Transfiguration

Mk 9: 1-19

Mr 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Mr 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Mr 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Mr 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Mr 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Mr 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

Mr 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Mr 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

Mr 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

Mr 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Mr 9:11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Mr 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Mr 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Getting in the Presence of God

1. Getting Away (1-4)

2. Get a New Perspective (5-8)

3. Get to Work (9-13)

The word Transfiguration means a changing of appearance or form. In Christianity The Transfiguration is a miraculous event in the Synoptic Gospel accounts of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–6, Mark 9:1–8, Luke 9:28–36): Jesus led three of his apostles, Peter, John, and James, to pray at the top of a mountain, where he became transfigured, with his face shining like the sun, and with brilliant white clothes; Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus, and talked with him, and then a bright cloud appeared overhead, and a voice from cloud proclaimed, "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." According to Luke, Moses and Elijah also appeared in "glorious splendor", and Jesus spoke with them concerning his upcoming death.

Eugene Peterson

Speaking of our culture’s quest for the spirituality life. They are in search of something but no one knows what it looks like or where it is located. In "our meaning-hungry, spirit-thirsty, God-curious world" we are flooded with "spiritualites" that are in search of something. Fundamental to the Christian task is to tell the world that we have a guidebook that tells us not only where we are going but how to get there. While the Holy Spirit through Scripture provides us with a comprehensive map

Today’s scripture takes place late in the ministry of Jesus. From the larger group of disciples, he has already selected the twelve men who would be members of his inner circle. They have seen him feed 5000 people using just 5 loaves of bread and two fish and 4000 people with just 7 loaves. They were terrified when he calmed a storm and stood in amazement when he walked on water. They listened attentively but often with confusion as he taught them new insight into how to apply the law to their daily lives. They had watched the religious become increasing agitated by his teaching. They could feel the tension escalating. They were still not certain what it all meant until Jesus asked Peter that one question. "Who do you say that I am?" They still remember Peter’s response, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Of course, they should have all been able to say those words. Peter is truly a model disciple. In one moment he stands as a stalwart of faith and in the very next he cowers in doubt. In one moment to walks in courage and in the next, he runs in fear. In one moment he displays wisdom but in less than a breath stupidity and unbelief. The man who would become the leader of the Church shared the same struggles that you and I wrestle with each day.