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In this lesson:
It's been six days since Jesus told His disciples that some of them would live to see "the Kingdom of God" (Mark 9:1). Today, that prediction comes true. The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory. Study Tip: Check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. |
An artist rendition of the Transfiguration.
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The Gospel According to St. Mark
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Mark: 9:2-13
Jesus is transfigured 2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. 11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? 12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. |
Margin notes:
"Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John." (9:2) - Peter, James, and John made up Jesus' inner circle. They were among the first three disciples Jesus called (Mark 1:14-19), and the only ones allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Luke 9:28-36), and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:49-56). Jesus also took them with Him when He prayed in Gethsemane Garden waiting to be arrested (Matthew 26:36-37; Mark 14:32-33). "High mountain." (9:2) - Many Bible scholars believe this is Mt. Hermon, located thirty miles south-west of Damascus and forty miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Rising 9,200 feet above the Mediterranean Sea, it is the most prominent mountain in Palestine and Syria. "The view from perpetually snow-clad Hermon is magnificent. From the torrid Dead Sea region its cooling snows can be seen 120 miles distant. Its melting glaciers form the main source of the turbulent Jordan. The Psalmist speaks (Psalms 133:3) of the "dew of Hermon." The snow on the mountain condenses the vapors during the summer so that abundant dews descend upon it while the surrounding country is parched." ( "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; page 470). Mount Hermon is called Mount Sion in Deuteronomy 4:48, Mount Baal-Hermon in Judges 3:3, and the "Hermonites" in Psalm 42:6. "Transfigured." (9:2) - A Greek word meaning "to change in form" or "to be transformed." Jesus was transfigured allowing His divine nature to shine through His human form. When Peter, James, and John saw Jesus' face shining like "the sun" and His clothes "white as light" it confirmed that He was the Messiah prophesized in the Old Testament and not just another prophet. It was such a dramatic event that Peter remembered it even as an old man preparing for his death (2 Peter 1:14-18). "His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow." (9:3) - Means, "His clothes were shining, whiter than snow." This was Jesus' divine majesty shining through. Even His clothes radiated white light. "Fuller." (9:3) - A person who does laundry. "White them." (9:3) - "Bleach them." "Elias with Moses." (9:4) - Elias represented the Old Testament prophets while Moses symbolized the Mosaic Law. The transfiguration was God's way of showing that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the prophesied Savior. "They were talking with Jesus." (9:4) - Elias and Moses talked to Jesus about His coming crucifixion (Luke 9:30-31). "Let us make three tabernacles." (9:5) - "Let's make three shelters." Peter was so mesmerized he didn't want to leave. "He wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid." (9:6) - "He didn't know what to say; they were so afraid." "They saw no man any more, save Jesus." (9:8) - "They didn't see anyone any longer, except Jesus." "He charged them." (9:9) - "He instructed them." "They kept that saying with themselves." (9:10) - "They kept it to themselves." It was not yet time to reveal what they had seen. They would have to wait until after the resurrection when things would make more sense. See application thought below. "Elias verily cometh first." (9:12) - "Elias truly comes first." "Be set at nought." (9:12) - "Be rejected." "They have done unto him whatsoever they listed." (9:13) - "They did to him whatever they wanted." This refers to John the Baptist being rejected by religious leaders and beheaded by Herod (6:17-29). |
Matthew also writes about the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-13 (lesson 33). Luke reports on it in Luke 9:28-36.
New Living Translation
Mark: 9:2-13
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed,
3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
5 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.
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him."
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by "rising from the dead."
11 Then they asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"
12 Jesus responded, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed,
3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
5 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.
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him."
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by "rising from the dead."
11 Then they asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"
12 Jesus responded, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus." (9:2-4)
"And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." (9:7)
"And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." (9:7)
Today's Question:
1. When did Elias (Elijah) come? (9:13)
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1. When did Elias (Elijah) come? (9:13)
Feel free to email these lessons to others. Let us know of anyone who might enjoy receiving them directly.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. When Jesus said Elias had come, He was referring to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11-14). John was not literally Elias but played the same role. Just as Elias had prepared Israel for God in the Old Testament (Luke 1:17), John prepared the way for Jesus (Isaiah 40:3). The last two verses in the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6) prophesized that before the Messiah arrived, the way would be prepared for Him. John did that when he proclaimed the coming of the Christ and then baptized Jesus. See Matthew 17:11-13 for more clarification.
Additional note: Some falsely believed that John the Baptist was the Messiah (Luke 3:15).
Application thought for the day:
Jesus told His disciples Peter, James, and John not to reveal what they saw during the Transfiguration until after His resurrection (9:9). The three believed Jesus was the Christ (8:29) but still didn't grasp all the implications. Was Jesus going to liberate them from Rome, or from sin? It wasn't until Jesus rose from the dead that they understood the meaning of His divine message. Jesus came to offer humanity eternal salvation, a greater gift than political liberation. All we have to do to accept this gift of salvation is believe in Jesus.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke