Listen To Him (Mark 9:1-13)

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain. As they were alone he was transfigured shining with the light and glory of heaven. He was shining with his true holiness and majesty as the Son of God.

There talking with Jesus are Elijah and Moses. What would they be talking about?

Jesus knew where he came from and where he was going (John 13:3). He knew he was on his way to the cross. He knew he would return to the Father and the Spirit. What could Elijah and Moses add?

Elijah the prophet and Moses the law giver are celebrating the Promise Giver. Jesus is fulfilling all the hopes and dreams of the Law and Prophets. Jesus is the one who is the Promise to all humanity. Perhaps they were excitedly talking with Jesus about what a big surprise his rising from the dead will be. As he and the disciples are walking back down the mountain, he tells them to keep quiet about everything until after he had risen from the dead.

As the disciples ask him about why the Elijah messenger must come first, Jesus affirms he must come first, but then adds:

Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? (Mk 9:12)

Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist who was jailed and beheaded on the whim of King Herod. So too the Son of Man will be rejected by a world too callous and hard of heart to repent and turn towards God.

The disciples are of the opinion that Jesus is on the wrong track going to the cross. The world is of the opinion that the cross is the wrong track to bring redemption to this sin-soaked world.

Yet Jesus knows this hard-hearted generation, the entrenched powers that be, and the deceits of Satan will only be humiliated and vanquished in his Cross and Empty Grave. Jesus is prepared to go all the way through the depths of sin and hell to redeem this broken and sinful world; to redeem you. Jesus is prepapred to do whatever it takes to fulfill all the promises of God!

So the Spirit encourages you in the Word to trust the Promise Giver. In the midst of chaos and crisis, beyond the herd-hearted rebellion of this world and callous rejection of the Promise-Giver, you are urged to listen to the Beloved Son.

 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mk 9:7)