Pastor Jonah Sage preached Mark 9:2-28. He said that Jesus is God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is King. Listen to him. Lector: Kristen McGee
Pastor Jonah Sage preached Mark 9:2-28. He said that Jesus is God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is King. Listen to him.
Lector: Kristen McGee
In this beautiful passage in Mark, we can with clarity and power answer the question "who is Jesus?".
Jesus. Is. God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is King.
This is the moment Mark has been building to.
Jesus is God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is King.
If this is so, it begs the question "well how do we respond?"
How are we to respond when God comes near?
How are we to respond when an ordinary day suddenly becomes miraculous?
How are we to respond when our eyes are opened and we see Jesus?
These verses, at the heart of Mark, reveal the heart of God
They show us who Jesus is and teach us how to respond when God comes near
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.
-Mark 9:2
Six days ago, Jesus asked the disciples "who do you say that I am?"
Six days ago, Jesus and his disciples entered Caesarea Philippi, a dark place
Jews believed on the top of this high mountain lived the Canaanite god Baal.
Romans called this place the rock of the gods, believing it to be the home of their gods
Mesopotamians called this place the gates of hell because they believed it to be the sight of evil spiritual invasion on earth and a literal gateway to the underworld.
Six days ago, Jesus asked them "who do you say that I am", and six days ago Peter said "the Messiah."
Six days ago Jesus told them he had to suffer and would be killed.
Six days is a number of suspense and anticipation in the Bible...because it anticipates the number 7.
Six leaves you itching for seven.
On the sixth day of creation, the world awaited its glorious seventh day rest of completion.
For six days, Moses sat in a cloud waiting to hear from God in Ex. 24.
Six days anticipates a seventh.
Six days longs for completion as it longs for God.
So, like Moses, after six days, Jesus and the disciples go up A mountain
They enter the gates of hell,climb the rock of the gods, and the disciples had to know something significant was going to happen
Moses climbed up a mountain to meet with God and receive revelation from God
He received the beginning of the law, the 10 commandments, God's guardrails for how his chosen people are to live.
Elijah went up a mountain to meet with God.
Elijah, the one who promised God's salvation...
Perhaps the disciples thought, like Moses and Elijah, they were going up the mountain to meet with God.
But something incredible happens:
As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
-Mark 9:2-3
No cloud like Moses received, no still small voice like Elijah received...
Instead, Jesus himself is transfigured.
Jesus himself is revealed in glory.
Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
-Mark 9:4
Think very carefully about this with me.
Jesus does not go and talk to Elijah and Moses.
Elijah and Moses came to Jesus. Significant detail.
These pillars of the OT, representing God's Law and Promises, come to Jesus.
Jews believed that one like Moses would come to them again, as promised by Moses in Exodus 18:15.
Jews believed that, at the time of God's great salvation, one like Elijah would come.
And now, at the top of this mountain, Moses and Elijah come to Jesus.
The law is fulfilled in Jesus. All the Old Testament regulations were pointing to Jesus, and they now find their fulfillment in Jesus.
When you read about Moses going up to a mountain to meet with God, you must read him as going up the mountain to MEET WITH JESUS.
When you read about Elijah going up a mountain to hear from God, you must read him as going up the mountain to HEAR FROM JESUS.
Salvation is fulfilled in Jesus. All the Old Testament promises about God's great rescue find their fulfillment in Jesus.
Here, at the mount of transfiguration, the purpose of God's law and the promise of God's salvation are found in JESUS.
And with the three disciples here, the mission of God finds its home in Jesus, too.
This scene contains all of God's promises and plans.
Consider again the geography here.
The rock of the Gods, the gates of hell. Jesus even refers to this place as such in Matthew's gospel.
Here, at the place of spiritual oppression and evil, Jesus reveals himself as he truly is, defying the spiritual forces of evil.
On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus is revealed as King of heaven and earth, asserting all authority.
On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus is revealed as the fulfiller of God's law
On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus is revealed as the savior of the world.
And still the disciples do not understand:
Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
-Mark 9:5-6
He was terrified and confused, so he just threw an idea out there.
But in his terror and confusion, he shows how little he understands.
