1 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.”
– Although in the ESV v1 fits in with quite a long talk that Jesus was making in ch 8 about His death and Resurrection the following seems to be the fulfillment of a statement that wouldn’t be true for most of those listening until after they had died!
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. – Where did Moses and Elijah come from? Some talk about soul-sleep until the resurrection, not of Jesus coming in the past, but when He returns. How did Moses and Elijah appear if soul-sleep is true? Or possibly the time scale of our time and Eternal time is different? No matter the mechanics of how it happened this is an eye-opening passage of scripture! Why is it eye-opening? Because, if not made up to prove a point (And I certainly believe that thought is a Satanic ‘codswallop’ lie) this gives much information and certain hope for ourselves if we follow 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.” – What was the tempestuous Peter thinking? We are told that he said this – For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. – does terrified here mean frightened to their core or awestruck? Whichever of the meanings is dominant, what happened next would double the reaction! 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. – This is the second time recorded that God opened Heaven’s door and spoke about His relationship with Jesus. It is so easy to gloss over things, even to say, ‘That is impossible, a delightful story just to improve the argument.’ But how did the disciples, knowing it to be true, react? Their commitment to the One whom they followed as the Promised Messiah surely have been enriched and deepened!
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. – It seems as if Jesus before He had finished His work of saving repentant sinners from hell, by His death and resurrection (about which He had just been speaking) might be taken and made the Warrior King to free Jews from the Roman Caesar! A Warrior King was what the zealots and many Jews wanted. Jesus death was necessary. He will return later to ride in as King of Kings! We await His return!
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.” Sometimes history needs to be explained as to how it fits in with God’s plan. Here Jesus sorted out where John the Baptiser fitted into God’s Plan! John was the promised Elijah who introduced the Messiah – many societies don’t treat names in the way that the English do!
Question: Is this event worth arranging a feast for? Few would come, I suspect! But certainly the story is well worthwhile introducing into your table talk today!
Proverbs 3:5-6 – (ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – v6 in the MSG translation reads, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
Prayer: Help me to hear when You speak to me, Father. No matter how You communicate with me.