May 31, 2010
when our eyes and ears bring jesus into focus
Mark 9:1-13
Rob Barry
Central Truth
If you want to see Jesus and His glory, you must be willing to listen to Him, regardless of whether you like the radical implications for your life.
Key Verse | Mark 9:7
Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7)
Mark 9:1-13
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.”
The Transfiguration
2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one 1 9:3 Greek launderer (gnapheus) on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, 2 9:5 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; 3 9:7 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 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. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 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? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Dive Deeper | Mark 9:1-13
So, yes, I'm that guy. I'm the one mowing my yard with the big sound-blocking headphones. Leslie is a speech-language pathologist and took several audiology classes in grad school. I spent several years of my life working behind an espresso machine with the screeching sound of a steam wand. So, Leslie has always been concerned about my hearing loss. Though my hearing is fine, my listening skills could use some work. Such was the case with the 12 disciples.
I love the context that leads up to verse 7. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus told the disciples that He was headed for death and rebuked Peter for trying to stop Him. Then Jesus dropped a bomb on them: if anyone wanted to follow Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. Whoever wanted to save his life would lose it, but whoever lost his life for Christ and for the gospel would save it.
Peter, James, and John followed Jesus up on the mountain and experienced life in Jesus like never before. Moses and Elijah were speaking to Jesus in the same way they experienced God on the mountain in the past. The disciples got to taste the reality of who Jesus is: God in His Glory. But they were hearing what they wanted and not listening to what Jesus was saying. First, Jesus was going to die, and second, by following Him and losing their lives, the disciples would actually save them. Then the Father said, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" (Mark 9:7)
Over the last few years, I've been trying to listen more. I've approached most of my life since becoming a follower of Christ by pulling statements out of Scripture that "fit" with my lifestyle and that allowed me to stay comfortable. I want to be known as a faithful follower of Christ who listens to Him and orders my life around Him, not ordering Christ around my life. I know that in doing so I have seen Christ in a fuller and more satisfying way.
Discussion Questions
1. When was the last time prayed for help to listen when you read Scripture?
2. How do you move from reading Scripture simply for knowledge to really listening?
3. When was the last time you got to see Jesus more clearly because of your listening and obeying in hard circumstances?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean to listen to someone? One of the best ways to show someone that you heard them is by doing what they ask you to do.
2. Whose voice is speaking in verse 7? What did He say?
3. What are ways that you can listen to Jesus today? How can you show that you heard Him?