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. 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. 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.
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. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
(Mark 9:1-13 ESV)
I have to admit not being quite sure what this first verse means. I think it goes with the passage from yesterday, but perhaps not. "some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power". I know none of the disciples are alive today, so I am thinking it means they won't die until after Jesus is resurrected and has gone into heaven. It CANNOT mean when he comes back in glory. Jesus' death shows the power of God.
Six days Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain. And there he was transfigured. Clothed in intense white. Standing alongside Elijah and Moses.
This was mind-boggling for the disciples. (we know this because it says "he did not know what to say). They were so frightened.
Peter wanted to make them comfortable, by building tents for them to stay in. I found that so interesting. "this is good", says Peter,"let's build some tents for you". What a servants heart he had. :) Even in his fear he is mindful of his Lord's needs.
THEN on top of it all, a voice calls from heaven "this is my beloved son, listen to him". I can just imagine the disciples ducking down and looking around with wide-eyes.. since when do voices just randomly speak out of the air??
What a terrifying time for them.
Then they saw Jesus only. Just him. Must have been a relief to have things back to normal.
Then Jesus tells this "Tell no one any of this, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead".
Say what??? What does that mean, risen from the dead? The disciples kept their mouths closed about this, but they still wondered what Jesus was talking about.
They were also aware of what they had seen so it seems a natural question to say "why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" Elijah had been standing with Jesus just moments ago.
"He comes to restore all things". That was Jesus' answer.
I have to admit, I don't get. I don't get how Elijah has come and how he has restored all things, and how the scribes dealt with him as they pleased.
I do understand when Jesus says the Son of Man will suffer many things and be treated with contempt. THAT is obvious from Scripture, but the rest.. it just makes no sense to me.
This commentary says it is all about Jesus' second coming. That before Jesus returns that Elijah will come and restore things. And when he says that Elijah has already come, he refers to John the Baptist.
While this commentator talks about how Elijah (as John the Baptist) started the path of restoration with God when he called people to follow Jesus.
It's not an easy passage to read or to understand.