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.
One of the greatest proofs that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy comes from an eye witness who was there that day.
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
2 Peter 1:18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. NKJV
God’s Shekinah Glory was shining through Jesus at the Transfiguration as they got a glimpse of His eternal glory.
The word “Shekinah” describes God’s presence with His people; sometimes with a supernatural light, hard to look upon.
According to Bible info, “The word is related to the Hebrew language word “shakan”, which means “to dwell” or “to reside”; being a permanent resident in a community.”
“Shekinah glory” is the divine presence, God promised to “dwell among” His people, when Israel was told to build the Tabernacle
Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony... NKJV
Henry Ironside said, “The glory of Christ’s eternal sonship shone out through the veil of His flesh so that the Disciples might have ocular proof of His true character as Immanuel-God and man in one person”.
Jesus was transfigured from the inside out and the Glory of His divine nature was seen through the veil of His humanity.
Before coming as a baby, Jesus, who is God the Son, was in His full majesty being worshipped in Heaven; but, He came to earth veiled in flesh.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NKJV
Then in John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Dwelt means to tent or encamp, to occupy or to reside among us; in other words, Jesus came here, veiled in a tent of humanity.
So Jesus takes Peter, James and John for an amazing encounter.
Transfigured is the Greek word “metamorphoo” and it is where we get the English word metamorphosis; meaning to be changed in structure or composition, in a manner that is visible to others.
“Metamorphoo” means to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition; the same change which occurs when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
There are three uses of [metamorphoo] in the Greek NT
1. Here and in Matthew 17 , the Transfiguration of Jesus
2. Romans 12:2 transformation by renewing of our mind
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18, transformation happens as we reflect the glory of God, as the moon reflects the light of the sun.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV
II. Witnesses appear.
Read Mark 9:4-6
Moses and Elijah appeared with the Glorified Jesus and the conversation they had was about Jesus’ upcoming death.
Why did the lord allow these two prophets to appear?
1. Moses represents the Law which was given to him at Mount Sinai from God Himself.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. NKJV
2. Elijah represents all the prophets of the Old Testament.
References to the Law and the prophets in scripture, speak of the entire OT baring witness of Jesus and His ministry; because the entire Old Testament was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. NKJV
3. Moses also represents those who have died in the old Testament, who will be in Glory.
4. Elijah represents those who without dying, will be changed, raptured, and be in Glory.
You may remember the story in 2 Kings as Elijah was speaking with his protégé Elisha, and he was taken up to heaven.
2 Kings 2:11 suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. NKJV
The Apostle Paul said in, 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. NKJV
The tabernacle Peter is referring to is a reference to the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths found within the Old Testament.
Leviticus instructed God’s people to remember their Exodus from Egypt and it was to remind His people to depend upon God
Again, John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us;
Jesus didn’t come to permanently camp out here on earth; He had a mission to fulfill. There is coming a day when Jesus will permanently camp out with His people, after His second coming
Peter was moved and speaks without thinking; by offering to build three tabernacles (booths or tents), Peter was placing Moses and Elijah on the same level with the Lord Jesus.
….This caused the Father to speak…
III. The Father speaks.
Read Mark 9:7-8
In the Gospels, the Father audibly speaks three times: at Jesus' baptism, here at the Transfiguration and before His crucifixion.
When the Father spoke from heaven; He spoke of His love for Jesus, Jesus’ glory, and Jesus’ authority.
Here, God the Father appears in a bright cloud and interrupts Peter as he is offering to build three tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus; the Disciples must have been in complete awe.
The Father is saying, yes, the Law and the Prophets were from Me; but, this is “My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
Hebrews 1:2 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;
Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. NKJV
Jesus is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the radiance that shines from a source of light. No one has ever seen God the Father; but, we see Him through the “rays” of God the Son.
The express image of His person= Christ is the likeness of the Father, the true form, figure, character, or representation of Him.
The express image is the same idea of an impression that a signet ring would leave when pressed into hot wax.
The Son Himself is in the likeness of God; it is similar to an exact likeness made by a stamp. Jesus exactly represents God.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus constantly demonstrated the power of His Word; He healed people, He forgave sins, He cast out demons, and He even calmed nature; all with His Word.
His word is so powerful that it can uphold all things.
Hebrews 1:3 Himself purged our sins, showing that no one else could do it for us, and we could not purged our own sins.
Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; this is a position of majesty, honor, glory, and of the finished work.
