Mark

The Transfiguration
Jesus Heals Demon Possessed Boy
Jesus Predicts His Death
Disciples Argue
Jesus Warns Against Temptation

Mark 9:1-8

Mark introduces a new idea with the phrase, "And he said to them."  This sets up the introduction to the transfiguration and the event itself.  "Truly I say…." is a "verily" statement in the KJV.  This always marks something of significance.  Jesus gave this promise that some standing there would see the kingdom of God present in power before they die.  This statement baffles many scholars and there are several ideas about what Jesus was referring to.  If He was talking about the second coming; and He didn't come in power before they died, then Jesus would have been wrong.  There is no reason to believe this is the case for many reasons, not the least of which is that all three synoptic gospels record this.  It's hard the three writers would all have included a statement that had proved to be wrong.  The other possibilities:

1. The transfiguration; the statement was said 6 days prior to Jesus taking a just 3 of His disciples up the mountain where His glory would be revealed.  This has the same feel as Exodus 24:16 when Moses waited six days in the cloud before being called out to see the glory of the Lord on the mountain top.
2. The resurrection and ascension; this is possible, but the three gospel haver slight variance in what is included and the order of the preceding events; but all three attach this statement to the story of the transfiguration.
3. The coming of the Spirit; again this is possible, but placement of the verse makes #1 the most likely. 

 

We need to remember that Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Caesarea Philippi.  This city was on the southern slope of Mount Hermon.  The city had originally been named Paneas.  Herod's son Philip made it the capital and wanted to name it after Caesar to garner favor with Rome.  He then attached his name to differentiate it from the other cities names Caesarea.  This area had originally been the northernmost boundary of the promised land given to the tribe of Dan, but had become gentile territory. 

 

The important question we should ask is, 'Why would Jesus walk 25 miles north into gentile territory to hear Peter's confession and to climb this mountain and show His glory?'

 

Josephus wrote this in regard to Mount Hermon:

'In the mountains there is a beautiful cave, and below it the earth slopes steeply to a precipitous and inaccessible depth, which is filled with still water, while above it is a very high mountain. Below the cave rise the sources of the River Jordan' ^[1]

 

This is an interesting picture when we begin to learn this mountain was significant for its temples and altars to several significant false gods.  The cave Josephus discussed was this frightening, bottomless pit of death as far as they were concerned.  It was as if it were the entrance to hell, or the gates of hell.  The water flowing from this mountain stood before the children of Israel as they were about to enter the promised land.  Moses could not cross over; Moses, representing the law, led them to the promise but could do nothing to deliver them to it.  The law was powerless.  Another was chosen, Joshua, Yeshua, who led the children though these waters into the promise as God held back the waters of death by His power.  This is a fascinating picture.  

 

Mount Hermon had a long history as the center of worship for many gods and goddesses.  This reputation can be tracked back at least a thousand years by archeology.  Jesus heard Peter's confession at the base of the mountain; in the midst of a pantheon of gods that the culture embraced, Peter declared Jesus was the Anointed One, the Son of God.  Matthew records these words from Jesus:

And I tell you that you are Peter, ^e and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.^[2]

The 'rock' on which the church would be built was bedrock; this is the confession that Jesus is the messiah, the solid and unshifting foundation of our faith.  The gates of the city was the gathering place for the elders and authorities; a place where they would offer advice, render decisions and guide the people of the town.  Hades was the grave, the place of death from which no man escapes.   Because of sin, death was the power Satan had over mankind.  In light of that, I think its reasonable to see these 'gates of Hades' as the gathering place of evil, where decisions were made and lives were counseled. 

 

Peter declared Jesus as Messiah; Jesus stood at what some believe the culture saw as the gates of hell and declared His power and authority over all these demonic powers.  And then He took Peter, James and John up the mountain to show His glory.  I believe this is why Jesus walked to this gentile territory and was transfigured there.  He revealed Himself as the King of kings and Lord of lords, putting to shame all the lesser gods at the base of the mountain.  Even if this wasn't seen as the gates of hell, the collection of gods and goddess was nothing short of demonic, misleading and confusing people for many generations.  The affect of which can be no less than understanding that this collection of false gods led people to hell. 

