Below is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on Mark 9:2-13.
Did teacher, coach or Dad ever say to you, “Listen up. This is important?” If hearing is the perception of sound waves, what is listening? Listening is defined as hearing something with thoughtful attention. In other words, there is a connection between what you are hearing and what you are thinking. It requires us to focus on the speaker and react, not only to his words, but his feelings.
Everyday, we are bombarded with words and messages. All trying to get our attention - get us to listen or sell us something. To listen or not to listen - it’s not always an easy choice to make. In our study today, the disciples are directed to listen to Jesus. Who would have ordered them to do something like that? Let’s find out.
Mark 9:2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.
Last week, we left Jesus and his disciples in Caesarea Philippi where Peter had a good hair day and a bad hair day. What was his good day? He was the first to recognize and say out loud that Jesus was the Messiah. And his bad day? He argued with Jesus. What did he fuss with Jesus about? Talking about his having to die. That’s what provoked the “Get behind me, Satan” remark.
When they arrived at the beginning slopes of the mountain, who did Jesus call to follow him up the mountain side? Peter, James and John. What happened to the rest of the disciples? They were to stay at the foot of the mountain. Why pick Peter, James and John? They were the leaders who the disciples looked to for direction when Jesus wasn't with them. Jesus knew this when earlier he shocked them by telling them he was destined to die and there was nothing they could do about it. Morale was kind of low. What these three leaders would see and hear up on that mountain that night would let them know that Jesus’ ministry won’t end with his death. There will be a triumph that will encourage the disciples to stay on course.
Night was falling. The three disciples were worn out and sleepy. They had been walking all day and now they faced this climb up the mountain slope. Somewhere along the climb up the slope, Jesus stopped. He didn’t go all the way up to the top because the men had had it and besides, they were already huffing and puffing and the air at the top of the mountain would have been thin making it even harder for them to breath. I believe Jesus found a clearing surrounded by trees and stopped and looked back at his disciples. Can’t you see them leaning into the climb, hands on their thighs trying to push themselves up to get to Jesus? Sweat was running down their faces, burning their eyes, as they gasped for breath.
With the sun setting behind the mountains and darkness approaching, why did Jesus decide to climb a mountain anyway, and a high mountain at that? Why was Jesus there? Jesus needed to pray. Jesus liked to get away from people so that there would be no distractions when he prayed to God. He did it in the garden. Now he is doing it on a mountain side. Remember that the cross is only weeks away. His communications with God were going to increase as the time grows shorter. He had to make sure, beyond any doubt, that he was doing what God wanted him to do. He was about to take the biggest step in his ministry so far. In the face of that, Jesus went up on Mount Hermon to ask God one question and only one question, “Is it your will that I go to the cross?” He is asking that important question on the lonely slopes of Mount Hermon.
As he stood facing Peter, James and John, what happened to Jesus? He was transfigured. Transfigured? What does that mean? His appearance changed. Jesus looked different. How did he look different? His clothes became dazzling white. Even brighter than Rinso bright. Scripture tells us it was whiter than any bleach could produce. Nobody had ever seen anything as white as that. What is significant about Jesus being clothed in such bright whiteness? A whiteness that is so dazzling is one that is 100% pure. That is what bleach does - remove impurities. So, the whiteness attested to the purity of Jesus.
Mark 9:4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
With the three disciples looking at the radiance of Jesus, they must have thought that it doesn’t get any better than this. But, they ain’t seen nothing yet. All of the sudden, who are standing there with Jesus? Moses and Elijah. It isn’t clear how the disciples knew that it was Elijah and Moses. Maybe they had name tags. Maybe they heard Jesus greet them. Anyway, why only Moses and Elijah? Why not Abraham or David? Let’s look at Moses’ credentials first. Moses did a lot of big things, but, he got his reputation as the Law Giver from what event? God gave him his commandments on Mount Sinai. Did you know that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, his face was glowing? Moses died a lonely death on Mount Nebo just as the Israelites were about to enter the promised land. Scripture described what happened just as if God, himself, buried Moses. Scripture tells us that God buried him in a valley in the land of Moab and nobody ever knew exactly where the grave was. It was a God kept secret that comes right down to today. Among many Jewish teachers, when the Messiah comes, Moses will be there with him.
All right, that lets us know about Moses, but, what about Elijah? For most of us, if we are asked who is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, who would you say? Isaiah. He was the most quoted of the prophets for his prophesies dealing with the Messiah. But, if you asked a Jew back then who was the greatest, Elijah would win hands down. What was Elijah supposed to do? Usher in the Messiah. But, there are others interesting facts about Elijah. Elijah was on Mount Horeb when he met God. It wasn’t as glorious as the meeting Moses had. We are told that God spoke in a still small voice not dramatically out of a burning bush. The most remarkable thing about Elijah was how his life here on earth ended. We mentioned it last week. Anyone remember what was so remarkable? Elijah didn’t die. Right in front of the prophet Elisha, Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire pulled by flaming horses. What a way to go. That would be a funeral you would have a hard time forgetting. So here we have two great figures of the Old Testament, one the Great Law Giver and the other the Great Prophet, two men who seemed too great to die like other men, talking with Jesus as he prepares for the cross.
It is easy to see that Moses and Elijah would be the right men to be with Jesus at this time. Both are tied to the coming of the Messiah. But, it wasn’t because of the way they met God or ended their earthly existence that they were standing with Jesus on that lonely mountain side. Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus about his departure and that it had to happen in Jerusalem. The word used for departure was exodus. When you hear exodus, what do you think of? The Israelites leaving Egypt, going into a hostile wilderness that will eventually lead them to the promised land. This whole journey by the Israelites was taken because they trusted God. This is exactly what Jesus was going to do. He was going to trust God and face the wilderness of hatred, suffering and the cross so that he can get us to the promised land, God’s kingdom on earth.
