Download The parousia is coming quickly

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Mark 9:1-13
Penultimate glory, for you
I.
Peter, James, John and you
I want you to close your eyes and think about the greatest. Most glorious experience you have
ever had. That day that stands out most in your mind. Not the time you were first abducted by
aliens, as glorious as I am sure that was. I am thinking about things a little more natural perhaps.
Perhaps it was the day you saw Bruce Springsteen live. Perhaps the day when you first touched
your (now) wife’s hand. The fireworks were real at the concert but they seemed just as real
when your lips finally met hers. Perhaps it was the first day you shot through the clouds in an
airplane or the first time you saw a solar eclipse from Sugarloaf mountain, or watched the
shooting stars. Maybe it was when you laid outside in a thunderstorm and watched the lightning
or perhaps smarter the electrical storm from a distance.
Think glorious, radiant, amazing, you must put on your blog or fb status update
I looked up glorious experiences on the web.
 Apparently there is a make up line called the glorious experience
 Dr. Joseph Lowery says the inauguration of Barack Obama fits a most glorious
experience
 Glorious experience of allowing—some broad sense of alignment and inner being and
cocreating with others—new age drivel. Allowing them whether they allow me or not.
 Internet games that offer a glorious experience
 Sailing in tahiti
When I was in high school, our drama troop was selected to perform our musical at the
International Thespian Festival. Only a handful of schools from around the country were selected
for the main stage, and we were one of them. This meant we got to perform at the 2200+ seat
performing arts center in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, a HUGE honor. Not only that, we got
one of the best spots of the week – Friday night. The musical was a lot of fun at our high school
auditorium, but nothing compared to this place. The audience was more responsive (it was
mostly high schoolers) and the adrenaline was pumping hard. We had big fancy dressing rooms
and state of the art sound and light equipment, we were living the high life for those few hours.
Then it came time for the curtain call. Nothing could have prepared us for this experience.
Everyone in the packed theater instantly rose to their feet. It was surreal to see cheering,
applauding people as far up as your eyes could go. As each character came out to take a bow, the
cheers got louder. When the lead characters came out, the audience literally screamed. Everyone
on the stage was spiraled into a strange crying-laughing stupor; it was simply overwhelming.
Guys I’d never seen express any emotion were suddenly sobbing uncontrollably and yet smiling.
All of this in plain view of the enormous crowd. We never felt more like superstars than in that
moment.
Sounds pretty exciting, but none of this compares with the passage you are about to look at.
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It was perhaps the greatest most glorious event to ever happen on earth, outside of the death and
resurrection of Christ. Lets walk through it.
NIV Mark 9:1 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 come with power."
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. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than
anyone in the world could bleach them.
4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, "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." (He did not know what to say, they were
so frightened.)
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!"
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except
Jesus.
9 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.
10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.
11 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
12 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is
it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished,
just as it is written about him."
Pray
Let me see if I can set the scene for you a little bit. At the same time, let me change it a bit. I am
not in the habit of changing the Bible, but I think you will allow me this slight addition to the
story. 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.
Here is the change I have in mind. Instead of just Peter, James and John, I want you to place
yourself in this story. Its Peter James, John and Denise. Peter James, John and Don; Peter, James
John and another John; Peter James, John and Krystal. So here you are hanging out with the
inner three. Think through this scene with me. You are invited away from the crowds, even
away from the regular disciples. You are special and you are headed up the mountain.
Just so you can picture the scene more clearly, let me tell you about this mountain. Most scholars
say it is Mt. Hermon, the mountain in Palestine. Its 11,000 feet above the valley and on a clear
day, its snow clad slopes can be seen from all parts of the land—from Jerusalem to Tyre.
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Henry Tristram, an authority on Holy Land geography gave this description of his experience of
nightfall on Mt. Hermon:
As the sun descended a deep ruby flush came over all the scene, and warm purple
shadows crept slowly on. The Sea of Galilee was lit up with a delicate greenish-yellow
hue. The flush died out in a few minutes, and a pale, steel-colored shade succeeded, a
long pyramidal shadow slid down to the eastern foot of Hermon, and crept across the
great plain; Damascus was swallowed up by it; it was the shadow of the mountain itself,
stretching away for seventy miles across the plain—the most marvelous shadow perhaps
to be seen anywhere. The sun underwent strange changes of the shape…now almost
square, now like a domed Temple—until at length it slid into the sea and went out like a
blue spark.1
Can you picture this scene? The beautiful summer sky with its moon and stars illuminating the
long patches of snow still left on the mountain. The setting is more than a little bit dramatic and
you are walking along with Jesus himself.