 

At the summit of the Hermon there are three peaks.  On the highest peak, archeologists found the remains of a temple.  A Greek inscription was found that says, on behalf of the "Greatest and Holiest God," addresses all those "who had not taken the oath to stay away."^[3]  No one knows what this means exactly because no one knows what god is referred to, because so many were represented at the mountain and nearby towns.  Some believe the book of Enoch helps us understand.  It tells of a group of angels on the top of Mt. Hermon.  The books claims the mountain is call Hermon because these angels vowed to marry human wives (1 En. 6:6).  Hermon means 'devoted'.  This seems to reference the 'sons of God' who took the daughters of men; fallen angels taking human wives and producing an offspring of mighty men, men of renown, of giants (Gen 6:1).   

 

• Pan was worshiped there; he was half goat, half man – this is in an interesting picture in light of the idea that the fallen angels bred with human women.  Pan's hind quarter goat and his upper body of a man except he had the horns of a goat.  He is connected to fertility and often associated with sex.  The word 'panic' was derived from this god.
• Ecco was a mountain nymph associated with the goddess Artemis (Roman equivalent to Diana).  
• More than twenty different temples were identified on Mount Hermon.  Many were open air temples dedicated cult worship of the celestial gods.  Some of these date back a thousand years of more.
• When you speak of this era, we should note that King Jereboam, upon setting up the northern kingdom of Israel, set up a golden calf for worship at Dan. 
• In addition to Mount Hermon itself, there were three temples at Caesarea Philippi.  These were dedicated to August, Zeus, and Pan and the Dancing Goats.

Jesus and His disciples stood in the shadow of these temples, in a culture of Greek gods and goddesses descended from many years prior.  This provides a monumental contrast to Peter's declaration of Jesus as messiah; and how the transfiguration overshadowed all other gods and goddess.   

 

Luke reveals the disciples may have been sleeping as Jesus was praying.  It appears they were awakened by the transfiguration.  Peter was impressed and thought the day had arrived for the kingdom to come.  This must have seemed reminiscent of Moses on the mountain receiving the law; he came down with the law and instruction to build a tabernacle.  Peter thought it would be appropriate to build them each a tabernacle (The writers include the thought that Peter didn't know what else to say.)  But building a tabernacle, a place for men to interface with God was normal, particularly on that mountain.  I like the way on commentator put it:

Peter cannot establish Jesus; rather, it is Jesus who establishes Peter by his call to discipleship and fellowship to be with him.^[4]

To build three more structures among the many temples of many gods was to join the Greek pantheon of ideas.  However, Jesus wasn't another choice, He is the only choice.  As king of kings and Lord of lords, He is place where God meets man.  But he would go one step further and meet men, not at a temple to speak to Him of their sin and needs, but meet them at the source of the problem.  God, by the Holy Spirit, would enter into man and transform the heart.  Each believer would then become walking, talking temples of God. 

 

The disciples witness Jesus in different way.  They had seen the human side of the Lord, now they caught a glimpse of God.  The "transfigured" means to change in form.  It was inexplicable, other than to say his garments became radiant and very white.  The Shekinah Glory overshadowed them and God acknowledged Him as His beloved son. 

 

As a side thought, how did the disciples know this was Elijah and Moses?  Were they introduced?  Did they just know in some supernatural way?  We don't know, but it is interesting to wonder. 

 

This moment left a distinct impression on these disciples.  I can only imagine this moment seared into their memory; a memory they often turned to when doubt and fear crept in.  I wonder if they thought back just a few days when they complained about forgetting bread on their boat trip after Jesus had provided bread for the thousands.  I wonder if they felt silly in their fear and how much the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod had kept them confused?  We can see the lasting affects of this moment in at least two places. 

