Glory and Service

Mark 9:2-4

THE “glory” section of this lesson is based upon the Transfiguration Vision. This wonderful experience of the Master, which was witnessed by three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—comes into proper focus only when we view it in the light of the first verse of the chapter, and in harmony with Peter’s explanation of the incident, as found in the first chapter of his second epistle, verses 16-18. Taking these statements into consideration, it is clear that the Transfiguration Vision was intended to be a figurative display of the power and glory of Christ at his second advent, when he would return to establish his kingdom.

Jesus said to his disciples, “There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” (verse 1) Here the Greek word rendered “kingdom” has the literal meaning of “royalty.” It is the same word which is generally translated kingdom throughout the New Testament, but in many instances the thought is much clearer if we apply it to Jesus, who is the King in the kingdom of God. Jesus is the Royal Majesty in that kingdom, and because of this he could say to the Pharisees of his day, “God’s Royal Majesty is among you.”—Luke 17:21, Diaglott

So in the text under consideration, the meaning is clearer if we think of Jesus, the Royal Majesty of heaven, the future King in the kingdom of God, as the One who would be seen coming in power. Thus we see that the reference clearly is to the Transfiguration Vision witnessed by Peter, James, and John only six days later. (verse 2) Commenting on what he saw, Peter wrote, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming [Greek, parousia—presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty … when we were with him in the holy mount.”—II Pet. 1:16-18

Jesus spoke of those who would see the “kingdom,” or the “royalty” of the kingdom, come “with power,” and Peter testifies that he was one to whom this promise was fulfilled, for he had seen a demonstration of that power and was an eyewitness of his “majesty” when “with him on the holy mount.” Peter, moreover, in addition to thus identifying the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that some would not taste death until they saw this demonstration of kingdom power and glory, reveals that the vision was in reality a symbolic representation of the glory and power of the kingdom at the time of Christ’s second advent.

Many have erroneously used the Transfiguration Vision in an attempt to prove that the dead are not dead, for, say these, how could Moses and Elijah have been with Jesus on that occasion had they been actually dead? These overlook Jesus’ own explanation of what occurred on the mount, that it was a “vision.” (Matt. 17:9) In a vision things and people appear which possibly never existed at all in reality, or never will. For example, in vision, John saw a “woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet.”—Rev. 12:1

And there was a very good reason why Moses and Elijah should be seen in this vision, which was designed to depict the power of the coming kingdom in which Jesus was to be the Royal Majesty of the heavens. Moses, in a very special way, had been a type of Christ, and he had promised that a great “Prophet,” like unto himself, would be raised up to the people, and that through obedience to this prophet they would get life. (Deut. 18:15-18) The Apostle Peter, who saw the symbolic coming of Christ in power and great glory, explains that this wonderful promise made by Moses—and so definitely associated with him—will be fulfilled through Christ during his second presence, when there will be “times of restitution of all things.”—Acts 3:19-23

Another Old Testament prophecy had been associated with the name Elijah. The “Elijah” was to come before the great and terrible day of the Lord, and his work was. to be one of reform, of reconciliation. He was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Jesus indicated that in a small way John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy by his work. (Mal. 4:5,6; Matt. 11:13,14) But this was not the real fulfillment. The church, throughout the age, has preached reconciliation, commanding all men everywhere to repent, but the world has not repented. Consequently, the alternative fulfillment of the prophecy is now being manifested, for upon the selfish, unconverted world, a curse has fallen, the great “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.”—Acts 17:30; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21,22

However, the fact that the prophecy described a general work of reform and reconciliation indicates that it is God’s will that such a work be accomplished. John the Baptist failed. The church throughout the age has failed. But during the thousand years of Christ’s kingdom this work will be accomplished by the power of the kingdom operating through Christ, the Royal Majesty in that kingdom.

