Witnessing Christ’s Glory

Mark 9:2-8; II Peter 1:16-18

GOLDEN TEXT: “A voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him.”—Mark 9:7

IT IS reasonable to conclude that the transfiguration vision made a profound impression upon the disciples who witnessed it, and contributed richly in their preparation to be, later on, the ambassadors of Christ. In his epistle Peter refers to this vision and tells us that it gave him assurance that he had not followed “cunningly devised fables” when he had made known the coming and power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Mark 9:1, which precedes the Scripture lesson for today, Jesus is reported as saying to His disciples that some of them would not taste death until they should see the Kingdom of God come with power. Then begins the narrative of today’s lesson which declares that it was only six days later that Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into the mountain where they saw the wondrous vision of His glory. Undoubtedly this fulfilled the Master’s prediction that some of them would not taste death until they saw the glory of His Kingdom. They saw that glory in vision!

We are not to suppose that Elias and Moses were actually on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were asleep in death, and will remain so until the resurrection, when they will be awakened and take their places among the “princes in all the earth,” representing the spiritual phase of the Kingdom which will be composed of Christ and His church. (Psa. 45:16) In Matt. 17:9 Jesus explains that what the disciples had witnessed was a “vision.” Later, on the Isle of Patmos, John was given a much more elaborate vision in which he saw many things that did not exist in literal reality. In that wondrous vision John saw beasts; a woman clothed with the sun; a great red dragon; twenty-four elders; a slain lamb; a harlot woman; an unholy city; a holy city; thrones; a great earthquake; a river of life; and many other things, but it was only a vision. So on the Mount of Transfiguration, they had seen a vision in which Elias and Moses had appeared, but it was only a vision—Elias and Moses were dead.

In Peter’s later reference to this vision he explains that it revealed the power and coming of Christ. (II Pet. 1:16) The Greek word here translated “coming” is parousia, the real meaning of which is “presence.” The disciples did not see Jesus “coming” to the Mount; rather, they were with Him there, and beheld His glory. Furthermore, this vision of the Kingdom was not calculated to reveal how Jesus would come again, but the glory of His second presence among men after He had come, a presence that continues, not for a few short years as at the first advent, but for a thousand years. Just as the disciples were with the Master and witnessed His symbolic glory, so the whole church will be with Him during the thousand years of His actual Kingdom presence, witnessing and sharing in the wondrous glory of the Messianic reign.—Rev. 20:4

While the transfiguration vision was tremendously impressive and revealing, and did much to assure the disciples that Jesus was indeed the Christ, yet Peter explains that we have a “more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn.” (II Pet. 1:19) It is the actual parousia or presence of Christ that brings the “day dawn” of the Kingdom age. By taking heed unto the “sure word of prophecy” the faithful disciples of the Master at this end of the age are able, by the eye of faith, to discern the beginning of His second presence, and in the crumbling thrones of earth can see evidence that “our King is marching on.”

The “Day Star” has risen in the hearts of those who today, by the eye of faith, are able through the “sure word of prophecy,” to discern the presence of the King. While the experience of the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration was wondrous, yet today Christians who are living up to their privileges are even more highly favored, in that they can discern a beginning of the reality of that which the transfiguration vision symbolized. Favored indeed are those now in whose hearts the “Day Star” has risen!

While enthralled with the vision on the Mount, a voice was heard from heaven affirming the fact of the Master’s Sonship, and that His authority in the earth was to be respected. It was appropriate that this should be part of the Kingdom vision, for it is the Father’s will that in the Kingdom Jesus should exercise all power and authority. Following His resurrection Jesus declared that all power had been given unto Him. During the Gospel age He has exercised power and authority over the church, and during His Kingdom reign that power and authority will be extended over all mankind, while the church will share it with Him.

QUESTIONS:

Explain how Moses and Elias, who were dead, could appear with Jesus and the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration.

What did Peter mean by saying that he had witnessed the “power and coming” of Christ?

When will Jesus exercise all power and authority in the earth?

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