 

2 Peter 1:16-18

¹⁶ For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." ¹⁸ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

 

John 1:14

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Mark 9:9-13

We probably can't imagine the spiritual high the disciples were on.  They were coming down the mountain, again in the midst of all these other temples and those who chased after the gods and goddesses.  Jesus said two things that brought them back down to the road they were on:

1. Don't tell anyone what they had seen.  This means the other disciples and the multitudes of lost all around them. 
2. They couldn't tell of it until He had risen from the dead.  From amongst this spiritual high came the idea of imminent death. 

The disciples still didn't get it.  They still didn't understand He was to die and rise from the dead.  The Jews were looking for Elijah because of Mal 3:1 and 4:5.  So they asked Jesus to explain to them since Elijah had not yet come.  Remember in John the Jews asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah, Moses or the Messiah.  Neither of these guys finished their ministry.  Moses didn't enter the Promised Land.  Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind of chariots.  Elijah called down fire from heaven and held back the rain for 3 ½ years.  These 2 guys are likely the witnesses in Revelation.

 

Mark 9:14-29

The disciples couldn't drive out the demon from this man's son.  The scribes were taunting them for not being able to do so.  The spirit made the son mute and threw him to the ground in convulsions.  The issue wasn't a lack of power to deliver this guy from his demon it was a matter of the father's lack of faith.  He admitted the shortcoming of his belief.  Imagine how this father must have felt trying to protect this boy.  The other gospels tell he is an only child and that he made his plea to Jesus on his knees.  The disciples couldn't drive it out because they didn't pray?  It sounds like they may have gotten a little cocky and forgot to rely on God and the power Jesus gave them.  This sounds very familiar.  See also Mathew 12:45 and Daniel 10:10-21.

 

The disciples had just asked what it meant to be raised from the dead; this boy was healed and appeared to be dead, then raised again to newness and restoration.  Was this an object lesson for the disciples?

True faith is always aware how small and inadequate it is. The father becomes a believer not when he amasses a sufficient quantum of faith but when he risks everything on what little faith he has, when he yields his insufficiency to the true sufficiency of Jesus, ^[5]

 

Mark 9:30-32

Thee disciples seem as though they were barely able to believe even when they saw many amazing things with their eyes.  All these things, amazing as they were, did nothing to help them comprehend this idea of being killed and raised again.  Things like that didn't happen; they were not possible!  Of course, neither were many of the other things they'd seen.

 

Jesus was passing through Galilee, on His way to the cross.  He had an appointment to keep.  Although we know His words were to prepare the disciples, they really had no hope of understanding until later.  Jesus was planting seeds of belief, things they would remember later and have those 'aha' moments when it all came together. 

 

The most telling part of this passage is not their lack of understanding but being afraid to ask Him.  Was this a fear of appearing ignorant?  Was it an individual fear, born of pride, afraid to ask in front of the others?  Isn't it crazy how such petty fears keep us from eternal truths?

 

Mark 9:33-37

Peter, James and John may have felt a little more spiritual than they ought since they were privileged to be with Jesus at the transfiguration.  This may have led to this discussion of who was greatest.  What a fascinating thought; the disciples went from confusion about the meaning of Jesus being killed and raised again to an argument about who was the greatest.  These men were walking with Jesus, yet they had their eyes on themselves, promoting themselves in pride.  And they inherently knew it was wrong; that's why they remained silent about their dispute.  It became a teaching moment.

 

To be first, one shall put himself last and serve everyone else.  This is a distinct and critical parting from the ways of the world.  Jesus was about to become the ultimate example of this principle when He became the suffering servant written of in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.   We get a clear view of Jesus humility in light of the disciple's desire for greatness, power and authority.  Jesus wanted to serve mankind; the disciples wanted to be served.  In God's economy, greatness is not attained by the gifted, privileged or educated; it is available to every one by way of the simple and common act of serving others.