II.
When struggling, pray
The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was going up to pray, but Mark says nothing about his
intentions. There is no question that Luke was correct. The need for prayer even fits our story
perfectly, but Mark has a different slant intended.
But let’s work with the big picture for a moment. Luke says they went to pray. Why? One thing
we have noticed throughout the gospels is that prayer between Jesus and the Father takes place
when Jesus is struggling. Yes, struggling. One of the greatest heresies in church history comes
about when we so emphasize the deity of Christ, that we ignore his humanity. This Jesus
struggled.
Let me take you back in time for a moment. If you are one of the disciples climbing this hill, you
know darn well what he is struggling with, because, well, quite honestly you are struggling with
the same thing. It’s only been six days since he first told you plainly that he would have to suffer,
be rejected and killed. You were absolutely confused and you were about to say something,
when Peter rebuked Jesus for such an attitude. And you were glad Peter stood up first, because
he took the brunt of Jesus’ blast back. Jesus called him Satan because Satan too wanted Jesus to
bypass the suffering and go right to the glory.
Chrysostom says that Peter wanted to settle down in the security of this temporary bliss and also
thus prevent the going down to Jerusalem to the cross.2
This kind of talk was so confusing. After all, he was the Messiah. The King. He had come to
restore humanity and lift the curse and make things right again. The prophecies were clear.
1
Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, volume 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1967), who
quotes from Henry Baker Tristram’s Land of Israel, pp. 609-613.
2
Homilies in Matthew, PG 59, 552, cited by Leopold Sabourin, the Gospel According to St. Matthew (Bombay: St.
Paul, 1983), 2:704, n. 33
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But now he was telling his disciples that they were not to be ashamed of his role as one who will
suffer and die. In fact, if you are ashamed of this, then Jesus will be ashamed of you when he
comes in the glory of his Father with the Holy angels (v 38).
You have no problem with that part. Glory, the Day of the Lord, the holy angels, what an
awesome day, but this talk about suffering is way beyond you.
Its almost like everything you were hoping for is being dashed to the ground. But then he made
the follow up statement. Its in verse 1 of chapter 9 if you want to see it. “Truly I say to you, there
are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has
come with power.
So that is good news, . . . I think. After all, if it’s anybody who will get to see the kingdom of
God come with power, its gotta be one of the main three (or 4 in our pretend case)
So here you are after 6 days, climbing a hill to pray. Why? Because Jesus too is struggling with
his words. He knows he must suffer, but he is just a man. He didn’t enjoy suffering. When there
was a pricker bush on the path, he didn’t try to walk through it, he walked around. He wasn’t
looking for pain. But it was necessary. He knew it, but his disciples just didn’t get it.
III.
Transformed…
So back to the scene. Its already pretty incredible and then verse 2 tells us that Jesus was
transfigured before them. Transformed. (Transformers, more than meets the eye. He has gone
from a semi truck to a giant robot) He is revealing himself for who he really is. His clothes
became white (no, “intensely white, more white then anyone could ever bleach them.”)
And to make things even scarier/more awesome Moses and Elijah appear there too. Apparently
Peter and the disciples knew exactly who these two people were. Here were the greatest men in
all of history and they were talking to Jesus and the effect is terrifying (v 6). I can only imagine
you are there praying on the ground (sleeping too as the other gospels say) and all of a sudden a
huge flash of light, but its not a flash. It continues. Jesus resplendent in light. A supernova just
yards away. If you were sleeping you are awake now, but you sure aren’t getting off the ground.
The effect is horrifying and then Moses and Elijah, the greatest men ever, appear there for a talk
with Christ. Luke tells us they were talking about his departure. The Greek word is exodus.
They were talking about the exodus of Jesus. This is going to play a pretty big part in the story.
So, big light, two of the greatest heroes ever known who have been dead for hundreds of years
and you’re standing there terrified. And Peter, we just love Peter, offers to build them some tents
so they can stay awhile. As soon as he says this, a cloud envelops them and a voice says, “this is
my beloved son, listen to him.” And then everything is done. The cloud is gone, the light is gone,
Moses and Elijah are gone and all is as it was.
