A Covert Mission Exposed

A Covert Mission Exposed

Mark 9:1-13

A King James Dictionary defines the word “Covert’ as a refuge or a hiding place.

Isaiah 4:6, says, “There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” KJV

While here on Earth, Jesus seemed to have conflicting messages about revealing and concealing His identity.

Jesus came to the earth He created and openly preached the Gospel of Salvation since His mission statement was to seek and save that which was lost.

Jesus often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, which is a Messianic title; He also referred to Himself as the Son of God, causing the religious leaders to want to kill Him for Blasphemy.

In fact, John 5:18 says, “The Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” NKJV

Yet, as we learned in Mark 8:30, “He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.” NKJV

By this time in Mark’s Gospel, the Cross is in full focus and so Jesus began to speak openly about His rejection, Cross, and resurrection; but, he told His followers not to reveal His identity.

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the deliverer, the Son of God; but, the biggest revelation to His followers is Jesus’ covert mission as the sinless Lamb of God who was slain.

Acts 8:32 "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

Acts 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." NKJV

Please open your Bibles to Mark 9 as we continue in that study

Last week in Mark we learned, the Cross of Jesus was the Lord’s plan from the beginning of time.

Even though the Jewish people knew the Messianic prophecies, the idea that the Messiah would suffer, was unthinkable to them.

Jesus said in last week’s passage, whoever desires to come after Me, must deny himself and pick up his cross, and follow Me.

i.e., if a person has a sincere desire to belong to Christ, they must be willing to be Jesus’ Disciple, and die to their selfishness

Jesus would not identify with those who did not identify with Him; His teachings, His suffering, His rejection, and His death.

Today, Jesus will show His Deity and Glory to 3 of His Apostles

I. Deity authenticates Jesus’ promise.

Read Mark 9:1-3

A lot of different opinions try to explain the passage in vs.1 which clearly says some of the men there that day, would not die, until they see the kingdom of God present in power.

The fact that all of the Disciples were dead by the end of the 1st Century AD creates an apparent problem with the promise in Mark 9:1.

Some people believe this passage shows that Jesus is a false prophet, because the Disciples all died prior to the Kingdom of God being present with power.

Some people believe this passage refutes the future second coming of Jesus since this prophecy seemed to be disproven.

Some people believe this prophecy points forward to the Day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts, after Jesus ascended back to heaven, and His followers were given the Holy Spirit.

Some people believe this prophecy was fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ…however,

To interpret this statement, we must take it in its proper context; using what was previously stated as well as what happens next in the narrative in Mark; to know what Jesus was saying.

Remember from last week, Jesus clearly described Himself as the promised Messiah and then He described how a true follower of His would die to themselves and follow Jesus.

vs. 1 is right after Jesus’ instructions “And He said to them”

The prophecy that some of these men would not taste death until they saw the Kingdom of God present; is a continuation of what Jesus already communicated in Mark 8.

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a fulfillment of Mark 9:1, as well as a foreshadowing of the Millennial Kingdom in Rev. 20.

Lewis Chafer calls the Transfiguration a “preview of the coming kingdom on earth” (L. S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, V, 85).

Ultimately, Jesus wanted to reassure His Disciples with this promise, because they were going to experience some Spiritual battles and testing, before and after the crucifixion of Christ.

Re-Read Mark 9:2-3

Notice the time line given to us here, “after six days”.

Six days after Jesus made the promise that some of these men would see the Kingdom of God present; Jesus takes three of the Disciples up the mountain to see Him in His glory.