 

The child becomes an example of the simple and insignificant.  Those who follow Jesus are to receive these people, to serve them. 

 

Mark 9:38-41

The disciples had this idea that they were the only authorized followers of Jesus.  It's telling that John said these men 'do not follow us' instead of 'do not follow You, Jesus'.  The idea of someone else casting out demons was horning in on their territory as far as John could tell.  This very idea violates the lesson they had just been given; one of service and humility, not status and privilege to exclude others.

 

The authentic works and wonders done in Christ's name testify to a call and ministry work.  We shouldn't despise the work of others as if they took away from our calling.  Our calling at the moment may be as simple as offering a cup of water to someone in the name of Christ; we should not despise our brother who ministers in a miracle or wonder.  Our work must be measured by obedience to our call and not weighed against others with worldly values.

 

Mark 9:42-49

Once again, the child is a model of the simple and seemingly insignificant.  It's serious business to stumble a child; but the lesson also should be understood to our brothers and sisters, the simple, the insignificant who offers the cup of water.  Is it our pride and flesh that calls this insignificant so that our works seem more significant, more important, more spiritual?  It's so serious to stumble another, God's wrath would cast us to a watery grave.  And if that picture doesn't move you, Jesus issued further warnings to us. 

 

Every encumbrance must be removed. 

• If your hand causes you to sin, remove it!  This is hyperbolic language to show the severity of this sin.  If the work of your hand instills a pride in you that leads to arguing that you are the greatest, cut that hand off!  If the work of that hand causes you to feel super spiritual where you look down on the ministry of another, you've removed all value from your work.  That hand has no value in God's kingdom.
• If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off!  If your walk is causing sin in your life, cut off your foot.  This sin is severe and its not okay to continue on, ignoring it.  It's better to be lame.  If you walk with Jesus, as John did, and believe people should follow you, somethings broken.  We should invite others to follow Jesus, not expect them to follow us.  We should invite people to join us, walk with us, run with us; not serve us and revere us. 
• If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out!  If your eye is looking at things you ought not see, stop it.  If you eye is filling your mind with the lusts of the flesh, leading you to sinful thoughts and desires, do whatever needs to be done to stop it.  If you look at the work of your brother and dismiss or despise it to elevate yourself, stop looking. 

Obviously, these should not be taken literally; but that shouldn't lessen the impact or the importance of the message.  To remove a hand, leaves the other to sin; with a foot removed, the other will work twice as hard to sin; remove an eye, the other will take it all in.  Even if we removed our hands, feet and eyes; in our mind we would sin.  The problem is in the heart.  Oh, how we need a heart change, a transformation. 

 

In the early church these passages were taught as being closely related to sexual sins, but it should not be limited to that.  They also speak to us about what we view, what we do, where we go.  These things get us in trouble, putting us in the path of sin.

¹⁴         Do not enter the path of the wicked,

And do not walk in the way of evil.

¹⁵         Avoid it, do not travel on it;

Turn away from it and pass on. (Prov 4:14-15)

 

It's better to enter heaven maimed than to arrive in hell intact.  Hell is the word 'gehenna' a word referring to the valley of Hinnon (Topheth in the OT).  This was the lowest part of the valley, south of Jerusalem.  This is where the children were sacrificed to the pagan god Molech.  It became the sewer and the garbage dump, the fires burned constantly.  It became symbolic of a place of divine punishment, fire, torment, putrefication, stench and suffering.  This is Jesus' picture of hell.

 

While we know that fire purifies; salt is a preservative or a seasoning, adding flavor.   Salt was also a sign of the covenant and accompanied the offering of a sacrifice.   These are legitimate thoughts.  But the context of this passage is one of discipleship.  This passage speaks to the cost of discipleship.  We are to be living sacrifices; offering completely, nothing held back; seasoned with the salt of the covenant.  Jesus was on the way to the cross; a disciple is called to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow. 
 

©2018 Doug Ford