When the cloud lifted, only Jesus remained as the sole bearer of Gods new revelation which will
later be disclosed in the cross and resurrection.
That’s the event, but my question is why? Not only why did this event occur, but why did Mark
decide to include it in his gospel.
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IV.
…for your encouragement
I think the answer to both of these questions is this—“to encourage them.” God did this to
encourage Jesus and the disciples, and Mark included it in order to encourage the people at his
time and the Holy Spirit wrote it that you too might be encouraged.
Remember, Mark’s readers are struggling too. Their husbands are being crucified by the
emperor. Their children are being run through with spears. And Jesus isn’t doing anything about
it. Tomorrow their head may be on the chopping block all because they believe that Jesus is the
Christ and he promised to come in power.
This transfiguration was a glimpse of what was to come. It was a sliver of the eschaton and it
was designed to show the disciples of Jesus, the disciples who are reading Marks first manuscript
and the disciples reading it today that Jesus is who he said he is and he will do what he said he
would and his glory will be evident.
But more importantly, it was designed to show that suffering and glory are not mutually
exclusive. They not only can cohabitate, they must.
Remember these poor disciples? They had just learned that Jesus was to die. They didn’t
understand because that just doesn’t fit what a Messiah is. That’s when Jesus says that some will
not taste death until Jesus comes in power. Scholars struggle with this first verse and maybe you
do as well. After all, Jesus still hasn’t come in power and every single person there is dead.
Jesus was wrong. And if Jesus is wrong then, why should we trust him now? What if all this talk
about him coming back just isn’t true? It’s been 2000 years after all.
Perhaps you are one of those that started strong. You had some glorious testimony—maybe even
something miraculous, at least something amazingly coincidental, but time continues to go by
and life is hard and Jesus isn’t making it easier. In fact, since you stopped going to church and
stopped chatting with Jesus, life may have gotten easier. Your family doesn’t think you are crazy
anymore; you fit in with the rest of the people at the job or in the neighborhood. It’s just a lot
easier being like everyone else. Those amazing coincidences that you thought were forever
etched in your memory, have faded and you doubt if they were even real anymore.
I cant speak for everybody here, but I can say, I have the same struggle. So did Christian and his
traveling companions if you remember. John Bunyan tells us in the Pilgrims Progress that
Jesus, when he was in the flesh lived in the Valley of Humiliation. And the pilgrims felt the same
way. In fact, Christian’s companions at one point doubt whether the Celestial City even exists.
And Christian must remind them and himself “Don’t you remember, when we saw it from the
peak of Mt. Clear?” They had seen it and yet still, they doubted. It’s hard with everything else
weighing us down. It’s hard especially when even pastors tell you that life will be good when
you accept Jesus. But Jesus said “in order to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up
your cross and follow me.”
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It’s this kind of language and this kind of reality that Jesus felt the need to encourage them
through.
They will have to take up the cross, but they will not taste death until they see the kingdom of
God manifested. He will come with glory and you will see it. He will give them reason to hope.
And Mark says, now they have seen it. This transfiguration is Jesus unveiled, if only for a
moment. It is the radiant light of Christ uncovered so that Peter, James and John might truly see.
Unfortunately, the disciples still don’t see. We find them asking a bunch of questions about how
Elijah fits into things and how Jesus can suffer if he is the Son of Man.
But Mark gets it, and he wants you to get it too.
V.
How is it encouraging?
A. Jesus is the new Moses
See, Mark has painted this little picture very clearly for you. He wants you to see Jesus as a great
prophet, as Moses even. Not actually Moses, but as a new Moses. As a reader you are to notice
and accept all the similarities from the book of Exodus.
1. Exodus
Not only is there conversation about Jesus’ exodus (his leaving this land for a greater
one) but there is also the six days.
2. Six days
This comes directly from Exodus 24:16 where 6 days was the time of preparation before
God revealed himself. Jesus announcing his approaching suffering needed six days of
mulling about in their heads before they could be ready to witness the disclosure of
Christ’s true character.
3. mountain
Keep in mind, that they climbed a mountain, just as both Elijah and Moses did before
God revealed himself to them.
4. Three people
He went with three people as Moses only went with three named people.
