OIA 9.2-13

Observations

• Who: Jesus, Peter, James, John; Moses and Elijah; voice from the cloud
• When: six days after Jesus’ teaching on coming after him
• Where: on a high mountain
• What: Jesus is transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah; a voice speaks about Jesus identity and the proper response to Jesus’ teaching; the three are terrified, and question in their hearts about the resurrection, and about scribal scriptural interpretation; Jesus reveals the meaning of OT scripture about Elijah, and the suffering of the Son of Man.
• Connections: Jesus intentionally reveals more of himself to Peter, James and John; Moses and Elijah, mentioned before, appear personally; a voice speaks confirming Jesus identity and purpose, cf chapter 1; disciples fearful and confused; more discussion about the resurrection; command to silence
• Contrasts: people’s understanding of Christ/disciple’s view; Peter’s revelation/Jesus’ rebuke; disciples/crowds; save/lose; profit/forfeit; life/death; death/power.
• Responses to Jesus:
• Terror
• Voice expresses love, confirms Jesus’ words
• Disciples’ question Jesus about how to interpret OT prophesy 

Interpretation

• Six days: compare Exodus 24.15-16: Moses and Joshua were on Mt Sinai for six days while the glory of the Lord covered the mountain like a cloud.
• Moses and Elijah are arguably the two most significant figures in Israel’s history: Moses, leader of the exodus, Israel’s redeemer, met God face to face, received the Law, interceded between Israel and God in the wilderness, offered his own life for Israel’s guilt…; Elijah of multiple miracles, conquered Ahab and Jezebel’s pagan idolatrous priests, never died…
• After his unexpected announcement of Messiah’s suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites the Three to witness a conference with Moses and Elijah; Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to accomplish what Israel has failed to accomplish: initiate the Kingdom of God, the rule and reign of God for all peoples.
• After this gathering between Jesus and two men who have been ‘dead’ for thousands of years, a voice speaks: this is my beloved son: listen to him!; and when the cloud clears, only Jesus is present. God has spoken: Listen to Jesus! He has my love, and is accomplishing my purposes, purposes which began with Moses and Elijah, and are now being fulfilled: LISTEN TO HIM!
• Kernaghan writes: “Jesus words take to new formulation of relationship between God and human: lose life for my sake…is covenant language… transfiguration subordinates the Mosaic covenant to the judgments and promises of the Son of God’ 172
• Elijah has come: Mark seems to think that John the Baptist has fulfilled the role of Elijah: in chapter 1 John appeared in clothes like Elijah’s, a prophet in the wilderness; John was abused by Herod and Herodias: Herod a double minded man like Ahab; Herodias a evil manipulator like Jezebel: they did to John whatever they wished.
• Mark makes a point about Jesus’ authority over prophetic interpretation: Jesus claims the authority to identify John with Elijah; he also claims the authority to re-interpret Messiah’s role: the suffering Son of Man.
• How is it written about the Son of Man? Jesus’ interpretation of prophesy here is something new, something un-anticipated by the scribes, as well as by the disciples: Jesus’ messiah is not the victorious restored of Israel’s political glory; instead he has come as one who suffers.
• This story clearly emphasizes Jesus’ authority to define his messianic intentions: he will suffer, die, and be raised. It emphasizes Jesus’ authority to define what discipleship looks like: if anyone would come after me they must participate with me in suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.
• The point of this story: LISTEN TO HIM

Application

• God confirms Jesus’ understanding of his mission: to suffer, be rejected, be killed, and be raised.
• God confirms Jesus’ call to discipleship.
• Jesus’ authority supercedes that of Moses and Elijah: Jesus has authority to interpret the Old Testament Law in terms of a suffering messiah, a redeemed who is victorious over enemies by overcoming evil with good, a messiah who couquers death now with the sword, but by himself submitting to the sword.
• Who could have predicted God’s unbelievable plan for redemption: to give his own beloved Son!