If he understood the gravity of this moment and what was being revealed about Jesus, he would not have offered to build 3 tents, he would have fallen to his knees and suggested they build ONE THRONE.
One throne for King Jesus.
One throne for the Lord of the Law, the one in whom all of God's commands are satisfied and followed
One throne for the Savior of the World, the one through whom God's promised salvation has come.
One throne for the King of Kings, the one who has ALL authority on heaven and earth, over rulers and authorities in the seen and unseen realms.
One throne for King Jesus.
They went up a mountain expecting to receive revelation from God, and what they saw was the revelation of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah.
And then, after the law and promises come to meet with King Jesus, the cloud of God appears:
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said "This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him."
-Mark 9:7
Incredible. Is THIS what you would expect God to say? This is my boy, I love him so. Listen. To. Him.
How do you respond when God comes near?
Listen to him.
How are you to respond when an ordinary day is revealed to be miraculous?
Listen to Jesus.
This is the heart of God: Listen to my son!
And then, just as suddenly as it all began, the cloud, Moses, and Elijah disappear...and only Jesus remains.
What is mark saying?
The law has passed away, the time of promise making has turned to promise fulfilling...look to Jesus. Listen to Jesus.
So what's the application here for us? Well...listen to Jesus!
In all of your doing, your busy life and your productive spirituality, are you making time to listen to Jesus?
Let me show you how: pray, either out loud or silently, something like "speak to me"...and then be quiet for as long as you can.
Maybe that's 30 seconds, maybe 5 minutes.
Too many of us say Jesus doesn't talk to us...and part of the reason is we do not listen.
How do you listen to Jesus? Just like you listen to anyone else. You ask a question, and then you be quiet and listen.
"Speak to me", "what would you have me do?" Are great questions to ask. You can do it in the car. In the shower. Raking leaves or wrapping Christmas presents.
Now maybe that sounds too mystical for you, too weird...well, you have beautiful words of Jesus to listen to in the Scriptures.
Let me just share with you 3 invitations Jesus made. These aren't cherry picked, these are the most normal things Jesus said to people.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
-Mark 9:28
Listening to Jesus means coming to him to find rest.
IF the law is fulfilled in Jesus, that means it is fulfilled for you.
Find rest from the burden of your performance and obedience. Come to Jesus and find rest.
On the last day...Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
-John 7:37-38
Coming to Jesus is like drinking deep of clear, pure water that satisfies.
Did you notice he SHOUTED it? THIS WATER IS FOR EVERYONE!
If the law is fulfilled, and the promise stands, EVERYONE may come!
Are you weary? Are you thirsty? Listen to Jesus by coming to Jesus for satisfaction.
Trust him. Listen to him. Drink from him.
This means the aim of your life becomes encountering the presence of Jesus that your thirst might be quenched.
Come to him and find rest, drink from him and be satisfied.
One last one. After his resurrection, after Peter's betrayal, do you know the first words Jesus has for Peter?
"Come and have some breakfast!"
-John 21:12
How can he say this? The law is fulfilled and the promise kept.
He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He freely forgives, offering full pardon and warm welcome.
Which looks like asking your betrayer if he wants any breakfast.
Come and have breakfast with me.
Come, feast with me, feast upon me. Find rest, drink, listen to me.
We could have gone to John 1 where Jesus invites us to come and see.
Or Mark 6 where he invites us for rest.
Or Matthew 25 where he invites us to receive his kingdom.
Or the many places Jesus said "FOLLOW ME"
The point of the transfiguration is this: the saving activity of God is found exclusively in Jesus.
What does this mean? Where do we find rest: Jesus.
Where do we find true food: Jesus.
Where do we find satisfying drink: Jesus.
Where do we find peace with God and each other: Jesus.
Victory over spiritual darkness and oppression: Jesus.
That's why all the imagery, all the invitations are saying essentially the same thing:
Come to me. Follow me. Listen to me.
How do we respond when God comes near?
We come to Jesus. We follow Jesus. We listen to Jesus.
Because Jesus is God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is King.
Come to Jesus. Follow Jesus. Listen to Jesus.