The Jews who were acquainted with the prophecies not only had in mind the promises of a coming Messiah, but were also aware of the promises of the coming Elijah, and also “that prophet,” the one like unto Moses. When a committee was sent to inquire of John the Baptist who he professed to be, he was directly asked if he were “that prophet,” also if he were the “Elijah.”—John 1:19-28

How appropriate, then, that in a vision designed to portray the power and glory of Christ’s kingdom, and particularly of his royal position in this kingdom, these two prophetic characters, Moses and Elijah, should be shown. It was the equivalent of saying that all the promises of future blessings, whether associated with the coming of the Messiah, or “that prophet” promised by Moses, or with the promised Elijah, would have their ultimate fulfillment through Jesus, the One whom the Heavenly Father identified in the vision as his “beloved Son.”

And how glad we are that the real glory and power of the kingdom is yet to be demonstrated for the blessing of all mankind! The nominal church has taught and tried to believe that the glory of Christ’s kingdom began to manifest itself at Pentecost, but now they are at a loss to know the meaning of what seems so evidently a failure of the power of that kingdom. One of their writers, commenting on this lesson, has said:

“One half of the twentieth century has passed. When the century opened, men hoped for better things in it. Much of the expected glamour has been dulled. It has been a disappointment because the world has lost a vision of Christ. The world needs to see again the glorified, transfigured person of the Son of God. It needs a new vision of his spirit and example of sacrifice.”

While disappointed over the course of events within the century, this and other nominal church writers still fail to realize that the world—even the professed Christian world—has not as yet seen the glory of Christ at all. How could the world lose the vision of Christ when they have never possessed that vision? Yes, the world does need a vision of the spirit of Christ, and this they will receive when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all flesh, and when the knowledge of God’s glory fills the whole earth as the waters cover sea. This will be brought about when the power and glory of the kingdom, symbolically depicted in the Transfiguration Vision, becomes a reality following the full end of “this present evil world.”—Gal. 1:4

Mark 9:14-17, 25-29

“Service” is intended to be the theme of the second part of today’s lesson—service which was illustrated by the casting out of a spirit which was causing the one who possessed it to be deaf and dumb, and in addition afflicted much suffering upon him. The one thus caused to suffer was apparently a young person, and he was brought to Jesus by his father. The disciples, as we know, had been sent out by Jesus to heal the sick and to cast out devils, and apparently they had been successful in many instances, but in this case they had failed.

It was because of this that the father brought the boy to Jesus, hoping that he would be more successful, and he was. Upon an open confession of faith on the part of the father, Jesus commanded that the deaf and dumb spirit depart from the boy, and it did. Released from this terrible influence the boy relaxed so completely for a few moments that many thought he was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and encouraged him to assert his own will, and soon he was well and normal.

Then the disciples, seeing what had occurred, said to Jesus, “Why could not we cast him out?” The Master’s reply was, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer.” Aside from this question and answer, the casting out of the deaf and dumb spirit from this young man is not much different from many other miracles which Jesus performed. All of them point forward to the time of general healing, when the whole world will be restored to life. However, in this miracle, there is a valuable lesson for the Lord’s consecrated people today.

Many times the Lord’s people ask themselves why they cannot accomplish more in the service of the truth and the brethren, why they cannot do more in opposing Satan and his reign of sin and unrighteousness. The answer of Jesus is applicable here even as it was then, “This kind cometh not out save by prayer.”

Undoubtedly we could accomplish much more in our conflicts with sin and Satan, and in helping others to get free from sin, if we would always exercise full faith in the Lord, and if we would continually live more in the Spirit and less according to the flesh. This would mean self-denial, prayer, and fellowship with God. To him who believes, every blessing belongs which God has promised to his faithful ones.

When we put the two thoughts of glory and service together, it is well to remember that while we are promised a share in the glory of Christ’s kingdom, it is only upon the basis of faithfulness now in service, service which entails or leads to suffering and death. The purpose of the future kingdom of glory is to serve all mankind, and how fitting that our preparation for that kingdom should be in serving others to the full extent of our ability.

QUESTIONS

What was illustrated by the Transfiguration Vision?

How was it true that some in Jesus’ day did not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God coming in power?

Were Moses and Elijah actually with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?

What is represented by Moses and Elijah appearing in the vision?

When will the power and glory of the actual kingdom be manifested to the world?

What special lesson is there for us in Jesus’ explanation that certain evil spirits can be cast out only by prayer?

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