The Transfiguration part one: Mark 9:2-4
“2) Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. 3) And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4) Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.” Mark 9:2-4
We now come to what is called “The Transfiguration.” Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him up into the mountain. These three were often singled out for special leadership training. (See Matthew 26:37)
Then suddenly He was Transfigured before them. His garments became radiant and exceedingly white. He most likely had a brilliant glow about Him similar to what John described in Revelation 1:12-20 and Revelation 19:11-16. They were seeing Him in the fulness of His glory.
Then Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. It should be noted that Moses finally made it into the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) Neither the bodies of Moses nor Elijah were ever recovered in the Old Testament. Elijah was caught up to heaven. (2 Kings 2:11-12) These two will also be together as the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:1-13.
Many have speculated on the significance of Moses and Elijah. Certainly, they were key figures in the Old Testament. I see a profound statement here that Jesus fulfilled everything written about Him In both the Law and the Prophets. Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets.
There is also a strong punctuation in this story that Jesus is “God of the living and not of the dead.” (Matthew 22:32) The death of the physical body does not terminate a person. It merely moves them into the spiritual realm. The transfiguration speaks strongly that mission, purpose and assignment awaits Gods people after physical death. Life here is preparation for what awaits us in eternity.
The full context of The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), makes it clear that Jesus was the focus of this mountain top encounter. More about that in the next section.
But let me highlight another point. Peter later wrote about this event in 2 Peter 1:16-21. This encounter both punctuated and validated the identity of Jesus Christ and the accuracy and reliability of biblical prophecy. He stressed that because of this event, we can count on future fulfillment of prophecy unfolding exactly according to the prophetic testimony of the Bible.
I do not want to stretch this point, but much of the book of 2 Peter is built on Peter’s encounter on the Mount of Transfiguration. The rest of the book lays out end time prophecy and beyond. This drops Peter’s encounter with Jesus on the holy mountain right in our laps today!
Peter was saying; “Take heed and pay attention because the end times will unfold exactly according to the prophecy of Scripture. Because of who Jesus is; He always keeps His Word!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“2) Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. 3) And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4) Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.” Mark 9:2-4
We now come to what is called “The Transfiguration.” Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him up into the mountain. These three were often singled out for special leadership training. (See Matthew 26:37)
Then suddenly He was Transfigured before them. His garments became radiant and exceedingly white. He most likely had a brilliant glow about Him similar to what John described in Revelation 1:12-20 and Revelation 19:11-16. They were seeing Him in the fulness of His glory.
Then Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. It should be noted that Moses finally made it into the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) Neither the bodies of Moses nor Elijah were ever recovered in the Old Testament. Elijah was caught up to heaven. (2 Kings 2:11-12) These two will also be together as the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:1-13.
Many have speculated on the significance of Moses and Elijah. Certainly, they were key figures in the Old Testament. I see a profound statement here that Jesus fulfilled everything written about Him In both the Law and the Prophets. Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets.
There is also a strong punctuation in this story that Jesus is “God of the living and not of the dead.” (Matthew 22:32) The death of the physical body does not terminate a person. It merely moves them into the spiritual realm. The transfiguration speaks strongly that mission, purpose and assignment awaits Gods people after physical death. Life here is preparation for what awaits us in eternity.
The full context of The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), makes it clear that Jesus was the focus of this mountain top encounter. More about that in the next section.
But let me highlight another point. Peter later wrote about this event in 2 Peter 1:16-21. This encounter both punctuated and validated the identity of Jesus Christ and the accuracy and reliability of biblical prophecy. He stressed that because of this event, we can count on future fulfillment of prophecy unfolding exactly according to the prophetic testimony of the Bible.
I do not want to stretch this point, but much of the book of 2 Peter is built on Peter’s encounter on the Mount of Transfiguration. The rest of the book lays out end time prophecy and beyond. This drops Peter’s encounter with Jesus on the holy mountain right in our laps today!
Peter was saying; “Take heed and pay attention because the end times will unfold exactly according to the prophecy of Scripture. Because of who Jesus is; He always keeps His Word!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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