When God Overshadows… Mark 9:2-10
Qadosh and brilliance
2After 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. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
Jesus had already told the disciples who he was; now God verified it (NIV Quest SB)
Holiness in the Hebrew comes from a word that means bright, clean, pure. When the Holy is on this mountain, it is clear that a holy message is being delivered. This One is Holy. Special. Bright. Clean. Pure.Pay special attention the rest of your life.
You came to church today. The holy One is here. He is bright. Clean. Pure. Do you have any idea what special attention to that means in your life?
This – it means MORE attention. COMPLETE attention. Far less attention to LESSER things.
Why Elijah/Moses?
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.” 6 (He did not know what to say; they were so frightened.)
Caleb’s recent journal article in New Testament Studies. Why Elijah and Moses?
Moses had a theophany of God (a physical manifestation of the Lord) on Mt. Sinai. So did Elijah. The Rabbis later came along and began teaching that they had their theophanies from the same cave on Sinai.
But here you have Jesus — the theophany of theophanies – the great “I Am” in the flesh in front of them. It caused Peter to want to take on a building program.
But Jesus was the one “tabernacled” (Jn. 1:14) right here in front of them. Know Him! Love Him! Worship Him!
When God overshadows
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:
Overshadowed (epis kee AHD zo) only shows up as a word 5x in the NT. Two times, describing the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary so that she could come forth with the Son of God. Once when, the shadow of Peter would fall on people, and they would be healed. And here in the two transfiguration tellings in the NT. When overshadowing happens, something really special happens. Jesus showing up with clarity and healings.
The necessity of Shema/listen
7…Then a cloud appeared and covered 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.
Twice a day, the Jew prayed Shema! It meant to hear/listen and obey. The overshadowed crowd hears one of the most essential lessons in the universe. Listen to Jesus. Do what He tells you to do.
Interestingly, there was a sudden moment when Elijah, Moses, and the Father left – everyone EXCEPT JESUS.
In the world, we are so easily distracted. But the same thing happens within Christianity. We get enamored with a favorite preacher, or author, or band, or tradition..and we forget about the awesomeness of our Lord and Savior.
What does “rising from the dead” mean?
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.
They were probably thinking this rising from the dead stuff might be metaphorical – a picture of sorts of what might need to happen. Jesus would show them, soon, what rising from the dead would mean.
Some of you today…are dead. Illus. Story of Megan Easley and her skin graft.
The Transfiguration
2 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. 3 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.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered 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. Mark 9:2-10