We continue in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today’s reflections from Mark chapter 9 address the Glory of Jesus Christ and our Transformation!
- Mark chapter 9 has four main movements: (1) the transfiguration of Jesus (9:2-13); (2) Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit (9:14-29); (3) Jesus foretells his death a second time (9:30-32); and (4) a block of Jesus’ teaching that touches on greatness, those performing might works in Jesus’ name, and temptation to sin (9:33-50).
- Today’s episode focuses on the first half of the chapter, moving through the Transfiguration account and briefly looking at the passage where Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit.
PART 1: THE TRANSFIGURATION
- As we come to Mark 9:2-13, it is worth noting the context. This passage follows immediately the content we covered in the previous episode – namely, Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus foretelling His death and resurrection the first time, and His teaching on the cost of discipleship.
- With the startling teaching of Mark 8 still fresh in their minds, Mark 9:2 begins by telling us that six days later Jesus took with him his inner circle, Peter James and John, up a high mountain.
- And then he was “transfigured.” We read that Jesus’ “clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus” (9:3-4). Luke’s account of the event literally says that His close became “bright as a flash of lightning” (9:29) and Luke adds, “as He was praying, the appearance of His face was altered” (Luke 9:29).
- The disciples were terrified and did not know what to say, so Peter asks if he should make three tents or shelters for the three figures.
- What follows is a cloud overshadowing them, “and a voice coming from cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only” (9:7-8)
- And then he was “transfigured.” We read that Jesus’ “clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus” (9:3-4). Luke’s account of the event literally says that His close became “bright as a flash of lightning” (9:29) and Luke adds, “as He was praying, the appearance of His face was altered” (Luke 9:29).
- So what in the world just happened?
- In this event, we see something of the ‘curtain’ being pulled back and Jesus’ divine glory breaking through.
- As we read in Hebrews 1:3, “He, [that is Jesus, the Son, through whom the Father created the world], is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.” Or as Paul says in Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God.”
- Hear also the picture painted of the resurrected and glorified Christ in Revelation 1:13-16: John saw “one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
- As we read in Hebrews 1:3, “He, [that is Jesus, the Son, through whom the Father created the world], is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.” Or as Paul says in Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God.”
- So we see something of Jesus’ glory breakthrough, but that’s not all — the voice of the Father speaking out of the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him” (Mark 9:7). When we hear these words and consider that Moses — representing the Law, and Elijah — representing the Prophets (two major sections of the Old Testament) were with Jesus, and after the words of the Father – “Listen to Him” – Moses and Elijah are no longer seen – that is of great significance.
- Once again, the words of Hebrews chapter 1 come to mind: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (1:1-2).
- This is a further aspect of the divine glory of Christ – He is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, He is Supreme over them — not contradicting or destroying them — but fulfilling and surpassing them (consider Matthew 5:17).
- What is our final authority, the last and greatest revelation of the Father? It is the person of Jesus! In this life, we can have knowledge of the glory of God most clearly and fully in the face of Jesus Christ! Consider 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:14-18; and 14:6-11.
- In this event, we see something of the ‘curtain’ being pulled back and Jesus’ divine glory breaking through.
- What difference does this make in our lives? We will turn to this in just a moment. But let us briefly look at what happens after the Transfiguration.
PART 2: I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF
- As we walk down the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James and John – still processing what we saw, we now see “a great crowd” around the disciples. A father had brought his son to the disciples. The son had an unclean spirit from childhood that made the boy mute and would bring harm to the boy and try to destroy him. But the disciples were unable to cast out the spirit.
- And we read Jesus’ words, which feel heavy and echo the words of the prophets (for example, Jeremiah 5:21-22), “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” (Mark 9:19).
- Here we have exposed the essential problem of the opponents of Jesus, the crowds around them, the spiritually oppressed, the disciples, and yes — even us: faithlessness. This is more clearly seen in the verses to follow.
- And we read Jesus’ words, which feel heavy and echo the words of the prophets (for example, Jeremiah 5:21-22), “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” (Mark 9:19).
- While describing his son’s plight, the father says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (9:22). And what follows in Mark 9:23-24 is, to me, among one of the most convicting and yet comforting exchanges in the New Testament.
- “And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
- Note the intensity of the text — the immediacy of that father’s response — he does have some faith, for that is what brought him to Jesus in the first place. He did not come, like Jesus’ opponents to trap him, nor to see Jesus would entertain with some kind of miracle. The father of the child came to find help for his beloved boy!
