The Son of Glory
Mark 9:2-13
3/29/26
2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 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. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 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? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
This summer we did a family vacation to CO. It was an incredible time. Saw some beautiful mountains lakes and everything. We had hoped to do a little more hiking than we did but we were a bit fatigued. But a little over half way I decided we had to do one challenging hike. And I decided we were going to do the Manitou Incline. It is a trail that is an old cable car trail, which means it is like a set of stairs that goes straight up for about a mile. It is one mile long and half mile up. Its a steep grade.
Picture 1 from below. https://i0.wp.com/adventuresaboutandabroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG-3077-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1
Picture 2.
https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20220331_114619-scaled.jpg
The reason I wanted to do it was I had seen pictures of it and it looked amazing. I thought it would be great to do something hard as a family. I knew there might also be some complaining about having to do it. So the day before we did it, I got online to show some pictures of it to the kids.
Picture 3 from top. https://i.redd.it/ya1y21dbe7n31.jpg
Picture 4 family photo (on slide 1)
Picture 5 family photo (on slide 2)
Now why did I show them that original picture? Because it looked incredible. It looked amazing to be a part of something like that. It would be worth a little pain and strain to see something that beautiful from the top. Trust me when I say it will be cool. Look at it. More is to come.
We are in a passage about the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. This is a moment where God allows the disciples to have a behind the scenes view of who Jesus really is and the glory that is in him, and it is a major event that prepares the disciples to trust him no matter what.
Despite his humble appearance and the unenviable mission to sacrifice himself, Jesus truly is the glorious Son of God that we should listen to and follow. He reveals his glory so that we might stand strong in hardship and suffering, knowing that following him is the path to everlasting glory.
Three key points in this passage.
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See Jesus’ glory.
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Mt. Hermon is probably the mountain in Palestine that he took his disciples up. It rises over 9,000 feet above sea level and 11,000 feet above the Jordan Valley. On a clear day its snow caped slopes can be seen from all parts of the land. It would have been a secluded trip away from the crowds. A time to rest. A time to get to know Jesus. And of all the things that could be talked about from a guys trip away they recount something that has never happened on any other hike.
That is the mountain that they hiked up. But let's look at what happened when they went up the mountain. They never mention the overlook on the mountain top. As amazing as that might have been, they saw something more spectacular.
And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:3
Jesus was “transfigured,” more literally “metamorphosed.” It is to change from one thing to another. For a brief moment the veil of his humanity was lifted, and his true essence was allowed to shine through. The glory which was always in the depths of his being rose to the surface for that one time in his earthly life. Or put another way, he slipped back into eternity, to his pre-human glory. It was a glance back and a look forward into his future glory!
his clothing has begun to glow white. It is “dazzling” or glittering, as the word is sometimes translated—“bright as a flash of lightning,” says Luke (9:29). Not only that, Matthew records that “His face shone like the sun” (17:2).
This isn’t just brightness—it’s otherworld glory breaking into the ordinary.
The disciples are here allowed to see who Jesus really is. He is God in the flesh. God is great and glorious.
It is the white hot purity of God. White star are some of the hottest. At extreme heat, light becomes so intense it appears brilliant white, because it contains the full spectrum of light.
This kind of light is not the kind that says, oh let me put on my sunglasses, or let me put on a little sunscreen. This is the kind of brilliant light that causes you to fall to the ground and cry out for help.
The reaction of the disciples is that they are terrified. Peter, did know what to say so he spoke. This light has humbled him.
They have been with Jesus and were terrified when they were in the boat and the storm came upon them and Jesus told the storm to be quiet. They were afraid when a man possessed with a legion of evil spirits came upon them. Now they are afraid because they see Jesus, their friend, teacher, now surround and enveloped with the glory of God.
He appears with Moses and Elijah.
4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them,
Why Elijah and Moses? Both these men had previously conversed with God on mountaintops—Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 31:18) and Elijah on Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:9ff.). both had been shown God’s glory. Both also had famous departures from this earth. Moses died on Mt. Nebo after seeing the promised land. Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire. Moses was the great lawgiver, and Elijah was the great prophet. Moses was the founder of the nation of Israel, and Elijah was the restorer of it. Together they were ultimate bookends of the Old Testament.
These are two great figures in biblical history. Could you imagine being seen with the two of them?
