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THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

 

Mark 9:1-13

Key Verse 9:3 “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”

  Last week we studied about the meaning of sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. Last Tuesday night, one of my soccer buddies, a team leader, passed away by a massive heart attack while he was playing indoor soccer at Hyman Park U. City. He was a medical doctor and a director of neurology department in Wash U. Medical School. It was too early to die since he was just 43 years old. I felt sad and was shocked because I played with him last Sunday. I thought about the meaning of his death for a while. Suddenly the word of Jesus struck my heart saying, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk 8:36,37) Life is short, but it is the most important and precious thing in this world. Indeed, even though we gain the whole world, if we lose our life, what is necessary of our wealth, honor, and any thing which we achieve on this earth? Life is only for once. But, Jesus gave this precious life for us. He suffered and died on the cross to save us from our sins. He also rose again from the dead to give us eternal life. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, all people on earth are saved. Praise Jesus!

  In today’s passage Jesus is transfigured on a holy mountain. Through his transfiguration, Jesus shows us the original image as God. Today we will study about the meaning of his transfiguration. This hour I ask all of us to climb up the holy mountain and watch the glorious image of Jesus. Amen.

First, those who will not taste death in the world (1) Look at verse 1. “And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God comes with power.” In this verse we learn two things: First, there is no death in Jesus Christ. We Christians who believe eternal life consider death as falling asleep. As we wake up from a good sleep and open our eyes, we will find that we are in a new world, in the kingdom of heaven. We believe that death is a prerequisite for eternal life. Second; one who believes in Jesus is saved at the moment he accepts Jesus as his Savior. Salvation does not come after one’s death. Salvation comes at the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior; our sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit seals us as children of God. John 5:24 says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believe him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” According to this verse, our eternal life starts at the moment we meet Jesus; we are forgiven and we become children of God. Most importantly, we will not taste death while we live in this world.

Second, Jesus transfigures on a mountain (2-3). Look at verse 2. “After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.” Six days after he had predicted his suffering, death and resurrection to his disciples, Jesus took his three top disciples and climbed up to a mountain, which was known as the Mount Hermon. Then, before his disciples he was transfigured. The word ‘transfigure’ means change the form or appearance. His appearance changed from the inside out. How was his appearance changed? Look at verse 3. “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”

What is dazzling white? Dazzling white is intensely glistening and glaring white.

What does the color white indicate? In the Bible white always symbolizes the Holy God or holy angel. When Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them, Jesus showed his original image as the holy God. Revelation 1:14 describes about the image of Jesus as a holy God saying, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:16 continues, “His face was shining like the sun in all its brilliance.” These verses tell us that our Lord Jesus is Holy, Holy Almighty God whose image is, in all its brilliance, white.

  Then, why was Jesus transfigured like this before his disciples? It was because Jesus wanted to show his original image as God to his disciples. The disciples saw how Jesus healed the sick and opened the eyes of the blind. They witnessed that Jesus had fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, and the four thousand with seven loaves of bread. They were with him when Jesus clamed the storm and walked on the water to rescue them in the time of danger. The disciples saw the image of a good shepherd from Jesus. They saw God the Almighty in Jesus. Still, to their eyes the human Jesus was a poor man with rugged clothes. And his face was drained and his body was haggard. As the prophet Isaiah mentioned, Jesus looked like a tender shoot and a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. (Is 53:2) To the eyes of his disciples, the life of Jesus was beautiful, but sorrowful. To them the way of cross is meaningful, but painful.

  Jesus understood his disciples’ heart well that he showed his original image as a holy God. Jesus is not a mere man. He is the Holy Son of God. He is God in nature, but came to this world and appeared as a man. While he was in this world, he became a man of sorrow and familiar with sufferings in order to carry our diseases and to bear all our sins in his body. Finally, he was crucified on the cross for our sins. But he is originally the Holy God. On the holy mountain he was transfigured before his disciples’ eyes so that they might believe in Jesus.

 

Then, what is the meaning of his transfiguration to us? First of all, as Jesus was gloriously transfigured as the Holy God, so we also will be changed like him.

While living on this earth, we suffer much and die. Our body gets easily tired, sick and old. Even though we have many handsome men like Shepherd Daniel and pretty women like Priscilla, Pangaa, and Yileen, they will be no exception. Some of us suffer from sickness. Others complain that they easily become tired. But, listen! Someday the day when we see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face, we will all be changed. The Apostle Paul describes the moment of our transfiguration and the day of our resurrection in this, “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.” (1 Co 15:50-52)  The day of our transfiguration we will receive new body, a glorious  resurrection body from our Lord Jesus Christ as our inheritance. Amen.

