Mark 9:1-13
Then he drove it home by saying, “This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.” In a Light-Radiant CloudSix days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.
Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials— one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.
Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”
The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.
Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.
Meanwhile they were asking, “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”
Jesus replied, “Elijah does come first and get everything ready for the coming of the Son of Man. They treated this Elijah like dirt, much like they will treat the Son of Man, who will, according to Scripture, suffer terribly and be kicked around contemptibly.”
January 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I always wondered about the first part of this passage, where Jesus promises that some of his disciples that they would see the Kingdom of God come, basically because I think that we’re still waiting. I never connected that promise with the next part of the story…
January 15th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Isn’t Peter great-jumps right in, both feet first, speaks drivel because he’s so overwhelmed….just like I might if I got an unexpected,blinding meeting with God. I always wanted to know, how did Peter know they were Moses and Elijah because it doesn’t record any formal introduction?
January 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I know Wend, it makes us feel better that even Peter was overwhelmed at times! I thought they knew about Elijah from prophecies earlier in the Bible but I might be wrong. I always worried a lot about this verse too, because like Bethan says because we’re still waiting! I think in Revelation there’s mention of Elijah coming again, to sort of herald the way for Jesus again, how mad would that be?!