Some Will See The Kingdom
9:1
This verse causes much discussion and disagreement both as to its placement and its meaning. Some believe the verse should be the last verse in chapter 8. That is because they think the subject matter of 9:1 is the same as 8:38.
Others believe it is properly placed as the first verse in chapter 9. It begins with Jesus saying a truth to them, which can Mark is indicating a new story. Mark then tells the story of the transfiguration.
So, what did Jesus mean when he said some of those there would not die until they saw the coming in the kingdom of God in power? There are several views.
First, some say it refers to the transfiguration, where Jesus’ glory is revealed. The weakness to that theory is that it would seem odd to give such a dramatic prophesy about something that will happen in six days. (2) Also, it is unclear how the revealing of his glory is the coming of the kingdom in power.
Second, some believe it refers to the second coming of Christ. Since that did not happen within the lifetime of the disciples, it is used to claim Jesus made a mistake. I do not believe Jesus made mistakes.
Also, Jesus saying when he would return would also conflict with Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:36: ““But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Third, some believe, and I agree, that it refers to Jesus’ resurrection. It would not happen immediately, but it would happen within the lifetime of most of Jesus’ followers. Romans 1:4 says Jesus was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 2:9 tells us that God the Father exalted Jesus above everyone so that every knee will bow to him. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us Jesus must reign until all his enemies are defeated, then he will hand the kingdom to the Father.
Transfiguration
9:2-8
Six days after Peter’s confession, Jesus took his insiders, Peter, James, and John, up on a high mountain. Mark does not usually give us specific time markers. This one might be to point us to the similarity of the Transfiguration to Moses’ encounter with God in Exodus 24.
The traditional site for the high mountain is Mount Tabor. However, Mount Hermon is closer to where Jesus was (Caesarea Philippi) and higher.
Moses went up onto a mountain to wait for God. He waited six days while the cloud of the glory of God covered the top of the mountain. Then, on the seventh day, the glory of the Lord appeared to Moses like a devouring fire. Moses entered the cloud.
Here, on the seventh day, Jesus was transfigured before the three apostles. His glory shown forth so that even his clothes became radiantly, intensely, white. It was whiter than anything the apostles had seen, unnaturally white and bright. Matthew 17:2 adds that Jesus’ face shone like the sun. Moses’ face also shined after being in God’s presence.
Then Elijah and Moses appeared, taking to Jesus. (4) (Wouldn’t you have liked to hear that conversation?) Moses and Elijah only appear together in one Old Testament passage. Malachi 4:4-6 says:
“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Moses and Elijah prepared Israel for the coming of Jesus, the final prophet. Some commentators think Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets of the old covenant.
Hebrews 8:6, 13 tells us that the new covenant is much more excellent than the old and that the new covenant makes the old covenant obsolete. Thus, Moses and Elijah disappear and only Jesus remains.
At this point, Peter began to babble. He was terrified. (6) He started talking about building three tabernacles so they could stay there. Sometimes, it is better not to speak.
He was interrupted by a cloud overshadowing them on the mountain and a voice speaking from the cloud. This is the same way God spoke to Moses in Exodus 24:15-18.
God told the apostles: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him”. Thus the Father affirmed Jesus as his son and his love for his son. Then he instructed the apostles to listen to Jesus. The implication is “Jesus is my son and speaks for me”.
Hebrews 1:1 says “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoke to us by his Son…”
This was a particularly needed instruction for them, as shown by Peter’s refusal to accept Jesus’ teaching about his death and resurrection. The apostles also need to hear Jesus about the nature of discipleship, the taking up of the cross that he had just taught them.
This command from God echoes that of Deuteronomy 18:18-19:
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.”
Peter later came to understand. He wrote in 2 Peter 1:16-18 that he was an eyewitness to Jesus’ majesty and heard the Father speak from heaven, while they were on the mountain, the words recorded in Mark.
Likewise, John wrote “we have seen his glory”. (John 1:14)
The command to listen to Jesus is vital to us today also. We must read his words and obey them if we are to be disciples.
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