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Sometimes people say "if I could just see Jesus face to face, then I’d believe." Perhaps that’s true - and Jesus did reveal Himself to a few individuals with profound effect - namely Saul of Tarsus. But most of us must rely on what others saw - namely that Jesus really lived, really performed miracles, really died and then really came back from the dead.
In fact, the two generations that saw the most miracles - the most divine demonstrations - the Exodus generation and the generation when Jesus came to earth - also suffered terribly from unbelief.
If you are waiting for some divine revelation - you are going to wait a long time. We should believe based on the testimony of those that did see. And today in the first half of Mark 9 we’re going to see Jesus reveal His true nature to three of His closest disciples.
It was part of Jesus’ plan to slowly reveal His true purpose and nature - and it reveals to us some things about who we really work for and how that work is to be done.
1 And 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."
We’re not sure what exactly Jesus meant by this - but most likely it was a statement referring to the fact that He was about to reveal the real power and person that Jesus is in eternity to the three disciples.
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone.
Either Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor. Mt Hermon is about 12 miles from where Jesus had been at the end of the last chapter (Caesarea Philippi).
There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
Mark uses a picture based on his world experience - that of bleaching clothes. The idea is that Jesus looks dazzling - the same picture of Him occurs in Revelation 1:14-15. The word "transfigured" is where we get the word "metamorphosis" and means an outward change that occurs from within.
Jesus didn’t just look different - He was different - a different person, yet somehow recognizable.
4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Why Moses and Elijah? Several reasons, actually.
Moses represented the law, Elijah the prophets - the two great divisions of the old covenant
Moses and Elijah were the only ones to see theophanies - visions of God (Exodus 24, 1 Kings 19:1)
They were the most closely associated with the Messiah
Moses predicted "the great prophet" in Deut. 18:15 and Elijah represented the prophets who foretold of the coming Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6)
What did this accomplish?
It gave credibility to Jesus as the Messiah - passing the torch from the Old Covenant to the New.
It stopped all doubt that Jesus was the incarnation of either of these two (8:28)
Now poor Peter - when presented with a situation that was beyond his control he did what came naturally - stick his foot squarely in his mouth:
5 Peter 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.)
What Peter was thinking we don’t know - maybe the problem was he wasn’t thinking - just acting. Building of the shelters could have meant that He thought God’s kingdom was happening right then and there and so he wanted to erect booths like in the feast of booths for these three.
It always important for us to not jump to conclusions about things until we have all the information or until its had time to settle.
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
So watch what happens next:
7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
This was the same cloud that guided Israel in the desert - it was the glory of God. And like at the baptism of Jesus, the Father once again approves of the Son - and He says "listen to Him."
Those are probably the three most important words for us to - listen to Jesus!
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
When it comes down to it, that’s all there really is. Just you and Jesus. All the supernatural light shows and phenomena won’t convince anyone - you must listen to the words of Jesus then decide where you stand with Him and Him alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.
For once somebody kept a secret for Jesus. To them the idea of "rising from the dead" was totally foreign - notice that Jesus didn’t explain the whole thing either - only giving them the information they needed at the moment.
But the experience prompted a question:
11 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
The disciples were referring to the last words in what would become known as the Old Testament:
Malachi 4:5-6 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
The Jews looked for a Messiah that was a conquering King - to throw off the yoke of Rome. He would be proceeded by Elijah. Elijah had just appeared to them on the mountain - so I guess they are wondering if this might be what Malachi was referring to.
Jesus answers their question, and poses one of His own - one that more correctly focuses their attention on the real purposes of the Messiah’s coming:
12 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."
Matthew tells us that Jesus was referring here to John the Baptist. John preached repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Elijah suffered under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel - John suffered under King Herod and Herodias - and so too must the Messiah suffer under the chief priests and Pharisees.
The Jews still question Jesus interpretation of Scripture that the Messiah has two, not one coming - and that He must suffer before taking charge.
Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are great chapters to read in this regard and very clearly show us the suffering of the Messiah.
So the four reach the other disciples and there is quite a row going on:
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
Jesus had told His disciples that they could drive out demons - so what happened? And look at Jesus’ response:
19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
Jesus was not upset with His disciples - they just had yet to learn how to appropriate God’s power. He was upset with the unbelief in the generation around Him. God is patient with unbelief and the Bible tells us that God wants all men to come to repentance - but His patience does have an end.
Apparently the scribes were trying once again to discredit Jesus - and used the disciple’s inability to exorcise the demon as an excuse.
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
The symptoms sound a lot like epilepsy - but the intent of the demon is revealed and we see that it is much more than just a neuro-physical ailment. Jesus zooms in on three words the man speaks:
23 "’If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Jesus hears the half-believing words and turns it around - saying in a way "If? - I can do anything for the one who trusts Me." Jesus will not force faith on anyone - but He will challenge everyone to have the audacity to trust Him for amazing things. Jesus didn’t say that it would definitely happen - you can’t fake God into giving you something - but that belief, trust, is the key to unlocking everything.
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
I love this. If only we’d all pray this way - "I trust you Lord, but I’m having a hard time letting go of my doubts."
The guy realized that he had nothing - he came and laid himself out to the Master - the Lord - as his source - even for faith. That’s the right kind of attitude. We get in trouble when we think we possess something of ourselves.
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
It may be that Jesus moved away from the crowd in order not to make the healing a circus.
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He’s dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
It was like the demon was trying to get his last licks in - almost killing the boy. But Jesus is the author of life and didn’t let that stand.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn’t we drive it out?"
29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
What was the disciple’s problem? We don’t know exactly but it seems that the text suggests that they were trying to drive out the demon on their own. They had driven demons out before - and its almost like Jesus is taking them to the next level - that is, faith is nothing without prayer.
Prayer is the key to unlock faith - we cannot just believe something is going to happen - we must focus our desires on the Lord who does the work.
In Acts 19 the sons of a supposed Jewish priest tried to cast out demons "in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches." The demons said "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And they proceeded to beat the men up.
The point is, we are nobody without Jesus - so when it comes to living the Christian life and perhaps performing some powerful act, we cannot slip into self reliance. Its not up to us if the thing we pray about happens - but we must pray and let God decide.
Conclusions
What do we see in this part of the chapter?
We see the awesome power and presence of God - then the ugly and repulsive power of the enemy - and in the midst of it we see the importance of seeing of Jesus as the King of Kings - but who must suffer first - and that we must have faith and reliance on Him, especially when we are having trouble fully trusting.
Often mountaintop experiences with God are followed by valleys of attack by the enemy
Often the pinnacle of faith is followed by unbelief and doubt
Through it all if we look to Jesus - Messiah and King - He will help us overcome the enemy when we cannot, and provide faith to believe when we feel we cannot.