- He has some faith, but he cries out – “Help my unbelief!” Oh dear friend! Is this the cry of your heart? Here we see a clear picture of how one preacher defined saving faith, “The desperate thrust of a helpless soul upon the arms of an almighty Savior!” There is no other help that the world could offer, there is only one solution – the intervention of an almighty God!
- I find this exchange between Jesus and the boy’s father convicting – for they confirm my faithless heart and expose how much I lack because I fail to “lean into God.” This exchange is also comforting – for Jesus hears this father’s cry and still heals the boy.
- Now, just for a quick clarification, what does Jesus mean by “all things are possible for the one who believes”? Does this mean that I can “name it and claim it”? Does this support what has been called “the Prosperity Gospel?”
- Does this mean that anything I ask — regardless of what it is — does that mean that I will get it?!
- If right now, in your heart, greed has started salivating like a hungry dog, this reveals something that James will address in James 4:2-3: “You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions”
- Does this mean that I can claim this promise at the beginning of a football game and assume I will win — how we often see Philippians 4:13 taken out of its context?
- If you are being honest with the context, NO.
- We could spend several episodes going over what this does and doesn’t mean. BUT for now, let us only consider this — Jesus uses the exact same words in his prayer to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).
- Here we see Jesus, the Son of God, the glorious second person of the Trinity, speaking to the Father “all things are possible for you”! Knowing this, he continues his prayer: “not what I will, but what you will.”
- Does this mean that Jesus lacked trust in the Father? Actually, it is 100% the opposite! It means that with full knowledge of “all things are possible with God”, Jesus submits His will to the will of the Father — YES — even when that meant excruciating, torturous execution at the hands of wicked men. What kind of trust in the Father is this??? That he would trust the Father’s will, even when it meant his death!
- Does this mean that anything I ask — regardless of what it is — does that mean that I will get it?!
- Now, just for a quick clarification, what does Jesus mean by “all things are possible for the one who believes”? Does this mean that I can “name it and claim it”? Does this support what has been called “the Prosperity Gospel?”
OUR TRANSFORMATION
- Let us close with some application. Are you beholding the glory of Jesus Christ? Though it may be as though you are looking through a darkened veil – though it is in part — as the words of the song go, is your “gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face”? Are you looking to Him as the full and definitive revelation of the Father as the Scriptures say?
- I began this episode by talking about the Glory of Jesus transforming our lives — how is that the case?
- The Greek word used in this chapter of Mark for “transfiguration” is metamorphoo. It is the word from which we get the word “metamorphosis” — the process of how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly! This word is used only 4 times in the New Testament. Here in Mark 9:2; in Matthew’s account of the same event (17:2); and twice in Paul’s writings.
- In Romans 12:2, Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind;” and in 2 Corinthians 3:18 we read, “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
- My friend, as we “behold the glory of the Lord” — as we look upon Him, when we look intently with the eyes of faith upon the person and work of Christ — according to the Scriptures, we “are being transformed into the same image” – we are being changed!
- As you gaze upon the Lord and you see areas of your life that do not conform to the goodness and holiness of Jesus — BUT RATHER areas that conform to the image of this world — as you see those areas, plead with the Lord that your mind and character may be renewed after the image of your Savior!
- The Greek word used in this chapter of Mark for “transfiguration” is metamorphoo. It is the word from which we get the word “metamorphosis” — the process of how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly! This word is used only 4 times in the New Testament. Here in Mark 9:2; in Matthew’s account of the same event (17:2); and twice in Paul’s writings.
- There is a saying: “We become what we worship.” When I spend my time and energy looking at how some public figure dresses, hearing how they think, imbibing all that they have put on public display — is it any surprise that I would begin to follow their fashion, say the things they say, quote them in conversation, applaud their action and their stances on issues?
- We see this happen regularly — if all I consume is one news channel, regardless of its leaning, my thoughts will be shaped by it; how I speak about political issues will naturally conform to the sources I have available.
- Are you seeking — looking upon Jesus with the same level of intensity and desire to reflect HIM as you look at public figures, or consume the news?
- Oh fix your gaze upon Jesus! Can you be transformed? ABSOLUTELY!
- Do you struggle to believe, cry out with the boy’s father, “I believe, help my unbelief”!