Mark 9:2-10 The Transfiguration

Wednesday night I noticed on the calendar that our trash is picked up on Thursday, so I needed to push the cans to the street. On Thursday morning I remembered to take the trash out—right after I saw the garbage man pass by the house. 

Thursday afternoon, Kim asked me to cue up a certain video for her women’s Bible study. I heard her—listened to what she said. I agreed to do it. Later that night, when I came home from my men’s discipleship group, I remembered I didn’t do what she asked.

This kind of remembering is also called forgetting.

Hearing and not doing is the same as ignoring.

I invited a young woman to church one time, she was really struggling in her marriage, this was years ago when I was at another church. The pastor preached a great message on relationships full of all kinds of wisdom. It was one of those moments when you’re just begging God to open someone’s ears because they really need to hear what’s being said.

After church she came to lunch with Kim and me—I asked her what she thought about the service. She said, “It was really good. I really liked what the preacher said—I think it would really help me if I would do any of it. But I probably won’t.”

Ever been there? You hear something from the Bible, in a sermon, something a friend says, and you consider it for a minute, “That would probably help me if I did it, or believed it—but I’m not going to.”

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. We’re back in the Gospel of Mark, following Jesus around, listening to Him. This is a weird story. There’s nothing else like it in the Bible. I like the weird ones, the stories that most people would have left out of the Bible if they were just making it up to trick people—but it actually happened, so that’s why it’s in there.

But we have to back up a little before we jump into it.

Six days before the event we call the transfiguration, Jesus had given a “drop-the-mic” teaching about who He is and what He came to do. He made it clear—He’s not Moses, He’s not Elijah. He asked the disciples who they say He is and Peter spoke for the rest of the group and said, “You are the Christ. The Messiah. The One who was promised to come and save us.”

Jesus was like, “Ding, ding! Good answer!” But then He told them not to tell anyone just yet. He explained why—it’s not going to go down the way you’ve been taught. The Messiah wasn’t going to raise an army to beat up the Romans and reestablish the earthly kingdom of Israel—that’s not how the Kingdom of Heaven was going to happen. This was mind-bending stuff for them. It’s still mind-bending for us, too, if we’re honest. They wanted Jesus to arrive in power and solve all their political problems but Jesus said His mission was going to look very different from their religious fantasies. He didn’t want them to tell people He was the Messiah because they had a distorted idea of who the Messiah was supposed to be.

Jesus was very clear, “You’re right, I am the Messiah, but here’s what’s going to happen: All your religious leaders are going to reject me, reject my message, get in bed with the Romans and have me murdered. Publicly executed on a cross. I’m going to be dead for three days and just when all seems completely lost and hopeless—I’m going to come back from the dead.

And that sounded crazy. The disciples didn’t like what He was saying at all. They thought Jesus was going off script—this is not the message they had agreed on, it was off brand. They all looked at Peter to say something. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him—tried to remind Him of the mission statement. “Come on, man! We’re trying to build something here. Don’t ruin it by bringing everyone down! No one wants to hear you talk about being murdered.”

That didn’t go so well for Peter. Jesus called him “Satan” (Get behind me Satan!) and said he didn't have his mind on the things of God but was only looking out for himself. Then Jesus called the crowds over and said to everyone, “If you’re going to follow me, you’re going to have to take up your cross, deny yourself, and be willing to give up your life for the Gospel. Anyone who tries to save their life by denying me will lose their life—but anyone who gives up their life for the Gospel will find it. If you’re ashamed of me and my message in front of people, then I’ll be ashamed of you in front of God the Father and the holy angels.” 

That’s when He dropped the mic, and it seems like they might not have talked with Him for a while. Maybe Jesus went off by Himself and prayed for a few days.

Mark chapter 9… 

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
Mark 9:2-4

Jesus takes His three most temperamental disciples on a little field trip. Peter, who is the loudest, boldest, most likely to stick his foot in his mouth disciple—the one Jesus just called Satan. And the two brothers He named The Sons of Thunder, because they were always arguing about which one was the greatest—they’re also the ones who wanted to call fire down from the sky and destroy people who didn’t listen to what Jesus had to say. So, Jesus takes His three stormiest disciples up on a mountain.

When they get there, it says Jesus was transfigured right before their eyes. “Metamorphose.” He changed, transformed. He wasn’t just reflecting the sun. Jesus, who is 100% God and 100% man, let His divinity come to the forefront. This wasn’t just a vision—not an illusion. He was suddenly brighter than the sun, His clothes were whiter than earthly possible. Oh, and Elijah and Moses take a little day trip from heaven and show up for a chat.

Moses, who had talked with God as a burning bush  in the desert, and had talked with God on a mountain when He was given the Ten Commandments.

Elijah, who had talked with God on a mountain when God showed Himself in thunder and power but spoke in a still, small voice. 

Moses, who had obeyed God and rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt then led them through the wilderness, following a cloud by day and fire by night—leading them to the Promised Land but died in the wilderness and was buried on a mountain. He didn’t get to enter the Promised Land—well until today with Jesus.