5. White
He turns completely white as Moses does. This glory is reminiscent of what we see in
Daniel 7 when the Ancient of Days is said to be resplendent light and white as snow.
6. cloud
God appears in veiled form in an overshadowing cloud here in Mark—God appears in
veiled form in an overshadowing cloud (ex 24:15-16, 18
7. Voice
voice speaks from the cloud in Mark—also in Ex 24:16
8. reaction
People astonished when he comes down from mountain, people afraid to come near
Moses when he comes down (Ex 35:30)
B. Jesus restores, but what a weird way
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Why Moses and Elijah? Besides them being the two greatest men in history; besides the fact that
they may have represented the law and the prophets (although not likely); besides the fact that
both of them had a strange departure from earth (neither die in Jewish tradition and both become
a sort of King in heaven), besides all this, there is in the minds of the disciples the last prophecy
uttered about the messiah. Malachi 4
1 Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer
will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD
Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its
wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet
on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty
4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for
all Israel.
5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the
LORD comes.
6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to
their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
Both Moses and Elijah are mentioned as part of the eschatological hope. It’s why the disciples
are so confused. It’s why Peter offers to build them a tent. This makes perfect sense. They have
been celebrating the feast of booths (tents, tabernacles) for centuries in anticipation of the great
Messiah finally coming to tabernacle among them.
Judaism held onto the hope that God would once again tabernacle with his people as in the
exodus.
“Make a right confession to the Lord and bless the King of the ages, so that once again
his dwelling may be erected with you in joy (Tobit 13:11).
Josephus also records the hope of a new and literal tabernacle in the wilderness.
Peter thinks, understandably, that today the glory of the Lord will be revealed on this mountain.
They will never again anticipate the Messiah by living in tents. He is there. The last feast of
tabernacles is over and his kingdom is here in power.
It’s why they are still asking questions on the way down the mountain. Its not that they don’t
understand what it means to rise from the dead (v 10). They have been taught about that since
they were born, but rising from the dead is for everyone else who believed in a Messiah. The
Messiah can’t rise from the dead, because that would mean he would die and that is the farthest
thing from reality that they could imagine.
And then verse 11: “Jesus, isn’t it right that when Elijah comes, he will restore all things? Isn’t
this the time of the restoration?”
And Jesus agrees. “Yes, you have it right, (verse 12) but you are forgetting that when he comes
he will usher in a King who will suffer many things and be treated with contempt.” He is going
to say elsewhere that John the Baptist is the one who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah and
here it says that the people did with him whatever they pleased. John has been killed.
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Elijah’s return does not usher in the happy day of the Lord. There is no immediate triumph. And
we live in this same world. A world where righteousness doesn’t often seem to prevail. A world
where corruption is part of politics, banking, business, schools and often our own family. Most
of you here probably live reasonably good lives, but even you can spot corruption in your own
heart—sometimes quite often. Even those of you who are Christians—the Lord knows that
perhaps too often we don’t look any different than everyone else—we know we are huge sinners.
But we long for a day when righteousness prevails and is vindicated.
C. For them and for you
Mark writes this story for Jesus’ present day disciples.
For Luke, the transfiguration story is only about Jesus. He ascends the mountain, he prays, he is
left.
Matthew includes the disciples a bit more, but still at the end, only Jesus is left.
Mark alone has the disciples fully engrossed in every part.
Jesus takes the three up on a high mountain where they were all along.
He is transfigured “before them” (v 2)
Elijah and Moses appear “before them” (v 4)
the divine voice speaks to them (v 7)
and at the end, despite the ominous ring of suffering and death, Jesus stands alone with
them.
In the depths of their bewilderment, Jesus is with the disciples. The disciples—then as now—are
not expected to go it alone in this hard and joyous thing of discipleship. He calls them disciples
and calls them to follow him, and he will not abandon them for his glory, but turns from glory to
accompany them “on the way” to Jerusalem and the cross.
That’s what this story is. It’s a story about a piece of the glory combined with the path to
humiliation. It is only through humiliation that the ultimate glory is gained. The transfiguration
is not the ultimate. It is only a picture of what is to come for Peter, James and John. Where is
Christ’s glory most evident? The cross. The resurrection from the dead.
With this encouragement to his disciples, with this glimpse of reality, the story shifts and Jesus
begins his walk to Jerusalem. He moves from the mountain of glory, to the mount of Golgotha—
the ultimate humiliation …and the ultimate glorification.
