The transfiguration of Jesus

And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." 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 

Rev. Travis Drake

Who sees Jesus like this?

Peter, Paul, and John are those who were closest to Jesus. To them, it was revealed who Jesus was. So for us, who are Christian today, need to see Jesus as powerful, triumphant, and glorified. It is not just for those who do not believe, but for those who are closest to Jesus. Jesus is the gleaming God man shining with the brilliance of a million suns. Who are we to correct Jesus, like Peter in the previous passage? Who are we to choose what we obey and what we ignore of His commands? Peter was rebuking Jesus earlier about being a suffering Savior. Jesus called Peter Satan for this... And then now, Jesus takes Peter to reveal the fullness of Jesus. Who calls their friend a horrible name, gets into a big fight, then goes on a camping trip afterwards? Jesus doesn't cancel Peter. 

What happens when you see Jesus like this?

Peter wanted a Savior who was conquering and triumphant. He wanted Jesus to dominate the Roman military, restore Israel, and bring about the kingdom in power. Peter wanted a Jesus who was like him. But Jesus is one who is holy and perfect. He is someone who convicts us of our sinfulness. Jesus reveals our dirtiness and humbles us. 

Elijah was a prophetic voice showing the power of God. He called down fire from heaven. He confronted God's people of their sins. Only to be chased out of the kingdom by a queen who loved everything that God hated. Holy power and miracles did not bring about a better kingdom. Moses brought Israel out of slavery and gave the people a new law. But Israel still lost the law in the temple of God. A better law did not make for a better lasting kingdom. So new laws and military victory were not enough to make a better kingdom. 

Consider these things in modern times. An age of racial tension and oppression. A new law alone is insufficient and inadequate. It is not for lack of understanding, lack of power, or lack of proper morals... But rather unchanged hearts.

Why is seeing Jesus like this not enough?

The Elijah that the people had their way with him was not the historical Elijah. The historic Elijah was taken up to heaven. The one that Jesus was referring to was John the Baptist. He was imprisoned and beheaded. His head was paraded through a birthday party as an object of mockery. 

John the Baptist did not baptize people to see. He baptized people to repentance. We need not to see, but we need fixed and healed hearts. We need changed hearts that hear and obey. 

So what of us?

We need to walk in repentance both individually and corporately. Daily and regularly.

We need to repent of our history, whether our country, our ethnic group, our cultural background.