Elijah, who’s ministry was in Northern Israel after the kingdom was divided and fell into idolatry. Elijah, who called the people of Israel to repentance and defeated the prophets of Baal. Elijah, who was persecuted by King Ahab and Jezebel just like John the Baptist was persecuted by King Herod and Herodias. Elijah fell into a depression after his victory with the prophets of Baal, and thought he was the only faithful person left, then God carried him to heaven in a chariot of fire while he was still alive. One of two people in the history of the world who got to go to heaven without dying.

So, Moses and Elijah. What did they talk about? Luke says they talked about Jesus’ exodus—they talked about how Jesus was going to die to save His people. 

Obviously, this would have been quite the experience for Peter, James, and John.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Mark 9:5-6

Peter speaks up, as usual. The other Gospels make it clear that what he said was dumb but no one is really sure how it was dumb. He wanted to make three tents—maybe that was dumb because they weren’t spending the night. Maybe it was dumb because Peter was putting Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus and implying worship of those two in some way. Don’t judge him too hard for this—when you pictured it, how many did you imagine were glowing? Because only Jesus was glowing.

You might be wondering how they even knew it was Moses and Elijah. It’s not like they had seen photos of them. Was the knowledge of who they were just part of the experience? Maybe in heaven everyone just knows who everyone else is. Were they wearing name tags? Maybe it was the epic Bible beards.

Peter’s helpful suggestions are interrupted by another person showing up to the party.

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. Mark 9:7-8

It’s a big day when Jesus takes you up on a mountain to meet Moses, Elijah, and God the Father Almighty in a Holy Spirit cloud of glory.

It’s the same shekinah cloud Moses had seen in the desert, the same cloud Elijah had seen on the mountain—and it was the same voice that had spoken at Jesus’ baptism—almost said the same thing, “This is my beloved Son,” but this time, instead of of “in whom I am well pleased…”

This is such a visual spectacle. It’s interesting that the Father didn’t say, “This is my beloved Son—look at Him!” No, He said, “Listen to Him!” Faith doesn’t come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. Luther said, “If you want to see Jesus, put your eyes in your ears!”

Moses gave the Law—the Commandments—along with all the rules for the tabernacle and the temple. He also said God would send someone greater than Him. That someone was Jesus.

Elijah was a prophet who preached repentance for when they ruined the whole kingdom of Israel by breaking those commandments and ignoring all the rules for the temple. The prophet Malachi said Elijah would return before the Messiah and prepare the way for Him. In some way, John the Baptist came in the name of Elijah and preached repentance to prepare the way of the Lord. Now the actual Elijah is standing on a mountain with the Lord Jesus.

Peter says, “Wow! The giver of the Law, the Prophet of Prophets, and the Messiah! Three very important and influential people! What can we do to make them comfortable—get them to stay a little longer?”

God the Father shows up and cuts him off, “No. Jesus is the one you need to be listening to from now on. Listen to Him. Be listening to Him. Not Moses. Not Elijah. Listen to Jesus.” 

He’s the only one who can save you. 

When the Father is done speaking, Elijah and Moses are gone. The cloud is gone. Jesus is the only one left and He isn’t glowing anymore. He starts to lead them back down to camp.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.
Mark 9:9-10

The three most outspoken disciples, the ones who can’t keep their mouths shut, have just seen the most amazing thing they could ever imagine and Jesus tells them to keep it to themselves until He comes back from the dead. And then another miracle happens—one that most of us miss when we read this story—They didn’t tell anyone! 

Imagine what that would have been like. They get back to camp and the others are like, “So, what was that all about? Where you been? What have you been doing? Anything interesting happen?”

They just look at each other and try to avoid making eye contact. “Oh, you know. Same ol, same ol. If you’ve seen one mountain…”

But they did talk about what “Jesus rising from the dead” might mean.

Moses brought the law. Elijah brought repentance. Jesus brought the Gospel. The Father said to listen to Him. So, what does that mean? Do we get to ignore the law now? Is repentance a thing of the past. Is it all Gospel from now on, baby!  Whoo Hoo!

Let’s define our terms:

The Law is what God tells us to do. Commands us to do. It’s God’s will for our lives. It’s what we’re supposed to do. 

Are we supposed to do what God tells us to do or not? And if we don’t—then what?

Well, what’s the Gospel?

The Gospel is everything God does for us through Jesus. The Gospel is what saves us—or more precisely, the Gospel is the good news that Jesus saves us. It’s not anything we do. We have no part to play in it. Jesus plus nothing. 

So, here’s the big revolutionary message: repent and believe the Gospel. Repent of the idea that you can save yourself. That you can faith harder. That you have to get all excited and have a big emotional experience with your hands raised and vibing with the Holy Spirit—that your enthusiasm will save you. Repent of the idea that feeling really bad about your sins is a ticket to salvation. Repent of the idea that if you go to church every week and read your freaking Bible every day, and pray all the time that somehow that’s how you get saved. Have I struck a nerve yet? I’m trying to strike a nerve. I don’t think you can hear what I’m saying until I find that religious nerve that you’ve been trusting to save you.