  Second of all, our present sufferings are not worth comparing with future glory. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Jesus’ disciples paid a considerable cost in following Jesus. Some left their families and others their job. While Jesus serving sinners and healing the sick, they did not have regular meal time. Frequently they were hungry and tired. Their vacation plans were often ruined by many demanding crowds. They were not welcomed but persecuted by the religious leaders. Being disciples of Jesus seemed to be a continuation of sacrifice and suffering. These days some people may think as the same. They say that there is no fun in Christian life. Among us there is one family who suffer from financial difficulty just to live a missionary life. Still others sacrifice their Sunday off for coming to church to worship God and to join the discipleship meeting. No one would pay or get paid for his or her sacrifice and sufferings for Christ. However, we believe that when we finish this life on this earth, indeed reward from heaven, award from our Lord Jesus awaits for us. When we finish this life and enter the kingdom of God, surely Jesus will give us the crown of life saying, “Welcome, my dear child. I will give you the crown of life.” Suffering on this earth is short whereas glory in heaven is ever lasting. Therefore, our present sufferings are meaningful and precious, and that they are not comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Amen.

 

Third, Jesus receives counseling from Moses and Elijah (4) Look at verse 4. “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” In front of the transfigured Jesus and his disciples Elijah and Moses appeared and talked with Jesus. Who were Elijah and Moses and why did they appear to Jesus and what they were talking about?  Both Elijah and Moses were great servants of God in the Old Testament and they were suffering servants. Elijah suffered a lot in order to fight against Baal worshipers and to turn the hearts of God’s people to God. Moses suffered much in order to deliver his people from the hand of Pharaoh. But, after much suffering, they all went into God’s glory. Their appearance also shows that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. Elijah was representative of prophets and Moses of the Law of God. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the fulfillment of all the promises and law of God. After talking with Elijah and Moses, Jesus was strengthened to obey the will of God for world salvation. Their counseling confirmed Jesus’ will to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

Fourth, Peter’s fantasy (5-8) As witnessing Jesus’ glorious transfiguration and the appearance of Elijah and Moses, Peter felt like he was dreaming. It was like if he were in the kingdom of God. In his fantasy world, he said, “Rabbi it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (5) Probably he might have said in his heart, “One for me!” But the Bible say that he did not know what he was talking about. Peter said this because he wanted to live there forever without any suffering, confrontation or trials. He wanted to be there with great men of God, Moses and Elijah, and his master Jesus forever, and never come back to the mundane world. In a word, Peter wanted glory without sufferings.

But, what happened when he said in the fantasy world? Look at verse 7. “Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” In the Bible cloud represents the presence of God. God appeared among his people in cloud while they were in the desert (Ex 16:10,19:9, 24:15). The voice came from the cloud. “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Jesus taught his disciples that he would suffer many things and be killed and rise again from the dead. Jesus also taught them to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Jesus. But, his disciples did not listen to him. Even Peter rebuked Jesus who taught them about his suffering, death and resurrection. So God spoke to them directly from heaven to listen to Jesus. Here we learn that we must listen to Jesus. We should overcome our own idea and unbelief and listen to Jesus. Look at verse 8. “Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.” When the disciples opened their eyes and Elijah and Moses disappeared and saw no one with them but Jesus.

  Look at verses 9,10. “As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.” The disciples were indeed curious and serious about Jesus’ rising from the dead. It was because there was no one who rose from the dead in history. They had been taught Jesus’ death and resurrection again and again. Still Jesus’ resurrection remained in their hearts as a question. In short, they had no faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. If we have no idea about the rising of Jesus from the dead, we are going nowhere and we know nothing about Jesus or about ourselves. We are just wandering around in sin. Therefore we must believe what Jesus said about his death and resurrection.

  In their hearts, the disciples had a question that stemmed from a rumor: It was the rumor that Elijah would come first and restore all things (11). So they were waiting for Elijah. But Jesus taught them that Elijah had already come in the name of John the Baptist and had been killed instead of restoring all things as they had expected. Actually, the death of John the Baptist was the restoration of human souls and the preparation for Jesus’ messianic ministry and his death on the cross and resurrection.

  In today’s passage we learned that Jesus was transfigured before his disciples and showed them his original image as a holy God. We must imprint this glorious image of Jesus in our hearts. Indeed, this glorious transfiguration of Jesus remained in Peter’s heart as a bright morning star throughout his lifetime. In his letter, Peter testified, “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 Pe 1:16-18) This glorious picture of Jesus’ transfiguration became the power station for Peter to overcome all sufferings and hardships later. It was because he believed that he would be changed like his master Jesus someday and that his present sufferings were not comparing with the glory which would be revealed in the future. Like Jesus and like Peter, we all shall be changed. We all will be transfigured into the glorious and holy sons and daughters of God. We are waiting for that day and that is our living hope which never disappoints us (Ro 5:5) Amen.

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