Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 1 Study # 6
January 17, 2023
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(372)
1901 ASV
9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;
9:3 and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.
9:4 And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
9:5 And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
9:6 For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.
9:7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.
9:8 And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
- II. Jesus' Selection Of Peter, James, and John.
- A. Mark doubles down on this selectivity with his "by themselves" (NASB). The Authorized Version says "apart by themselves". The Greek of Mark's record literally reads, "...according to the standard of individual aloneness". The same construction, minus the word "aloneness", is used in 13:3 and is translated "privately" by both the Authorized Version (KJV) and the NASB. Mark's point is that only these men had the experience that he is on the verge of relating.
- B. Is obviously a revelation of Jesus' deliberate selection of these three to witness what the other disciples were not privileged to see.
- 1. There are five times in Mark's record where "Peter, James, and John" are grouped together for special privileges (1:19 -- when those four were the only ones summoned by Jesus to follow Him; 5:37; 9:2; 13:3 -- which includes Andrew; and 14:33). There are five more times in Mark's record when "James and John" are mentioned together: 1:19, 29; 3:17; 10:35, 41.
- a. In the earliest records, when there were only four, they had the experiences of the exorcism in the synagogue (1:23-26) and the healing/healings of that afternoon and evening (1:29-35). All those in the synagogue, and at the house later, were also witnesses to these beginnings of the demonstration of the "Might" of the "Coming Mighty One", so that these four were not unique in the exposure they experienced.
- b. In the later records, the three were singled out to witness things the others did not see.
- 1) The first special experience was the raising of Jairus' daughter.
- 2) The second special experience is the one in the text before us presently.
- 3) The third was the "private" (13:3) instruction on the mount of Olives regarding the events which would signal when the destruction of Jerusalem was to occur.
- 4) And the fourth, and last, of these privileged experiences were in the garden when Jesus wanted them to "pray" and they wanted to "sleep".
- 2. According to Matthew 19:28, the twelve apostles were to sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, so the distinction between the three and the twelve was not to separate them from "the thrones". Thus, we must be aware of the records if we are to see why they might have been given the special privileges.
- 3. In general, Mark had a focus upon Jesus making disciples who were to be "servants of one another" (9:35 and 10:44), so the privileged three were to use their privileges for the sake of their fellow-apostles.
- C. But if "fortifying the souls of the disciples was His goal, why 9:9?
- 1. Since 9:9 comes before 9:33-37, we can easily see that the ability to "strengthen the brethren" was to be a "developed" ability, so that 9:9 was a restraint placed upon them because they were not sufficiently "developed" to use their experience for the sake of others, as we see in 10:35-37.
- 2. There are many stumbling blocks in the world, but "status-seeking" may well be one of the most potent.
- D. Note Luke 22:32 (Peter's commission to "strengthen his brethren" after his faith had been sifted by the adversary).
- E. Also note Mark 16:7 (Peter was specifically singled out as one who was to be told of the angels' announcement that Jesus was risen and was going to Galilee and would meet them there).