ESSENTIAL KING JESUS: Jesus Only
MARK 9:2-8
#kingjesus
USE AUDIO BIBLE: Mark Chapter 9:1-50 [6:13]
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Mark.9
INTRODUCTION… “Last Man Standing” (wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Man_Standing)
The phrase ‘Last Man Standing’ is one that is applied to many TV shows, albums, and movies. It is a phrase that means ‘the sole survivor of a battle’ or commonly means someone who outlives all others or after all others have failed… the one who wins.
In music, ‘Last Man Standing’ is the 39th album released by rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis in September 2006 who began his career in 1949. The title derives from the generation of 1950s Sun Studios recording artists such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley, all of whom have died, leaving Lewis the ‘last man standing.’
There is a biography of Jamie Dimon titled ‘Last Man Standing’ that came out in 2009 who is a billionaire and the CEO of JPMorgan Chase. His net worth is 1.8 billion.
In TV, there are 5 TV series with the name which includes Tim Allen’s comedy which just finished its run on FOX. It refers to Allen’s character who is the father of 3 daughters and pitches him as the last one holding on to what he values most.
There are 3 movies with the title ‘Last Man Standing.’ I’ve only seen 1 of them which is a Bruce Willis movie that came out in 1996 and was a box office bomb. It has a lot of similarities to Clint Eastwood’s ‘Fist Full of Dollars’ so I recall liking it.
I also noticed that there is an enduro off-road motorcycle race in Bulcher, Texas which has 300 riders racing over 40 miles in one lap. 2 laps are during the day and 2 laps are at night. Just for fun, I looked up Bulcher, Texas… it is a community with 6 residents and it has nothing but the 2,500 acre off-road park. The one who wins the race, sponsored by Red Bull, is crowned ‘The Last Man Standing.’
The phrase comes to mind as we read the passage from Mark 9 today. We see this miraculous event in the life of Jesus Christ and in the end, it is just Jesus standing there. He is the last and only Man standing. Just Jesus. Jesus only.
READ MARK 9:2-8 (ESV)
And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, 3 and His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
ESSENTIAL KING JESUS
We are making our way through the Gospel of Mark that I’ve themed ‘Essential King Jesus.’ Each week we are taking a look at one passage in a chapter. Each week I want to share with one essential truth that is important for us to believe and then also communicate to others about Jesus. We are focusing on the Essential King Jesus. The Essential King Jesus in Mark 9 is: Jesus only.
SITUATION: TRANSFIGURATION
The passage that we are looking at today happened 6 days after the passage we looked at last week. In Mark 8, Jesus asked the disciples Who they thought He was. Peter confesses in Mark 8:29, “You are the Christ.” That confession marks a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus foretells of His death and His resurrection even though they really are not sure what He is talking about.
Six days later Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him for a little field trip. This field trip underscores the confession that “Jesus is the Christ” (8:29) and also underscores Jesus’ comment in Mark 9:1 about some of the disciples seeing the Kingdom of God coming in power.
Peter goes with Jesus. Who is Peter? Peter, also known as Simon Peter, is the most-of-the-time leader of the disciples. He is always listed first when disciples are listed. He is the one who jumped out of the boat when Jesus was walking on the water (Matthew 14). He is the one who made the confession about Jesus being the Christ in the last chapter (Mark 8). He is also the one who denied Jesus three times once Jesus was arrested (Luke 22). Simon Peter also stood and gave the first Christian sermon at the birth of the Church on Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter wrote 1 & 2 Peter and is in the background of the Gospel of Mark.
James is chosen to go with Jesus. Who is James? James is a son of Zebedee, a former fisherman, and was nicknamed Boanerges (Mark 3:17) because he was loud. I don’t know if he was loud and obnoxious, but the nickname tells us he was loud. We also know that in Acts 12:2 James was killed by King Herod as he persecuted the Christians.
John is the third member of the band that goes with Jesus. Who is John? John is actually James’ brother and also a former fisherman. He shares the nickname with James so I imagine he was also a boisterous and gregarious person. John wrote the Gospel of John, the letters of 1, 2, and 3 John and was the one to whom the Book of Revelation was revealed. As far as we know, John is the only Apostle who died of old age and was not killed.
Several things happen on this mountaintop to which we should pay attention which these three men saw with their own eyes.
First, Jesus is transfigured before the three disciples. Now Mark focuses on the clothes of Jesus, but he does use the Greek word which we get our English word ‘metamorphosis.’ The picture we get is that not just Jesus’ levi’s change, but His whole body and all of Him shifts on the mountain. All of Him is radiant. All of Him is power. All of Him transforms.
This heavenly divine transfiguration is the central miracle of this event. I cannot help but think of Revelation 19 where Jesus is described when He returns. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Son of God and He not only acts like it… He looks like it!
READ REVELATION 19:11-16 (ESV)
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a Name written that no one knows but Himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On His robe and on his thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
I am not sure that we would have words in any human language to adequately describe what Jesus looked like on that mountaintop. Jesus’ power and nature and character and so much more is on display for the three disciples. Miraculous.
Second, Jesus is not alone in this miraculous event, but the three disciples see Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus. When we look back in the Old Testament, these two men are examples of men of faith and they are also many times the representatives of some very important concepts and truths. Moses is the one through whom the Old Testament law was given and he is seen as the great law giver. Moses is the representative of the Law. Elijah is one of the greatest… if not the greatest… prophet from the Old Testament. Many of Jesus’ miracles are actually repeats of Elijah. Elijah is the representative of the Prophets.
