The Pilgrim Path---Mark 9: 2—8

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his 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. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

THEY WERE TERRIFIED…

The LORD Jesus Christ had 12 disciples. Three of those men were closer to Him than the others: Peter, James, and John. As a result of this favored status, they heard and saw things that the rest of the disciples would not learn about until later. The passage before us represents one of those amazing scenes in the Gospels. You have the “regular” three engaged with the phenomenal three (one of course---being the Son of God). The transfiguration is one of the most startling and shocking instances in the Apostolic Record. It is real---and hard to grasp. Here are some matters to begin to simply take note of:

---Elijah and Moses had each experienced 40 days of fasting and communion with the LORD---just as the LORD Jesus had known. They were “all”--- 40-Day-Men, in the most marvelous expression of all that had come to represent in terms of power and relationship with the True and Living God…

---Elijah and Moses had each experienced the most extraordinary “exodus” from this world. You could not really say either man had departed the earth in anything close to a “normal” fashion. Neither would the LORD Jesus Christ depart this world in anyway but---an extraordinary manner…

---Elijah and Moses each represented special systems of authority within Judaism: The Law (Moses) / The Prophets (Elijah). The LORD Jesus Christ came as the final, complete, surpassing fulfillment of both (in human form). Thus, the reason---Elijah and Moses vanish---and The Savior remains; only to have this word from the Father, “Hear My Beloved Son.”

Wow! What a passage! Jesus is no mere man. He is the God-Man. For a brief time---his garments are brighter than any launderer on earth could ever bleach them. So radiant---they cannot even look upon him for long…My---makes you wonder about the future? At least a little?

From J. C. Ryle: The transfiguration was meant to teach the disciples, that though their LORD was lowly and poor in appearance now, He would one day appear in such royal majesty as became the Son of God. It was meant to teach them that when their Master came the second time, His saints, like Moses and Elijah, would appear with Him. It was meant to remind them, that though reviled and persecuted now, because they belonged to Christ, they would one day be clothed with honor, and be partakers of their Master’s glory. We have reason to thank God for this vision. We are often tempted to give up Christ’s service, because of the cross and affliction which it entails. We see few with us, and many against us. We find our names cast out as evil, and all manner of evil said of us, because we believe and love the Gospel. Year after year we see our companions in Christ’s service removed by death, and we feel as if we knew little about them, except that they are gone to an unknown world, and that we are left alone. All these things are trying to the flesh and blood. No wonder that the faith of believers sometimes languishes, and their eyes fail while they look for their hope. Let us see in the story of the transfiguration, a remedy for such doubting thoughts as these. The vision of the holy mount is a gracious pledge that glorious things are in store for the people of God. Their crucified Savior shall come again in power and great glory. His saints shall come with Him and are safe keeping until that happy day. We wait patiently. “When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3: 4).

From Matthew Henry: Blessed be God, there is a mountain of glory and joy before us, whence we shall never come down. But observe, when the disciples came down, Jesus came with them. When we return to the world again after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfort that He is with us.

“I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols to pieces: it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see he is jealous of my love and will have all to himself.” Samuel Rutherford

I belong to Jesus, I am not my own;

All I have and all I am shall be His alone.

I belong to Jesus, he is LORD and King,

Reigning in my inmost heart over everything.

M. Fraser

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason