MARK: JESUS SON AND MESSIAH

Mark 9

MARK 8

Mark 9:2-13 - The Transfiguration

Mark 9:14-29 - Jesus heals a Deaf/Mute Boy

Mark 9:30-37 - Who’s the Greatest? Not those guys!

Mark 9:38-50 - Warnings

'After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. '

'Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” '

'Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. '

'And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” '

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Mark 9:2-13

THE THREE MOUNTAINS

• Moses met God in Exodus 23-34: took 3 with him (Aaron, Nadab and Abihu) a cloud covered it as the Glory of the Lord, Moses advocated for Israel with God on the mountain after Israel made the gold calf. Moses in Exodus 33 is frustrated and asks God to be with him. God calls him back to the mountain gives him new tablets and passes in front of him. Moses’ face was radiant, and people were afraid to go near him
• Elijah met God on a mountain in 1 Kings 19: Elijah is on the run, he is tired and giving up. An angel met him and had him eat and sleep, and he went to the mountain to meet God. God passed before him, not in the wind storm, the earthquake or fire that passed by, but in a gentle whisper. Elijah was sent out to annoit the next king and Elisha as his own successor.

JESUS’ MOUNTAIN

• In Mark 8 Jesus laid out his death, Peter’s get behind me moment just happened.
• Jesus heads up the mountain and meets Moses and Elijah, in Luke’s account (9:31) they discuss Jesus’ death.
• Jesus is transformed, his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening (Luke).
• A cloud descends and God speaks, echoing back to Jesus’ baptism

JESUS’ DIVINITY AND HIS HUMANITY

• This is often pointed to a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity, which Peter is thought to reference in 2 Peter 1.
• The echo to Jesus’ baptism, even in the midst of the miracles and teaching and crowds, Jesus’ identity is as the beloved Son.
• Could be a rallying moment for Jesus? Could this be a strengthening moment from two men who had led Israel before?

SPEAKING TO ME

• In this I catch a few things:
• Peter, the rock, was a goof ball and said dumb things in fear, missed the main point and God needed to speak from a cloud to steady him
• Moses who was bold and daring also had moments of God I need to know you’re in this and I’m not alone
• Elijah wanted to quit and needed God to reveal Himself in a gentle whisper
• Jesus, in his humanity, needed a moment a bracing before he headed to Jerusalem.
• It’s ok to need God, to lean in when things get hard.
• It’s ok to be honest with your inner circle