 18:15) and that when, after the Voice, the disciples looked up they saw "no one but Jesus only" is also of the highest significance.

CONVERSATION AT THE DESCENT. (Mark 9:11-13).

      A question arose in the disciples' mind. The scribes had taught them from the scriptures that before the Messiah's glorious kingdom and "the rising from the dead," Elijah, the Restorer, should come. Jesus confirmed the teaching of the scriptures as presented by the scribes on this point, and told them that with equal certainty the predictions of Christ's sufferings should be fulfilled. As for Elijah, however, he had already come in the person of John the Baptist, and "they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would," "even as it is written on him." "Even so shall the Son of Man also suffer them." (Matt. 17:12; Mark 9:13). Was John the Baptist Elijah then? Not in actual person. (John 1:21). But he came before the face of the Lord Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him." (Luke 1:17). Had they received him he would have performed the work of Elijah for them, and been Elijah to them. "If ye are willing to receive him, this is Elijah that is to come." (Matt. 11:14, mg.) But they were not willing (Matt. 11:18) and this Elijah failed. But Jesus said, putting it in future tense, and despite the fact that in John's person Elijah had already come and failed--"Elijah indeed cometh and shall restore all things."

THE FAILURE OF THE DISCIPLES. (Mark 9:14-29).

      At the foot of the mountain the scene was not glorious. A man had brought his demoniac son to the disciples, and they were not able to cast out the demon. They had the power and authority to cast him out, but because of their little faith (Matt. 17:20) they were unable to avail themselves of the power of God granted to them. Thus do we fall short of possessing our possessions, and fail in many things of availing ourselves of the infinite resources of Christ, though they are fully ours. And what a disgrace! A crowd had gathered--there could be no lack of jeers and jibes--and of course the scribes that were dogging Jesus' step were there, and mixed in, tackling the poor shorn Samons with taunt and arguments. Thus it is always when Jesus' disciples in life and work lose the faith, contact and union with their Lord. "Apart from me ye can do nothing." The arrival of Jesus turned the tide and changed defeat into victory.

THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS AGAIN FORETOLD. (Mark 9:30-32).

      Barring the reference in verse 12, this is the second formal announcement of Jesus' sufferings. "They understood not." Why not? Were not the words very simple and plain? But it seemed so impossible, so unreasonable to them--it did not fit in with all or any of their conceptions. They could not accept it just as Jesus spoke it. They suspected some "figurative" meaning: and were afraid to ask Him--for fear perhaps it might be even as He said. Thus do men miss the plain truth today. [161]

Source: Third Lord's Day Lesson of April. Lesson 3. April 21, 1918. Jesus Transfigured (Mark 9:2-10). The Word