Third, God speaks. God speaks some words that echo through eternity. Some of the Words God has spoken before. In Matthew 3:17 as Jesus comes out of the waters of baptism and as the Spirit of God lights on Him, God the Father speaks and says, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased” (ESV). In Matthew 3, God claims Jesus Christ as His Son and also lets us know that His choice to fulfill all righteousness in baptism has pleased Him. In this passage, God the Father proclaims, “This is My Beloved Son; listen to Him” (9:7). In Mark 9, God claims Jesus Christ as His Son and also commands the disciples to listen to Him. Twice God claims Jesus. Once He says He is pleased with Him. Once He commands disciples to listen to Him.
So… when we combine the metamorphosis of Jesus, the two figures that Jesus is speaking with, and the voice of God… I hope you can see that we have before us a pretty significant event. It is mind-blowing which is why we see Peter, James, and John terrified (9:6). This is an event to take notice of… which is why you can find this same event in Matthew 17 and also in Luke 9 and referenced in 2 Peter 1.
FOCUS: THREE IN THE VISION
The central part of this miraculous mind-boggling event is that Jesus is transfigured and two people come and are speaking with Him. You may not realize this or not, but both Moses and Elijah lived and died long before Jesus was born. Their bones are dust.
Moses died before entering the promised land.
READ DEUTERONOMY 34:5-6 (ESV)
“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6 and He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.”
The picture we get is Moses died in the land of Moab and God buried him. The ‘He’ in verse 6 is preceded by the noun ‘Lord’ referring to God in verse 5. God buried Moses and no person knows where He is buried. That Moses is now standing before the three disciples talking with Jesus.
Elijah died long before Jesus was born.
READ 2 KINGS 2:11-12 (ESV)
“And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.”
The picture we get is Elijah was taken by the forces of Heaven and we don’t have any idea what happened to him… actually. God just took him. That Elijah is now standing before the three disciples talking with Jesus.
The third person having a conversation in the midst of the power and light and flashing and bleached clothing is Jesus. In the midst of this conversation, Simon Peter pipes up about making tents for them all to stay in. In Peter’s shock he is not sure how long these folks are sticking around, but they might need somewhere to stay. God The Father breaks in and focuses Peter and the other two in the proper direction. The focus is Jesus. This entire event is meant to underscore the identity of Jesus. Who is Jesus? Simon Peter, six days before, declared Jesus was the Christ. He was correct. Now, God the Father thunders that Jesus is His Son and He should be listened to. He should be obeyed. Listen to what He teaches and follow it.
Why is this important? Why are these two men important? What is the big deal about these three men having a conversation? Moses and Elijah are perfect representatives of God’s Word, the plan of God through the generations, and even of two people who looked to God, obeyed Him, and cast all their hope on Him. I suppose Jesus could have met with anyone on the mountain, but Moses and Elijah are wonderful choices that makes sense because they represent the Law and the Prophets which all point to Jesus being the Christ. Every single prophecy in the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
I’d also like to point out one small truth about this conversation that is happening before the disciples and leads us to our final point today. Note Mark 9:4.
9:4 says Elijah is there.
9:4 says Moses is there.
9:4 says Jesus is there.
9:4 also clearly lays out Who is in charge of the conversation. The verse says very clearly “they”… Moses and Elijah… were talking with Jesus. Jesus was not consulting Moses or Elijah. Moses and Elijah did not call this meeting to order on top of a mountain. Rather the Law Giver and the Great Prophet were coming before Jesus to talk with Him and came when He called. Jesus was in charge of the conversation.
TRANSITION
We have in Mark 9 this very unique miracle that involves Jesus on a mountain and Him being transfigured while talking with two faithful men who were dead. It is an event that is physical and spiritual and emotional and is meant for us to sit up and take notice that while Jesus is an ordinary human being He is also extraordinarily divine.
We have verse 7 in which God speaks and claims Jesus as His Son and commands the disciples to “listen to Him.” Then, in my brain like a light switch, the miracle turns off and Peter James and John look and see everything has shifted back ‘normal.’ I like how the ESV concludes this passage in verse 8: “they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.”
IN THE END: JESUS ONLY
Jesus only. Jesus only. Jesus only.
That two-word sentence applies to so many questions. That two-word sentence frames much of what our life should be about.
ESSENTIAL KING JESUS
I already told you at the beginning of our time in the Word what the Essential King Jesus was for this passage in Mark 9. The Essential King Jesus in Mark 9 is: Jesus only.
There are so many passages which lead us to the truth that when it comes to salvation and finding our worth and purpose and questions we have about spiritual things… the answer is always… Jesus only.
READ John 1:3 ESV
All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
READ John 14:6 ESV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
READ Acts 4:12 ESV
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
READ 1 Timothy 2:5 ESV
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
APPLICATION
The Law in the Old Testament looks for a sacrifice for our sins. Who fulfills that? Jesus only.
The Prophets in the Old Testament look for a Savior and Deliverer. Who fulfills that? Jesus only.
Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? Jesus only.
Who came to seek and save the lost? Jesus only.
Who has the power to forgive our sins and wipe our soul clean? Jesus only.
Who died willingly on a cross making payment for our sins? Jesus only.
Who promised to go and make room for us in His Father’s House in Heaven? Jesus only.
Who gives us assurance that when we die we will be taken care of by God? Jesus only.
What is the way to God? Jesus only.
At the end of time, in front of Whom will every knee bow and confess? Jesus only.
Who gives hope that lasts and peace that passes understanding? Jesus only.
Who promised to never leave you or forsake you and keeps all His promises? Jesus only.
When we want to know what God is like, where do we look? Jesus only.
When life gives us uncertainty with our health, what do we focus on? Jesus only.
When culture mixes up right and wrong, what is our anchor? Jesus only.
When politics takes over Christianity, what should be our focus? Jesus only.
When life is ridiculously hard, where do we find a lighter burden? Jesus only.
When life is far more stressful than it needs to be, where do we find strength? Jesus only.
INVITATION
PRAYER
