Mark 9:2-9
A. INTRODUCTION
He was one of the first disciples to be called; he always stands first in the list of disciples; he was part of the inner circle of three; and he was unsure of himself and his suitability to be called by God because, when he was originally approached by Jesus to follow him, he responded with a comment about his unworthiness (Luke 5:8).
On the other hand, he often acted as the spokesman of the twelve. Indeed, at the climax of Jesus’s public ministry, when Jesus asked the disciples, who they thought that he was, he was the man who answered on behalf of them all, ‘You are the Christ’ (Mark 8:29).
Among the disciples his claims of loyalty are the loudest; and at the Last Supper he told Jesus, that even if the other disciples fell away, he would remain faithful (Mark 14:29). And, yet, less than twenty-four hours later he had disowned Jesus three times (Mark 14:66-72).
He was impulsive. Indeed, when he saw Jesus walking on the water, with Jesus’s approval, he stepped out of the boat (Matthew 14:28-31). Then, taking his eyes off Jesus, he got scared and began to sink (Matthew 14.28-31). But regardless of all that had gone on before, after the resurrection, he was the one who had a personal visit from the risen Lord (Luke 24.34).
Have you worked out who ‘he’ is yet? I’m sure you have, it’s Peter. And while he is one of those characters whose antics can make you smile, he’s also the kind of person who can make you think. After all, how did Peter get chosen to be one of the twelve disciples, let alone one of the inner three? And yet he was chosen.
And in this passage from Mark’s gospel, we are faced with another episode in Peter’s life; another story of the rather erratic Peter. This time, he was invited up onto a mountain top by Jesus, with James and John in tow. And this time, we find Peter scared out of his wits and totally perplexed as to what was actually going on.
B. THE TRANSFIGURATION
1. Background (Mark 8:31-9:1)
Now the story takes place six days after Peter had made that great confession that Jesus was the Christ, that he was the Messiah. And, in the six days since then, Jesus had spent a lot of time, specifically with his disciples, telling them that the path that the Messiah would have to take would involve much suffering. It would result in his being put to death, but three days later he would be risen back to life. A teaching that the disciples didn’t like. And one in which the impetuous Peter told Jesus, in no uncertain terms, that there had to be another way.
2. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-4)
But regardless of that, having told a crowd that some of them would still be alive to witness the kingdom come in power, Jesus took Peter, James, and John—the three inner disciples—up onto a mountain top to witness a very special event.
Of course, what was going on through those three disciples’ minds going up the mountain, we don’t know. But it would be surprising, with their background, if they didn’t at least have images of other mountain top experiences in their religious beliefs. In particular: the image of Moses on Mt Sinai. A time when the mountain was covered by a cloud for six days and, on the seventh day, God’s voice called out from a cloud (Exodus 24:15-18). And then there is the image of Elijah on Mt Horeb where he came to face with God as a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:9-13).
So, when they reached the top of the mountain, and for a brief moment the veil of Jesus’s humanity was lifted—his body being transformed into something like light—the three disciples should not have been totally surprised. Jesus had spoken many times of who he was—not just in words, but in his whole being with his attitude to others and the miracles that he performed. And Jesus had promised many things.
In a sense, then, what the three witnessed was simply confirmation of all that he’d said and done. They were given the experience of who Jesus really was, first hand. And given a sort of guarantee that what he’d promised would be fulfilled.
Indeed, this was Jesus, not as the human being he had become in order to do his Father’s work in the world, but Jesus as he really was. It was the proof to his closest disciples— whose faith, at times, was less than perfect—that all that he said was true. And by way of confirmation of that, the disciples witnessed two other characters standing with Jesus who, as far as the disciples were concerned, were unmistakeable. One was Moses—the one person who represented the old covenant and promise to which Jesus had come to fulfil. And the other was Elijah—a representative of the restoration of all things. The very person God’s people were expecting to herald the coming of the Messiah. Moses and Elijah, the two people whose mountain top experiences were so special in the history of God’s people.
3. Peter’s Reaction (Mark 9:5-6)
It must have been quite some experience for all three disciples. But despite their religious background, despite their knowledge of previous mountain top experiences in their faith, the response of the disciples was fear. They were petrified, and even Peter didn’t know what to say.
But then Peter—our impetuous Peter—responded. Seeing two of the most eminent figures in the history of revelation—as well as a transfigured Jesus—Peter put his mouth where his heart was. This was a special moment which he wanted to prolong, and he suggested that they build three shelters: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Peter didn’t want the experience to end; he wanted to preserve it so it could continue on.
And, in a sense, you can understand Peter’s reaction. With a moment of spiritual experience like they faced, wouldn’t you want to prolong the experience too? But Peter had forgotten Jesus’s teaching of the previous six days. Peter may have rightly declared Jesus to be the Messiah, but he had forgotten the need for the Messiah to suffer, to be put to death, and to be raised three days later. It’s like all of Jesus’s teaching had been thrown out the window.
Peter had failed to appreciate that the transfiguration was only a momentary anticipation of the glory of the things to come. That it was being acted out in front of the closest of disciples for a reason—as a proof of the faith that they had in Jesus, and to prepare them for what was to come. For the journey that Jesus had to take, and the sufferings that he would have to endure were still ahead. And that is what the three disciples, Peter in particular, were unable to grasp.
