TRANSFIGURATION
Today’s reading includes the account of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13; also found in Matthew 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36). In all three accounts it is prefaced with Jesus’ promise to His disciples that some of those with Him would not taste death until they had seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Up to this time in Jesus’ ministry, His disciples had only known Him in His earthly body. But here Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of Jesus’ deity. In the previous chapter, Jesus had announced His coming death and resurrection. Here in chapter 9, they are given a glimpse of His glory to help them understand His coming death. The transfiguration of Jesus was more evidence to Peter, James and John that Jesus was the divine Son of God. The appearance of Moses and Elijah was evidence that Jesus was the One of whom the Law and the prophets spoke.
Here we have a preview of the coming kingdom of God. Jesus is presented in His glorified body. Moses, with his new body represents those who will enter the Kingdom through death. Elijah, who never died, represents those who will enter the Kingdom without experiencing death. They will enter through the Rapture of the church. Jesus’ disciples and even the multitude that were gathered around them (v. 14) represent the various nations who will also enter the Kingdom.
I am sure that the disciples never forgot what they witnessed on the mountain that day! John wrote of it in his gospel (John 1:14), “We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only”. And Peter wrote “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
And this is our hope! As sure as Jesus appeared in His resurrected body, one day each of us who have placed our faith in Christ will receive our own new bodies in God’s eternal kingdom!
Up to this time in Jesus’ ministry, His disciples had only known Him in His earthly body. But here Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of Jesus’ deity. In the previous chapter, Jesus had announced His coming death and resurrection. Here in chapter 9, they are given a glimpse of His glory to help them understand His coming death. The transfiguration of Jesus was more evidence to Peter, James and John that Jesus was the divine Son of God. The appearance of Moses and Elijah was evidence that Jesus was the One of whom the Law and the prophets spoke.
Here we have a preview of the coming kingdom of God. Jesus is presented in His glorified body. Moses, with his new body represents those who will enter the Kingdom through death. Elijah, who never died, represents those who will enter the Kingdom without experiencing death. They will enter through the Rapture of the church. Jesus’ disciples and even the multitude that were gathered around them (v. 14) represent the various nations who will also enter the Kingdom.
I am sure that the disciples never forgot what they witnessed on the mountain that day! John wrote of it in his gospel (John 1:14), “We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only”. And Peter wrote “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
And this is our hope! As sure as Jesus appeared in His resurrected body, one day each of us who have placed our faith in Christ will receive our own new bodies in God’s eternal kingdom!
by Paul Schmidt, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISESMEPHIBOSHETH AND THE KINGTRUST IN GOD'S LEADINGJESUS DOES THE FATHER'S WILL DEMONSTRATING LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER AND WAS GIVEN A KING'S BURIAL
June
A CLEAR PURPOSEWHAT IS TRUE WISDOMTHIS IS THE GOD WE SERVEHANDLING RELIGIOUS OPPRESSIONDO EVERYTHING FOR THE LORDMAY OUR FACES SHOW LIKE AN ANGELARE YOU FEEDING YOUR FAMILY - OR BUILDING A CATHEDRAL?FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY AND FREEDOM FROM SINUNITY TAKES ACTIONTRY IT, IT WORKSGOD'S WORDA PSALM OF KING DAVIDJEWS AND GENTILES AND SALVATIONARE YOU COMFORTABLE ENOUGH?THE GREED OF GEHAZIWORSHIPPING A KNOWN GODGOD KEEPS HIS PROMISESREASONS WHY WE SHOULD PRAISE THE LORDGOD'S AMAZING CREATION
No Comments