There’s nothing you can do to save yourself. Not by listening to Moses and keeping all the Commandments. Not by listening to Elijah and repenting your heart out.

You can only be saved by listening to Jesus. The Gospel. What Jesus does for you plus nothing else.

Then you might be wondering, “Why keep the Law then? Why even try? Why go to church? Why do anything God told us to do? If it’s not going to save me, what’s the point?”

If I’m not going to be damned for my sins, then why not just keep on sinning? If doing what God tells me to do doesn’t get me into heaven, then why do it?

If I were to ask you if you could buy your way into heaven, most people would say, “no, of course not.” So, if money can’t save you, then what’s the point of having it. If it can’t save you, then it’s not worth anything, right? No. That’s ridiculous. The value of money is obvious—it doesn’t save you, but you still need it in this life for all kinds of reasons.

What about your eyes? Can your eyes save you? You’re like, “You’re losing me Pastor Frank, that doesn’t make any sense.” Well, if your eyes can’t save you, they must not be necessary, might as well poke them out. No. Eyes are pretty nice to have. You might want to keep them.

It’s the same with the Law—God’s Commandments. Luther called the Law “God’s wisdom.” It won’t save you but it sure makes life work a lot better. All aspects of life. The way God tells us to worship Him, the way He tells us to treat each other, the things He tells us we should be thinking about, the way He tells us to not think about certain things—this is all divine wisdom. We either live according to God’s wisdom or we go around like fools—breaking things, hurting each other, off track, lost, stupid, wasting our lives grasping at nonsense.

Here’s another way of looking at it: 

If you break the law and get caught, you go to prison, right? Let’s say it’s a lifetime sentence for murder. Once you’re inside, in jail, it doesn't matter how many people you don’t kill—keeping the law isn’t going to get you out. 

That’s a pretty good way to understand the Gospel. All of us were born in a prison of the world, the flesh, and the devil. You were in prison, you were guilty, and Jesus pardoned you.

Jesus sets you free and then He says, “Now that you’re out, if you want to have a good life—live like this.”

Christians do what God tells us to do, not because we’re afraid of damnation, but because we don’t want to make a mess out of our lives—we don’t want anarchy. We want life to be good.

Once the law points us to Jesus, that’s what God’s Law is for. That’s what God’s wisdom is for. It doesn’t save you, Jesus took care of that, but then He wants good things for you. He wants your life to be blessed. He wants your life to make sense. Have purpose. Joy.

So that’s where everything we do comes into play. 

All those Commandments. Thou shalt this and thou shall not that.

It’s God telling what kind of person you’re going to be now. Now that He saved you.

You’re not going to have other gods. He’s transforming you into a different person. He put His Holy name on you. He’s making you holy. 

He’s like, “I saved you from all those terrible gods who were trying to destroy you. Now you’re going to only have one God. And it’s Him. So you’re going to be the kind of person who carries His name around with a purpose—you’re not going to take His name in vain. Someone who doesn’t hurt people, or kill people, or steal, you’re not going to be unfaithful in your marriage, or before you’re married, or obsess over things you don’t have. You shall be this kind of person—eventually. For now, at least walk in that direction—and I’ll forgive you when you get off track.”

I mean, you don’t think Jesus came to earth and saved you so you wouldn’t do what He wanted, right? That wouldn’t make any sense. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That’s the goal.

So, all those things you do trying to save yourself—get over it. Stop. Repent. That’s not the reason to do anything. Trying to impress God. No one can save themselves by what they do or don’t do. The reason we obey God is because we trust Him and believe He knows better than we do. So, yeah—we gather here on Sundays in church, we pray every day, we read the Bible as if our lives depend on it—looking for all those nuggets of wisdom for how to live on planet earth with all these crazy people everywhere. 

If the truth was a mathematical equation—if everything God told us to do was reduced to numbers on a spreadsheet—then you’d put in Moses and Elijah, all the commandments, all of God’s wisdom and hit “auto sum.” And this would be the answer: Worship God. Love people. That’s what it all comes down to. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said that's the point of everything—all the law, all the prophets, all the wisdom of God—That’s what Jesus said. And the Father made it very clear when He spoke from the cloud that we should listen to Him. 

And listening to Jesus doesn’t just mean hearing what He said. If He tells you to take out the trash, you can’t say you listened to Him if you don’t do it. Listening to Jesus means doing what He says. So, His basic commandments are to worship God and love people. That should be enough to keep you busy for a lifetime.

But you’re not going to be able to do that for long if you don’t listen to the most important thing He said to you. The most important thing He said is a promise—it’s hard to hear because you know you don’t deserve it. It’s hard to hear because you can’t earn it, or add anything to it. The Gospel is hard to hear: Because you know all those ways you’ve failed the people you love? All the ways you’ve failed God? All the ways you fail yourself? And how you keep doing the same stupid stuff over and over? This is so hard to really hear: That’s why Jesus came—to give His life, to forgive you and make it all good. The promise is for you. God the Father speaks from the cloud and says, “listen to that.” Don’t just hear it. Not in one ear and out the other. Believe it. Hold onto that promise no matter what. You have a good life ahead of you. AMEN.