This position of Jesus sets Him far above all of creation. In Mark 9, the Father is basically telling Peter; yes the Prophets are great but there is only one way to heaven.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
• Jesus is God’s Only Son
• The Father loves the Son and is well pleased with Him
• The Father also says that Jesus must be obeyed
In Matthew 17:6, with this same narrative; we are told when the Disciples witness the Father overshadow them in a cloud and speak, “They fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.”
Oswald Chambers said, “Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace.
But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.”
In Matthew 17:7, we are told, “But Jesus came and touched them saying, “Arise and do not be afraid”. Jesus reaches out His loving hand to the Disciples…
When Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, she touched Jesus and received a parting blessing, “Go in peace.”
Because true peace only comes from being touched by Jesus.
The only way to experience real peace is when you receive peace with God which comes through faith in His Son Jesus.
Notice in Mark 9:8, the Disciples lift up their eyes and they saw no one; but, only Jesus.
What a great motto for life, focus on “only Jesus”.
I want you to mark your bibles, those two words in Mark 9:8, “only Jesus”!
Mark 9:8 tells us, “Peace with God doesn’t come by keeping the Law or following the Prophets, it comes through Christ alone”.
If we try to approach God by the Law, we will be ruined; if we simply try to approach Him by prophecy we miss forgiveness of sin. Trusting in Jesus will result in a transformed life of peace.
IV. Coming off the mountain.
Read Mark 9:9-13
Here again we see Jesus instruct these Disciples to tell no one what they just witnessed. Why?
After the feeding of the 5000, John 6:15 the people were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, NKJV
Henry Ironside said, “Foreseeing His upcoming rejection Jesus commanded them to say nothing until He rose from the dead, because the cross had to come before the Kingdom”.
If all of the fair-weathered followers learned that the Shekinah Glory of God had shone through Jesus, they would have tried again to come and take Him by force to make Him king.
At this point of Jesus’ ministry, the Cross is in full focus and so, He wants to stay as a covert King until after His resurrection.
J. Vernon McGee has said, “They were to wait for the Resurrection because it was part of the Gospel story telling who Jesus is, the perfect Lamb of God.”
The religious leaders were hard hearted and would not believe the story anyway, so this prophecy was not something to debate.
This Transfiguration showed who Jesus really is and the Resurrection is the final proof given from the Lord.
After seeing all of this; the Disciples ask Jesus about the prophecy found in the OT book of Malachi.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. NKJV
Jesus says John the Baptist was a picture of Elijah; but, Elijah will come to restore all things before the 2nd coming of Christ.
John the Baptist was put to death as the forerunner to Messiah.
In the same way, Jesus had to come as a Suffering Servant and be put to death the first time as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Before the crown, the cross had to happen or else we would not be freed from the bondage and penalty of sin.
V. Practical Application.
Jesus’ mission is and always was to seek and save that which was lost.
His Transfiguration teaches us many things for our personal transformation as well as teaching us who Jesus really is.
Our personal transformation begins when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and will be completed when we arrive in Glory.
When we accept Christ, we are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit, and His divine glory within us will shine through our lives, as an amazing metamorphosis takes place in our hearts.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
J. B. Phillips translates Romans12:2 “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold any longer.”
The Greek verb “metamorphoo” is used in the present imperative meaning ‘Being continually transformed day by day
Metamorphoo emphasizes a total change from the inside out, so unlike the butterfly; a Christian doesn’t physically look different on the outside, they are completely different on the inside.
Transformation is an invisible process that Christians go through, as a maturing process and spiritual change into the image of Christ, powered by the Holy Spirit.
John said in 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. NKJV
As we are transformed, we don’t see the end of the metamorphosis; but, we know when Jesus is fully manifest, we will appear with Him, and resemble Him with a glorified body.
Colossians 3:3, For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. NKJV
In the Transfiguration of Christ we see the Glory of His person, the Glory of His kingdom, the Glory of His cross and the Glory of His submission to the Father.
Just as the Disciples lifted up their eyes and they saw only Jesus
“Peace with God doesn’t come by keeping the Law or following the Prophets, it comes through Christ alone”.
Now, if Jesus is our Savior and Lord, He offers to set us free.
We are set free from the world, we are set free from a vain and empty life, and we are set free from sin and its grip on us.
Are you healed from your life of sin? Do you have this lasting peace with God? If so, praise the Lord.
If you have not trusted in Jesus for salvation; reach out and allow Jesus to touch you, so you can come to know, once and for all, His forgiveness of sin and abiding His peace.
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 is not a covert King any longer; He wants the whole world to know who He is.
He says anyone who seeks Him, will find Him. He also says in
John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. NKJV
So Trust in Jesus and be saved.
And once you are saved, allow Him to transform you, moment by moment by His indwelling Holy Spirit.