This would be like what if I told you I was a great quarterback in high school. I could throw the ball further than any one else. It might be one thing to say that. What if you then saw a picture of me with some other great quarterback.
Picture - Slide 3. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/169g5Db5UgnLA8CQpe9V4rcD-ANl1XSZXb-mrAce-BlU/edit?slide=id.g3d2b0eefc38_0_4#slide=id.g3d2b0eefc38_0_4
What if I told you I also got to hang out with Moses and Elijah.
Picture- Slide 4. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/169g5Db5UgnLA8CQpe9V4rcD-ANl1XSZXb-mrAce-BlU/edit?slide=id.g3d2b0eefc38_0_4#slide=id.g3d2b0eefc38_0_4
OK, you got me. I m a terrible quarterback and those pictures are clearly AI. I have no business standing with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or any one who has ever played quarterback.
But here Jesus is seen in his glory and he is with the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. That is significant.
Also two prophets who were said to have a significant bearing on the end time return of the kingdom. Jesus is right there with them. If the disciples were wondering about the place of Jesus, he is among the greatest heroes of the bible. And while Moses was radiant with the glory of God it was never like Jesus. Nor was Elijah’s ministry equivalent to Jesus.
The disciples got to see his glory. They also heard
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Hear God’s Voice.
In the Old Testament a bright cloud was a sign and manifestation of the presence of God. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night went before Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21). Like the cloud which passed by Moses as God covered him in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:18–23). Like the cloud that so filled the new Tabernacle with God’s glory that Moses could not enter it (Exodus 40:35). The same cloud that filled Solomon’s Temple on dedication day so that the priests could not enter the Temple (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 7:1). The same glory which Ezekiel saw rise from between the cherubim and move to the threshold of the Temple because of Israel’s apostasy (Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3).
It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the shekinah glory. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood in silence and “a glowing cloud appeared and enveloped them” (v. 7a). You have to wonder if people below the mountain may have looked up at that moment and saw the glory of the Lord shining from the mountain top.
They also heard God speak through the cloud.
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” (v. 7b). This was the voice of the Father, who said almost the same thing at Jesus’ baptism. This was not the disciples’ imagination. This is amazing! And you may wonder if this was an ancient form of AI to trick people. Do you know that about 30 years later Peter would write about this even?
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (2 Peter 1:16–18)
So i played a few jokes with images and photos and AI, and I fessed up after a few minutes. We have all told lies. We typically dont hold to those lies very long. Certainly not for decades. And Peter and the other disciples will give their lives decades after the event trying to convince people of what they had seen.
What was the message God intended to community through this event.
“Listen to him!” was the command! The Law and Prophets were only partial expressions, but here is the final statement. “Listen to him!” This is who you need to listen to. This is who you want to help others listen to.
The writer of Hebrews begins his letter by saying, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1, 2).
God spoke in various ways in the past, but he has not sent just any prophet. He has sent his very Son.
Listen with our ears and hearts and minds.
Suddenly they saw no one but Jesus.” The shekinah was gone. Jesus’ skin and clothing no longer glowed. Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was still, and the three disciples saw only Jesus
It was intended to demonstrate that Christ alone is the end of the Law and of the Prophets; and that single reason ought to satisfy us: for it was of the utmost importance to our faith that Christ did not come into our world without a testimony, but with commendations which God had formerly bestowed. I have no objection, however, to the reason which is commonly adduced, that Elijah was selected, in preference to others, as the representative of all the Prophets; because, though he left nothing in writing, yet next to Moses he was the most distinguished of their number, restored the worship of God which had been corrupted, and stood unrivaled in his exertions for vindicating the Law and true godliness, which was at that time almost extinct.
Fulfillment. Moses represents the revelation of God in the law. Elijah represents the fulfillment of revelation that would come in the new covenant that would be impressed on peoples hearts. Even more Moses spoke about a prophet that would come.
15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Listen. Tell son 1 to take out the trash and he was so focused on his phone that he didn’t hear me. I told Son 2 to take out the trash and said “ok dad I will take it out,” but then he left to go play at friend’s house and forgot about the trash. Which one heard me?
The disciples are here charged to seek no other teacher. The word Son is emphatic, and raises him above servants. Jesus is the one we listen to. There may be other pretenders but he is the real one.