4. God’s Confirmation (Mark 9:7)
So when a cloud came down and enveloped them—a phenomenon the three disciples would have recognised from their understanding of the scriptures as the presence of God—and the voice of God came from the cloud, it would have brought Peter, James, and John back to reality, “This is my Son, my chosen one . . . Listen to him!”
Not only had they seen Jesus transfigured, but they had now heard the voice of the Father given his approval. Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God who enjoyed a unique relationship with the Father. And as a consequence, the disciples were exhorted to hear and obey him, and to not take what Jesus said lightly. Because what he said must happen, even to him dying on the cross.
5. Back to Normal (Mark 9:8-9)
Then, all of a sudden, the cloud lifted. And there they were, Peter, James, and John alone with Jesus. All three disciples now knowing full well what Jesus had still to endure. Although the disciples may still have been a bit foggy about the mechanics of it all.
And, as they climbed down from the mountain top, Jesus told the three that what they had witnessed was not to be shared with anyone. At least not until after he had risen from the dead. There was to be a period of concealment, to be followed by a time of open proclamation. And then, and only then, was their experience in seeing the transfigured Jesus to be shared with all.
6. Summary
Now, it must have been some experience. And although at the time—for Peter, James, and John—it was all beyond their understanding, later as they thought through what they had seen, heard, and witnessed, the full meaning of their mountain top experience would have begun to dawn.
Their experience of the coming of the kingdom of God, and the dramatic indication of the true glory of Jesus, as God’s unique Son must, bit by bit, have begun to sink in. So that by the time of the resurrection, and the time to tell others what they had witnessed had come, even they could understand what they had seen and heard.
They had been shown a glimpse of the future—of Jesus with his true glory revealed. But in that glimpse, was confirmation of the path that Jesus needed to take too—the path of suffering, humiliation, and death.
C. COMMENT
Peter may have had some distinct flaws in his character. His impetuous nature may have seen him put his foot in it on a number of occasions. And in the story of the transfiguration he may have really got the wrong end of the stick. And yet, despite his wavering from moments of brilliant insight to times of dreadful blunders, Jesus stuck with Peter. Jesus considered Peter to be part of his inner circle, and he even sent him out (with others) to minister in his name.
D. IMPLICATIONS
Peter, then, is an interesting character. He is also very human. As a consequence, there are many things we can learn from his example of Peter. And there are just two things I would like to mention today.
1. Training
Firstly, there’s a tendency among some Christians not to get too involved in some of the activities of the church, because they don’t have a comprehensive understanding of the Christian faith. And they haven’t been fully trained for the tasks in hand.
And while to some extent that is a valid point—and training is very important—Peter’s example shows that we can take that too far. Sometimes we worry about getting it just right, just perfect, before we’re willing to take a step of faith. As a consequence, some Christians end up going from one training session to another, to the extent that they never go out, and the mission of sharing our faith to the people around us never happens.
What someone like Peter shows, however, is that Jesus was willing to use someone who didn’t always know what was going on, and didn’t always understand even what he had seen with his own eyes. Peter often got it wrong. He opened his mouth wide enough at times to get both feet in. He showed moments of great insight but, at other times, he got things terribly wrong. But Peter was someone who was willing to have a go. He was well intentioned. And Jesus stuck with him, and even considered him to be one of his closest followers. And look how he turned out to be.
2. Mistakes
And secondly, some Christians tend to let their mistakes, and the fear of making mistakes, hold them back—and actually prevent them from ministering in God’s name.
And yet the example of Peter is that he didn’t let his mistakes get him down. Indeed, even after having disowned Jesus three times, in the hours before the crucifixion on Good Friday, it was Peter, fishing on the lake after the death of Jesus, who jumped out of the boat and swam about ninety metres to be with his resurrected Saviour (despite the fact that the boat was headed to the beach anyway). And he did it, just so he could be with his Lord and saviour (John 21:7).
Peter may have been impetuous, but he wasn’t going to let the shame of his denying Jesus three times get in the way between himself and his Saviour. Peter was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and get on with the job, despite his weakness, despite his faults, and despite his impetuous nature. And that should be a lesson for us too.
Because Jesus has picked us, not necessarily because we can take in all the religious truths, and not because we always act perfectly. After all, we all make mistakes. But we shouldn’t let those mistakes hold us back. Instead, we should, like Peter, learn to face up to them, and get on with being Christians, being faithful to our God and Saviour.
E. PETER IN THE FUTURE
Now, after the resurrection of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles notes certain things about the Apostle Peter. It was Peter who took the lead in the Christian community (Acts 1:15ff); it was Peter who became the principal preacher (Acts 2:14ff); it was Peter who became the spokesman before the Jewish authorities (Acts 4:8ff); it was Peter who was the president in the administration of discipline (Acts5:3ff); and although the church, as a whole, made a deep impression on the Jewish community, it was to Peter in particular that the powers of healing were attributed (Acts 5:15).
Significantly, too, it was Peter who was the first of the twelve apostles to be associated with the gentile mission.
And all of this despite some tremendous flaws in his character, as we’ve noted.
F. CONCLUSION
Peter, then, a man of great insight, but one who often got things terribly wrong. He was impetuous by nature, and on many occasions showed that he didn’t understand what was going on at all.
But despite that, Peter was willing to be sent out on Jesus’s mission to the world. He was not prepared to let his failings get in the way of his duty to God. As a consequence, Peter is the kind of role model that we would all do well to emulate.
Posted: 1st October 2023
© 2023, Brian A Curtis
www.brianacurtis.com.au
