Lesson # 22 | MARK 9:2-13 | RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES

I.   Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction:  We're going to read about an unusual spiritual experience today.  It is one of the classic ones described in the Gospels.  We often hear about religious experiences, but... 

            Q  What are religious experiences? 

            Q  Do you know others who have sought after them?

            Q  Do some seek them to authenticate or validate their spirituality? 

            Lets see how one such experience is viewed in Mark.

 

III.  The Transfiguration:      Mark 9:2-8

   A.  The Event as a whole.

            Q  What are religious experiences for?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:2-8.

            Note:  This must have been an amazing experience.

            Q  Who goes up?  All or just a few?

            Q  Do all good Christians have religious experiences of this stunning magnitude?

               An = We hear of such events but here not everybody experiences what the three disciples experienced.

            B.  The Event Itself.  

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 9:2-4.

            Q  What actually happened?

               An = 1) Jesus changes.  The greek word used here is "metamorphoses".  Something outwardly visible happened.  It was a theophany.  Literally a visible (phany) appearance caused by God (theos).           

                         2) Two ancient people appear:  Moses (the giver of the Law) and Elijah (the great prophet who never died).

            C.  The Aftermath of the Event. 

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 9:5-8.

            Q  What was Peter's response?  Do you like it?

               An = His answer is a Title of Address (Rabbi or teacher) that basically lets us know that when in a panic he sees Jesus just as a teacher, not the divine messiah.  He then makes two assertions about how good it was to be there and something about building monuments to all three. 

            Q  Why does Peter want to build these tabernacles or monuments?

            I think mankind would rather build monuments to great happenings or experiences than actually learn something from them. The religious world is full of monuments, but has few people who understand what the Lord would really have them know.

            Q  What does the voice of 9:7 say to Peter?

               An = "This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!"  In other words, this is the One most close to Me, you will never hear a more important speaker.  Listen to Him.  Do not do anything religious, just listen.  Remember, also, the word "listen" in Hebrew is the same word for "obey".

            Q  Why are the disciples terrified?

               An = When we really see God is it a tremendous experience, and we sense the majesty and Lordship of God.  It is terrifying.  Perhaps, Peter is running off at the mouth about monuments or shrines because he is a verbal person and is just talking in an attempt to keep control of his fear.

            Q  Why do Elijah and Moses appear?

               An = 1) It could be that this was to help Peter understand that he was right not to confuse them with Jesus six days ago when he confessed that Jesus was not Elijah but the Messiah (8:28-29).    2)  These two men honor Jesus and are in league with Him.  Jesus is not at odds with the Law or the Prophets (in other words:  the entire Old Testament), and this is proved by their appearing.   Jesus is at one with the Old Testament witness. 

            Note:  Be careful of those who throw out the authority of the Old Testament.  To do so, is to be at odds with our Lord.

 

IV.  The Discussion On the Way Down the Mountain.   Mark 9:9-13.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:9-13.

   A.  The Trigger of Discussion.

            Q  Who is it that the voice from the cloud wanted them to listen to?

               An = God does not want you to build a monument, but to listen to His Son. 

            Q What does His Son say on the way down from the mountain, that startled them?

               An = That Jesus mentions rising from the dead.  To rise from the dead means you first have to be dead and die.

            Q  Why do they ask a question about Elijah?

               An = Popular opinion believed Elijah would announce the Messiah.  They expected the coming to be glorious, so rising from the dead did not fit their understanding of the future, especially Jesus' future.  If Elijah was to come first, then why this rising from the dead?  This could imply Jesus would need to rise from the dead.  They did not like that.  Since to rise, meant one had to first die, it must of disturbed them to think Jesus was going to die.

            Note:  In chapter 8:31-38 Jesus spoke about the necessity of His death and of our dying to ourselves.  When I have mentioned this I have often met with strong opposition.  Usually from other religious persons who want nothing to do with such "negative" language.  Those who have found a "comfortable religion" they can control want nothing to do with a faith that demands God is in control.

   B.  The Place and Role of Elijah.

            Q  How many times is Elijah mentioned in 9:2-13?

               An = Five times:  4,5,6,12, and 13.  Have everyone turn to Malachi 3:1,2 and 4:5,6.  >>>> Have someone read Malachi 3:1,2.

>>>> Have someone read Malachi 4:5,6.

            Q  Who does Jesus understand the coming Elijah to be?

               An = John the Baptist.  Not that Jesus believed John was a reincarnation of Elijah, but that John fulfilled the mission of Elijah:  especially Malachi 4:5,6 and John's great preaching of repentance.  Until there is repentance and change, religious experiences, even seeing the Messiah, are of no value.

            Note:  Repentance is not just for drug addicts and prostitutes but good upstanding, strong Christians as well.  If our group wishes to see the Lord and derive any good from it they must repent.

            Note:  John says that children and parents must have their hearts turned towards one another.  Parents need to deeply love and forgive their children and children must forgive their parents and begin to love them.  If spiritual perception, not just experiences, is to take place then dealing with our parents or children is key.  We must obey (or listen) to the Son.

>>>> Have someone read 9:13.

            Q What did they do to John the Baptist?

>>>> You read Mark 6:27,28

               An = Those in power killed John and those who did not repent did not see the Glory of the Son of God when He was right there in their midst.  We will not see God here in this group no matter what good and positive things are done if we do not repent.

            Note:  The disciples still do not want Jesus to die. They want glory, but Jesus reminds them that as the authorities did to John, they would do to Jesus.  Mark 9:9-12 is the second announcement (of five) by Jesus that He must die.

 

V.  Conclusion:

            Q  So what is the purpose of true religious experiences?

               An = They are to help us listen!  This experience reveals that glory only comes after humiliation.  Jesus spoke of His humiliation.  John the Baptist says our humiliation of repentance must be there if we are to truly see and understand Jesus Christ. 

            Peter soon forgot what God had showed him.  God graciously tried to show him the proper perspective on the way down the mountain.  God continues to try to tell us also, if we will listen.

            Note:  Let me share with you two quotes in closing.  One from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest,  July 29, says,

            "In the Bible clouds are always associated with God.  Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God.  Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith.  If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith....  They are a sign that God is there.  What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God!  God cannot come near us without clouds...."

            Note:  He cannot always come near us with clear shining brightness, for we would never see what He wants us to see, and what we so desperately need to see.  If we have clouds today, we can try to get away from them, but if we are disciples like Peter of old, Jesus will repeatedly bring us back to the necessity of the cross.

 

            The second comes from the movie "Princess Bride".  There is a great quote in it towards the end:  "If someone tells you there is no pain, they are either lying or trying to sell you something." 

            Jesus Christ does not want our money.  He wants to give us the key to eternal life, and so He tells us the truth about pain.  Maybe the pain we need to face is the pain of repentance, finally admitting that we could be wrong, no matter how bad we may look in the community.