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Follow His path.
Why this long trip with his closest disciples to this dramatic setting? The answer is possibly, 1) they needed to be encouraged. Just six days before, Jesus had shocked them by speaking of being crucified. You are the Christ” (8:29). Then Jesus began to teach them that he must suffer many things, and be rejected and killed, and after three days rise again.
2) he wants them to know that he willingly laid down his glory in order to honor the Father. It was not taken from him. He possessed this glory. It was rightfully his, but he chose to empty himself of it.
As he shined in glory and spoke with Elijah and Moses. Do you know what he was walking with them about?
Luke 9:31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure (exodus),
He was speaking with MOses and Elijah of the exodus that he was about to walk through. Jesus is going to walk through death and to bring his people to the promised land. We don’t just need to go from the land of Egypt to the land of Israel. We need our sins forgiven and to receive new hearts from God.
The same perfect white hot glory of Jesus that is revealed in the transfiguration is equally present in his crucifixion, but it is hidden inside a perfect sacrifice. Jesus sought glory buy honoring God. He did not seek glory that was not connected to honoring God. How many people today pursue careers
Jesus calls his disciples to follow him laying down their lives. Jesus emptied himself of glory and became obedient unto death, so also his disciples are to follow him by denying themselves, taking up their cross and following him.
Just before the transfiguration
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34
If we are going to follow Jesus and make him known as he said its going to take sacrifice. Remember Jesus told the three disciples there not to tell anyone what happened until he was raised. Once he is raise their training is complete, the story is complete, the Holy Spirit is given and the gospel proclaimed. That is what they are called.
- The gospel is not proclaimed unless people deny themselves and go to church.
- The mission is not financed unless people deny themselves and support it.
- The Bible is not explained unless the disciples deny himself to slow down and spend time with the gentile reading the Old Testament on a chariot.
- The Church experienced the power of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit because they denied themselves and were gathering in prayer.
- These disciples never would have been equipped for the mission if they had not taken time off and gone on a long arduous hike with their Lord.
This moment of glory is to prepare the disciples and fortify them for the trials they will experience in the future. God at times allows us to enjoy moments of glory. We often want to protect those moments at all cost. Jesus didn’t protect his glory. He sought to lay it down. What the gospel teaches us is that we attain glory not by seeking it now, but by seeking the glory of God.
This is the path that he calls each of us to.
What He has just experienced has not weakened His resolve to go to Calvary. It has emboldened Him to go and drink the last drop of the cup of divine wrath in the place of unworthy and helpless sinners.
Awesome Alpharetta life is good. We have problems, but we have a roof over our heads food in the pantry and the water in the pool is just right.
The glory of the make us fat and slothful for our heavenly responsibilities. The world is absorb with the visible glory. Jesus doesn’t get swept up or diverted—He stays fixed on His mission.
Its not about being a good person. There are a lot of good people, law abiding citizens, leaders in the synagogue, respected teachers, who rallied to crucify our Lord. There were many good people who refused to heed Noah’s warning about the flood. There were many good people who refused the message of the prophets. There were many good people who grumbled against Moses. There are many good people who refused to lift a hand and help Nehemiah build the wall.
It’s not about being a good person. It's about receiving in faith God’s glorious chosen Son who is a prophet we must believe in and submit to.
It's not that we are following the devil, but I have an awesome vacation idea and need to build my life around paying for that. Enslaved by our own appetite. We care more about what the world says that about the Fathers words.
In the end the disciples saw no one but Jesus. All the glory, the cloud, the heroes of faith are gone and it is only Jesus, and that is central to us. One day the only thing we see will be Jesus. It wont matter about other voices we heeded. It wont matter what mountains we climbed. It wont matter how much money you made or the title next to your name. All that will matter is that you trusted the words of Jesus and laid down your life for him.
Dont be fooled by the humble nature. Jesus is the true Son of glory.
Discussion Questions
- How does remembering who Jesus truly is help you walk through difficulty or sacrifice in your own life?
- What would it practically look like for you to listen to Him more intentionally this week? How does the promise of future glory change your willingness to obey?
- When pressure or difficulty comes into your life, what does it tend to reveal about your heart and what you are trusting or valuing most?
- Who do you know who might need to hear this message or passage? What would you say to them?