We don’t know exactly what Jesus, Elijah and Moses were talking about, but, I would think that the greatest law giver and the greatest prophet would tell Jesus that he is the one they dreamed of, the one they foretold as coming. Their being there with Jesus was the signal for Jesus to go on to the cross. Jesus had asked God if he was doing God’s will and he had gotten his answer.
Mark 9: 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
He wants to build a house for each of these three people. Do they need a house? Moses is buried in a place so secret only God knows and God ain’t telling. Does that sound like God wants Moses to be listed in the white pages of the Mount Hermon telephone book? And how about Elijah, he never died but went to live where? In heaven. Do you think that having a house on the slopes of Mount Hermon is better than living in heaven? And, then there is Jesus. Jesus has just finished telling them that he had to go to Jerusalem to die. That is what God wanted him to do. To stay in a house on Mount Hermon was to disobey God and that isn’t in Jesus’ play book.
So, why would Peter put his foot in his mouth and suggest something like this? Either he just couldn’t think of anything else to say or he was hearing and not listening. Ever been involved in something and wished that it would keep going on? You get all involved in the characters in Downton Abbey and you wish that the show wouldn’t end. That you could keep seeing more of the lives the characters portrayed. Maybe, for Peter, what could be greater than being with the Great Law Giver and the Greatest Prophet and the Messiah for ever. It may have been something else, though. Mark tells us that the disciples were terrified. Maybe Peter felt that everybody would be safer if they didn’t have to go down this mountain and head for Jerusalem and the fate that Jesus said awaited him. After the crucifixion with Jesus gone, their protection would be gone too.
Mark 9:7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
In scripture, having a cloud descend usually means what? God is coming to visit. Why does God use a cloud? Nobody can see God and live. That’s why Moses hid in the crevice in the mountain side and God put his hand over the opening as He passed by. God was in a cloud on Mount Sinai, a cloud in the Temple, in a cloud as he led the people in the wilderness. God spent a lot of time in clouds. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the cloud on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Everybody in the clearing hears what’s coming out of the cloud? God’s voice declaring two things. What are they? (1) “This is my Son, the Beloved;” and (2) “ listen to him.” Who is God talking to? The three disciples. The first thing they hear is the “this”, referring to who? Jesus. Jesus is my son. For the disciples this is an endorsement that can’t be beat. God, Himself, is affirming the very nature of Jesus. They may have been thinking this and Jesus may have told them, but, this is coming from the source. There is no better testimony than the one who is in the best position to know, the Father. And, Jesus is what? The beloved. Not only the beloved of God and that would really be enough, but, the beloved of all things - here on earth as well as in heaven.
This was an important event in Mark’s Gospel. Remember we learned that Mark had two goals. (1) Convince people that Jesus was the Messiah and (2) that Jesus was the Son of God. Last week Peter, who represents God’s church, testified to Jesus being the Messiah. This week, who testifies that Jesus is the Son of God? God himself.
God has confirmed who Jesus is and knowing that, they should what? Listen to him. Does this mean that the disciples had been listening half heartily? Was Jesus going to say something brand new that they haven’t heard before? Actually, it really doesn’t make any difference. God had instructed them to listen to this man, the man they had been following. That is all they have to know. God isn’t obliged to give reasons are have to convince them to listen. This is a command. This last command to listen to Jesus was only for the disciples. He is telling them no matter how hard it is to think about what lies ahead for Jesus and them, time is running out. While there is still time and Jesus is still with them, listen to what he tells them, because those words will see them through the tough times that are coming.
No sooner had God spoken these words, than what happened? Elijah and Moses were gone along with the cloud. The gleaming dazzling robe was gone. Only Jesus and the three disciples were there. They were all alone, just the way they were when they came up the mountain.
Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.
What are the men ordered not to do? Tell anybody. Why? Because the people aren’t ready to accept a Messiah who will die in the humiliation of crucifixion. It’s going to take a while to get out of their heads the idea about a Messiah riding up on a white horse, and beating the tar out of the Romans. Haven’t there been things that you were taught when you were young and you had a hard time dumping them when you got older? Step on a crack and break your mother’s back. I’m 87 and still avoid cracks in the sidewalk. These three disciples were picked to come up on that dark mountain side with Jesus because they were the leaders who needed reassurance. The others need more time. It will be up to these three to help the others understand who the Messiah is and that, beyond the cross, was the crown.
Mark 9:11 Then they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 He said to them, "Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him."
Jesus tells them that what they have learned and what has been spoken by the prophets about Elijah coming before the Messiah is all true. There is no contradiction here. The problem is that Elijah has come and how was he treated? He was ignored, persecuted and rejected by the people. He was eventually killed. Who is Jesus talking about? Who fits that bill and who identified himself as the one coming before the Messiah? John the Baptizer. If you recall, John fit the description given of Elijah. Jesus was saying that everything did and will happen as prophesied. The only difference is that when Elijah returned, he was called John the Baptizer.
So what is it going to be? Are we going to listen? That’s the choice we have and sometimes it isn’t easy. If it is any comfort, we aren’t alone. Even trusted disciples like Peter, James and John had to be told to start listening and that came from God Himself. So, take your hands off your ears, open your mind and your heart and absorb the good news. Christ came, he suffered, he died on a cross and he was resurrected - all to save you and me. And he is out there asking, “Can you hear me now? “
Prayer: Father, we don’t need the thick cloud to hear your voice or the encouragement of Elijah and Moses to recognize the Messiah. We just need to look for opportunities to tell the world. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment