On Line Bible Study - for the week June 29 5, 2009

Lesson 394

We have seen the genius of the Gospel of Mark - put together such that the disciples (and the readers) experience Jesus' proclamation and power, with signs accompanying - all leading to the question that is the centerpiece of this work: Who is Jesus?

The disciples are one minute blind, and the next minute seeing; they are "hard of heart" in one instant, and standing with hearts open to the message in the next. Peter rises to the occasion, having proclaimed Jesus is the "messiah"; then he plummets to the pits upon learning that the messiah must suffer. It is following the revelation of messianic suffering that Mark takes us to the Mountain of Transfiguration - but first - an interesting and challenging statement from Jesus:

Mark 9: ¹And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

The general interpretation of this passage is that Jesus expected the fullness of the kingdom of God to manifest itself in the lifetime of some of those alive at the time he spoke. In other words, it was a kingdom not yet fully incarnate. There is another possible interpretation, perhaps best demonstrated by putting a "comma" after the word "God". So the line would read:

Mark 9: ¹And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God, come with power."

The meaning then could be that some, standing there now will see (recognize) the kingdom of God, which has already come. No need to push too hard on this interpretation; but it is an interesting alternative.

Mark 9: ²After 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. ³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

In Exodus 24:16 we read that Moses went up to the mountain and God's glory shown for 6 days before Moses entered into it. Mark is creating a parallel situation in his gospel.

There are several contestants standing line for the honor of being the actual mountain where this event takes place - Mount Hermon, Mount Carmel, and Mount Tabor. The geographical location is less important to Mark than the fact that this theophany occurs in a high place - the traditional setting for communication with the divine. The three disciples are "alone" with Jesus - there is an air of mystery about the episode.

The word "transfigured" deserves some attention. The Greek word μορφέ - morphe - means "form". In Philippians 2:6 we read of Jesus ... who being in the very form [of] God ... the word "form" (some translations might say "nature") is this Greek word - μορφέ. Our English word - metamorphosis - is derived from it. So, this "transfiguration" is a metamorphosis - a change of form.

Elijah and Moses ... these represent the great prophets who had suffered for God - one was taken to heaven in a chariot/whirlwind (II Kings 2:11); the other was mysteriously buried by the Lord (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). The mystery surrounding the death and burial of Moses led to a Jewish tradition that he was assumed into heaven.

Mark 9: ⁵Peter 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." ⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Here he is again! Peter speaks up - and what do you make of his comment? Some commentaries believe Peter was looking for a way to prolong this glorious, mysterious experience. And then, it gets even better - from the cloud there comes the voice of God:

Mark 9: ⁷Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

Note the difference between this moment and the moment at Jesus' baptism ... At his baptism, the comment was addressed to Jesus - You are my beloved Son ... At the Transfiguration of Jesus, the statement is addressed to us (through the disciples ...) So, the same phrase is used at the beginning of Jesus' ministry (Mark 1:11) and as Mark begins the second half of his Gospel (Mark 9:7). The message is the same - this man is the Son of God! We are going to hear this proclamation one more time before this Gospel is over ...

We need a little more time with this story. We'll stay with it for one more week.