The resurrection is the greatest event in history. That’s why I titled this sermon, penultimate
glory. Death swallowed up all the hopes of mankind. But only for three days.
Death where is thy sting; Grave where is thy victory.
Jesus conquered the grave. He destroyed the power of death. In his resurrection he revealed
himself as the king of Glory and it says even now he sits on the right hand of God the Father on
high.
Peter thought he would make him a tabernacle, but he is the tabernacle. He is God dwelling (or
tabernacling) among us.
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Lords supper
This is the first and most important thing to take from this message
1. Jesus is the Son of God. He cannot truly be compared with even the greatest prophets of
the past. He is greater than Moses, greater than Elijah, greater than John the Baptist and
2. Having said that we must be careful not to entertain any false hopes of eschatological
triumphalism. Marks readers should not expect to reign as kings anytime soon. This
world is hard sometimes, I understand. Don’t get so caught up in what you will inherit
that you are depressed about what you now have.
3. But having said that, remember that there is comfort and hope of ultimate vindication. In
spite of the terrible sufferings Jesus’ disciples will have to face, they will be glorified
with Jesus. He does grant us pieces of the eschatological future. Don’t forget the past
successes, the past glories. Don’t forget when the manna came down for you, or you had
that moment of clarity and lucidity when God showed himself clearly. When the memory
fades, look back to the cross again. Remind one another of what God did in your life.
Friends, full gratification is delayed. Scientists can tell who the successful and happy
people will be by doing experiments on them as children. They offer children a
marshmallow before they leave the room. They can eat the marshmallow if they wish,
but if they wait till their return, then they will give them two. Those who wait,
understand delayed gratification and live fuller lives.
I understand the desire to skip suffering now in favor of immediate gratification. I
understand the biblical amnesia we have which reminds us of the wealth, happiness
and health we are promised but conveniently allows us to forget that the Christian life
is one of suffering.
This may seem crazy to you, but let me call you to the same thing that Shackleton
recruited his crew to
“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete
darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of
success.”3
We will suffer in weakness, yet live in glory. 2 Cor 13:4 says “For to be sure, he was
crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power”
Elijah’s mission was to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children. Did John do this. Or did
he fail because not enough repented. For if he failed, the land is in trouble because the prophecy
also threatens destruction. He will come and strike the land with a curse (Mal 4:6)
3
Ernest Shackleton
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Jesus response show that he understands that Elijah/John dialogue is rooted I the suffering
question. Elijah’s importance is as restoration through repentance (Mal 4:6) and this was fulfilled
in John the Baptist even though he suffered. Just as the end will be fulfilled through Jesus even
though he suffers.
Mark sees the transfiguration as an enthronement and an anticipation of the glory which is to
come. It points to the parousia by manifesting the power and sovereignty of Christ.
He is once again approved by God as he was at the start. This time immediately after Jesus
saying he had to suffer. Suffering was Gods plan. And because he is the Son of God and
approved, then his people should listen to him—Jesus is the eschatological prophet like Moses to
whom Israel must listen because he is the final bearer of God’s words. Mark’s readers must hear
this as well as they are participating in suffering and they must remember that this was God’s
plan.
Elijahs coming was necessary because some traditions like Justins response to Trypho say that
the Messiah—if he has indeed been born and exists anywhere-is unknown and does not even
know himself, and has no power, until Elijah comes to anoint him and make him known to all
(Dial, 8,4; cf 49, 1; Jn 7:27)
Jesus affirms that Elijah must come (Mal 3:23 or 4:5MT) but also that the son of man must
suffer. This means that the disciples misunderstood something about Elijah
Their joint appearance is to bring to mind Mal 4:5-6 where they are both seen as preparatory of
the Great Prophet to come. Thus, Jesus is not a walk on in the divine economy, nor is this
revelation as the Son of God an anomaly or arbitrary expression of the divine will.
The cloud is like the cloud in the temple, and the overshadowing of Mary at the annunciation.
Mark 9:1-13
The glory of Christ, for you
VI.
Peter, James, John and you
VII.
When struggling, pray
VIII. Transformed…
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IX.
For your encouragement
X.
How is it encouraging?
1. Jesus is the new Moses
2. Jesus restores, but what a weird way
3. For them and for you
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