Mark 9:7-13 (NKJV) 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with them.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
V7 “And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Why the cloud and voice coming from the cloud? Clouds, as in this context, refer to God’s majesty and glory, which is hidden from humans because of our sin (Exodus 16:10, Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 1:28, and Acts 1:9). See 2 Chronicles 5:14, 1 Timothy 6:16 (light), Exodus 24:16, and Revelation 15:8 (which also refers to times of judgment and God’s anger). God’s anger is holy anger. See Isaiah 1:4, Ezekiel 43:8, and 1 Peter 2:23. God spoke to the disciples to emphasize the importance of listening and believing the messages of Jesus. God speaks to encourage them, not rebuke them. God the Father speaks, announcing an important message to listen closely to the teachings of His Son.
Warren W. Wiersbe offers this thought: “Discipleship is not built on spectacular visions but on the inspired, unchanging Word of God. Nor do we put Moses, Elijah, and Jesus on the same level, as Peter hinted. It is “Jesus only” — His Word, His will, His kingdom, and His glory.”
V8 “Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with them.” After this, everything was gone except themselves and Jesus.
V9 “Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Why did Jesus forbid anyone knowing what happened on the mountain until after His resurrection? One thing for sure is that God’s timing is always best. They needed the information for their spiritual growth and knowledge, but no one else was ready. Sometimes we don’t know these things, but we will understand later. Compare John 13:7.
V10 “So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.” Even though they told no one else, they talked it over with each other. One thing they did not understand was the resurrection. They already believed in a resurrection, but they did not know about Jesus’s coming resurrection (Matthew 22:23 and John 11:24).
V11 “And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” The disciples asked about Elijah. Compare Malachi 4:5. According to verses 12 and 13, the Elijah will come—in the Millennium—but John the Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah.
Wilbur Pickering writes: “The Lord stated plainly that the coming of the real Elijah was still future. Since the Baptizer was Messiah’s herald at His first advent, Jesus refers to him as ‘Elijah’ (recall that John was already dead).”
V12 “Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” Jesus came the first time to deal for reconciliation with God and forgiveness of sins. The second time He comes to deliver Israel, then all people, animals, plants, and the universe itself.
The first deliverance is summarized in 2 Corinthians 5:17. The last deliverance is found in Revelation 21:5.
V13 “But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.” Jesus refers to John the Baptist. What “they” did was kill him (Matthew 14:8-11). What they wished to do was to kill John.
We learn:
- Jesus’s words (the Bible to us) are more important than any rabbi, pastor, or priest.
- God’s timing is always perfect.
Questions:
- What is our final authority? To many it is science or philosophy.
- Do we read and study the Bible, which is the word of God?