The Mountain and the Valley

Mark 9:2-8, 17-27

GOLDEN TEXT: “Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief.”—Mark 9:24

THE performing of miracles characterized much of Jesus’ ministry. This is what we should expect; for, after all, He came to earth to do for mankind what human wisdom and power were unable to accomplish, Modernists attempt to explain away the miraculous aspects of the Master’s life, but to do so leaves Christianity naught but an empty shell of moral philosophy, void of saving power for the fallen and dying race.

To get the full force of today’s lesson it is necessary to include the first verse of chapter 9. In this first verse of the chapter Jesus announces that there were some among His disciples who would not taste death until they saw the Son of man coming in the glory of His Kingdom. This text has puzzled many, and has led to erroneous conclusions, both concerning death, as well as the manner and time of the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom.

Jesus’ thought in the matter is obvious when we read today’s lesson, which explains that it was only six days thereafter—before any of the disciples died—that Peter, James and John were selected to accompany the Master into the Mount of Transfiguration. Later, Peter explains that what they saw in the “holy mount” was a vision of Kingdom glory and power. (II Pet. 1:15-18) Here it was, then, that three of the disciples—before they tasted death—in vision, saw the Son of man coming in His Kingdom.

Matthew’s account plainly states that it was a vision. (Matt. 16:27; 17:9) Failure to realize this has led to false conclusions. The account is often cited, for example, to prove that Moses and Elijah did not really die, but are alive and therefore were able to be present with the Master and disciples. But when we realize, as Jesus explains in the lesson, that what they had seen was a vision, then all is clear. Surely a vision is not a reality. John later was shown many things in vision while on the Isle of Patmos.

As the many Revelation visions passed in panoramic array before the awe-inspired apostle, he saw horses, locusts, angels, wars, rivers, cities, etc., etc., but none of these things was a reality. It was similarly a vision—but on a smaller scale—that Peter, James and John witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah were not there, actually. Had it been a reality and not a vision, the disciples would not have known who it was they saw, without some adequate means of recognition; for both prophets had died centuries before, and there were no photographs in those days to establish their identity.

But in a vision it is different. Even in ordinary dreams, it is possible to recognize persons who would be unknown in real life; and the Transfiguration vision was more—much more—than a dream. It was a miracle in which Jesus was transfigured before the astonished disciples, and upon their minds was impressed a recognition of two outstanding Old Testament characters whose names and messages were closely allied with the Messianic hopes of Israel.

If Jesus were truly the Messiah, the greater than Moses, then His ministry and Kingdom would need to fulfill the promises God made through Moses. The promised coming of Elijah likewise could not be ignored by the Master if He were the true Messiah concerning whom it had been foretold that of the increase of His government and peace there should he no end. (Isa. 9:7) In this marvelous vision of the Kingdom, the disciples had impressed upon their minds and hearts the fact that nothing which God had promised was to go unfulfilled.

Jesus, through Kingdom agencies, was to be the great Lawgiver as well as Life-giver to the people. God had promised that the coming Elijah would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers—a work of reformation and reconciliation—and Jesus was to accomplish that work through the glory of His Kingdom. (Mal. 4:5,6) John the Baptist attempted it in Israel, but with little success; and the church of this Gospel age has called the world to repentance, but the world has not repented. But Jesus will not fail. The law and the prophets will find their complete fulfillment in and through Him.

Coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration vision into the valley below, Jesus was given the opportunity to perform another miracle—the casting out of a demon from a son who had been afflicted from early childhood. The reality of demons is attested throughout the Scriptures. They were once holy angels, but fell from God’s favor at the time of the flood.—I Pet. 3:18-20; II Pet. 2:4, Jude 6

QUESTIONS:

How could Moses and Elijah be seen by the disciples if they were dead?

In what way are Moses and Elijah connected with the Kingdom hope?

Who were the demons who afflicted so many at the time of Jesus’ first advent?

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