Do Not Miss the Main Point Part 2
The Book of Mark
Mark 9:1-13
I. Introduction.
A. Understanding the connections between the Old and New Testaments is critical for the proper understanding of many NT principles.
B. All of the major doctrines that we hold to in the NT find their origin in the OT.
1. It isn’t just a collection of great stories.
2. It isn’t mythology either.
C. Someone once said “The NT is the OT revealed and the OT is the NT concealed.
D. It is somewhat easier for us to see and understand this than it was for those who lived in the early 1st century.
1. We have the completed NT canon.
2. We have the luxury of the Epistles which explain many of the connections to us.
E. The 1st century Jews including the disciples had a strong affinity for the OT but their theology was skewed by a misunderstanding of the OT teaching concerning the Messiah.
F. As a consequence of this when Jesus started to teach the disciples about the events which lay ahead concerning His death and resurrection they were appalled and confused.
G. This lead to Peter’s rebuke of the Lord and Jesus’ rebuke of Peter.
H. The intent of the Transfiguration was two fold.
1. To give encouragement by allowing the disciples to have a glimpse of His glory to assure them that there was hope in the trouble and trials that lay ahead.
2. To help them to make the connection between the OT and the present with regard to His purpose.
I. We saw last week that He accomplished this by His appearance with Moses and Elijah – two of the most beloved OT characters and by the discussion they had.
J. This is crucial for the disciples – the question is did they get it?
K. I want us to look at Peter’s response and then God’s instruction.
II.Peter’s response vs.5.
A. Always the impulsive one.
1. Peter felt he had so say something vs.6.
2. They were afraid as a result of what they had experienced.
B. Luke says they were heavy with sleep sort of half in and half out of it.
1. This could have been due to the overwhelming experience that caused them to faint.
2. Or it could be the same sort of apathy that manifests itself in the garden.
3. Mk 14:37
C. Luke indicates that they woke up at the very end of the conversation with Moses and Elijah.
D. Peter in his ignorance suggests that they make three booths so that they can all stay there.
1. Peter is not responding to a question as the English text here suggests.
a) The word translated answered means to respond or speak.
b) He is simply responding to what he has witnessed.
2. It is cool that we are here – in the vernacular of our day.
3. This suggestion indicates that Peter considered these three to be equals.
4. Luke says that he said this as Moses and Elijah were departing so it may have been his way of prolonging their stay.
5. The word tabernacle means tent or covering
a) He isn’t referring to the Tabernacle that was erected in the wilderness.
b) He was referring to structures similar to those used in the Feast of Tabernacles.
c) Why build tabernacles?
(1) This happened 6 months before the Passover.
(2) The feast of tabernacles took place during that month so Peter made the connection here.
6. The interesting thing is that he is still inadvertently doing the work of Satan.
a) Satan’s goal all along is to thwart the plan of God.
b) It started in the garden in chapter three of Genesis and continues down through the halls of time.
c) Here again Jesus is offered an opportunity to just bask in His glory to forget the cross and enjoy the moment.
d) Peter was still focused on avoiding the suffering and death.
(1) Here is the opportunity.
(2) Jesus can just forget all that and set up His kingdom now.
e) The gospel writers are very clear that this was totally wrong on Peter’s part.
f) Don’t forget the most important thing here is the cross not basking in glory.
7. Peter would have been much better off if he had simply paid attention to what was happening and not said anything.
III. God’s instruction vs.7.
A. As Peter was still making this rash and ignorant suggestion a cloud over shadows them all and God speaks to them directly.
1. This was not a vaporous cloud like we see in the sky every day.
2. Rather it was the same cloud that the Israelites saw in the wilderness and at the Tabernacle and the Temple.
B. This passage is full of OT symbolism.
1. The shining glory of Jesus revealed in light speaks of God in the OT.
2. Moses and Elijah and the clear reference to the Law and prophets.
3. Then God speaking to the disciples from the cloud.
a) This is the primary way that God communicated with the people of Israel in the OT.
b) In Exodus God led the children of Israel with a cloud and a pillar of fire.
c) 1Kings 8:10-12. And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Then Solomon spoke: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
C. God brings the focus of the whole scene back to the core.
1. God gently rebukes Peter again.
2. The disciples needed to have their focus sharpened
a) They were being hit from all sides by all kinds of input.
b) The blinding glory of Jesus.
c) The appearance of two of the most beloved OT saints.
d) The teaching of Jesus concerning His suffering and death.
e) Their own concept of what the coming Messiah would do.
f) None of it was done to deceive them or to mislead them rather it was for their benefit and instruction that these things were happening.
g) But, they must keep their focus on what the main point is.
h) Peter’s response to the situation was wrong so God the father steps in and redirects their focus to Jesus and what He has been telling them.
D. This is My beloved Son.
1. This is the second time God has made this proclamation from Heaven.
a) The first at His baptism to voice His pleasure in the ministry of His Son.
b) Here to confirm Jesus’ authority to the disciples.
2. He is superior to the OT saints whom the disciples hold in such high esteem
3. Heb.1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
E. Listen to Him!
1. Present active imperative “be listening Him”.
2. This isn’t a request it is a command.
3. He is the one who has all the answers so keep quiet and listen to Him.
F. And suddenly they are alone with Him.
1. Matthew says they fell flat on their faces in fear.
2. Jesus is the only one there.
3. A fitting ending to an incredible day.
IV. Conclusion.
A. How often do we take time and effort to think through why we believe what we believe?
1. Our faith is under attack all the time.
2. It can be confusing and frustrating at times.
B. When those things happen we need to refocus our attention on the main point.
C. We need to refocus on the cross.
D. That is what we are doing today isn’t it?
E. We are celebrating the Lord’s supper which is a reminder of what Jesus did for us.
F. Because of that we can rejoice and face what lies ahead with hope in His work.
G. The disciples were stressed and afraid and confused by the events which had been taking place over the last week or so.
H. They needed to know that the truth that Jesus was teaching them was the most important thing for them to know.
I. Having established His position as Messiah they needed to know that He must go the way of the cross.
J. Most importantly they needed to understand that it was all worth it.
K. The promised glory would come some day despite the suffering which lay ahead.
